5870 Strip Down (part 4)

Part 3
To cut or not to cut: discovering the importance of the heat spreading back plate of the Radeon 5870
In this video I discover that the backing plate of the 5870 does indeed touch the mini heat transfer points on the back of the card. There is a lip that actually cradles the bottom of the card, thereby allowing the card to come in contact with those heat transfer points. At this point I realize I have to cut the backplate of the card in order to fit it in my Zalman LQ 1000.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• 5870
• to cut or not to cut
• importance of the back plate
• Radeon 5870 mod

[OAbrey]

In this one, I conclude the backing plate acts as a heat spreader for the transistors on that side of the card. Those transistors actually touch the plate, so the plate can remove the heat.

[OAbrey]

:) I have succeeded in communicating the horns of the dilemma.

[LizzyAston]

seems here like youre screwed - cut it!