Over the last few years, PC aesthetics have leveled up tremendously with the introduction of RGB lighting. RAMs and case fans were the first to don them. Now you have motherboards, PSUs, air cooling systems, and your graphics cards with RGB lighting. This was a good time to be an RGB enthusiast.
RGB lighting isn’t the only thing that was aesthetically pleasing to look at in a custom-built PC. Nowadays, custom GPU backplates are all the rave, especially when it comes to the higher end cards.
But is there more to a GPU backplate than just being beautiful to look at? Is a graphics card with a GPU backplate worth more than those without?
We’ll find out more in this article.
What Is a Backplate GPU?
A backplate is an accessory that covers the back of your graphics card. Your typical backplate is made up of either aluminum, stained steel, or acrylic.
While the primary purpose of GPU backplates is to make your graphics card look awesome, there’s also some functionality to it depending on the material. Most backplates are capable of preventing dust from getting into the GPU fans and other components. If the material is made of aluminum, then heat dissipation is an added benefit of using a GPU backplate.
But this heat dissipation benefit from GPU backplates is inconsequential at best, even though some of them might have larger contact areas or thermal pads acting as heat spreaders.
So the main appeal of a GPU backplate is its aesthetics. It also prevents your graphics card from sagging in the PCIe slot, especially if it’s a large GPU.
What Are The Benefits of Having GPU Backplates?
If you’re out shopping for a new graphics card to upgrade your PC, you’re probably going to wind up with a higher end GPU. Most of the high end graphics cards, and even the new budget ones, come equipped with their GPU backplate.
But what can GPU backplates provide you with apart from making your PC look good?
GPU Backplates Help Dissipate Heat
Heat dissipation features of GPU backplates are dependent on the material, albeit not as effective as your case fans or the GPU heatsink for that matter. A metal backplate is more likely to help with heat dissipation than a plastic GPU backplate.
Some GPU backplates come with thermal pads and large contact areas for heat reduction, but it’s not known as to whether it can significantly dissipate heat.
Improves GPU Durability
GPU sag is a common problem for PC builders and enthusiasts, especially for owners of larger-than-normal GPUs. GPU sag happens when a GPU is too heavy for the motherboard. Now, this isn’t an instant occurrence but rather it just happens gradually.
A GPU backplate actually prevents GPU sagging because it’s able to support a lot of its weight and components. But again, how much weight it can support depends on the construction of the GPU backplate. It goes without saying that metal backplates are stronger than plastic ones.
Helps Keep The Dust Away
GPU backplates prevent dust and other debris from getting into the graphics card, which may end up damaging your parts over time.
Dust particles and debris accumulate on the surface of the GPU backplate instead of inside your GPU components.
Makes your PC Look Pretty
Custom GPU backplates look just awesome. It adds a personalized touch to your PC build, which is one of the biggest things to have for gaming PC builders. It’s like adding custom vinyl to your car doors.
Larger graphics cards with larger GPU backplates have more room for customization than smaller graphics cards.
And yes, there are people out there that you can hire to customize your GPU backplates.
Is a GPU Backplate Worth It?
In terms of functionality, graphics cards can perform equally well with and without a backplate.
On the issue of GPU backplates and their cooling capabilities, it doesn’t provide any significant changes to the temperatures of the GPU. You’ll probably be better off with bigger case fans if you want to manage your GPU temperature better.
Can you remove the backplate of a graphics card? This is a logical question as some of the bigger GPUs like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090. And the answer is: it’s not recommended. The GPU backplate is there for a reason. It acts as a counterbalance and stabilizer of sorts when you install the RTX 3090 in your motherboard, preventing GPU sagging.
Can you install a GPU backplate on a GPU that didn’t come with one?
The answer is YES, and there are no restrictions to installing a GPU backplate as well. But you might have a hard time finding a backplate that’s compatible with your graphics card.