r9 290 endplate removal

[phaddie]

Hey guys,
 
  I have seen a few posts about people removing the endplate of their reference r9 290 cards.  I was taking a look at my cards today and it seems that the cards needs to be disassembled a bit to do this.  Is this correct?  If anyone has a link to a guide or has some tips please let me know.

  Thank you in advance

   Phad.

[mac-coin]

There's 1 screw under the main plastic cover,  Only 6 small screw to remove the cover.  Takes less then 2 mins to remove the back plate.

Very easy job and well worth it

[Starscream]

There's 1 screw under the main plastic cover,  Only 6 small screw to remove the cover.  Takes less then 2 mins to remove the back plate.

Very easy job and well worth it

Did you do that yourself? How many degrees did it go down by?

[phaddie]

There's 1 screw under the main plastic cover,  Only 6 small screw to remove the cover.  Takes less then 2 mins to remove the back plate.

Very easy job and well worth it

Cheers, I was not sure if it was just those screws to get to the one screen under there or if more needed to be done.  Thanks!!

  Phad

[mac-coin]

Dropped the temps by 5c and also reduced the power draw at the wall by 10watts per card,

I then over clocked it some more which put the temps and power back to the same figure

[TehLuNaTiC]

any photos ? and how to guide ?

[kalus]

Dropped the temps by 5c and also reduced the power draw at the wall by 10watts per card,

I then over clocked it some more which put the temps and power back to the same figure

why the heck do they put that cover plate on in the first place?

[cozk]

Dropped the temps by 5c and also reduced the power draw at the wall by 10watts per card,

I then over clocked it some more which put the temps and power back to the same figure

why the heck do they put that cover plate on in the first place?

Because its a gaming card... designed to fit a gaming computer case...

[crazyates]

why the heck do they put that cover plate on in the first place?

Because that plate is also the PCI bracket. The card does not fit inside a computer case, and has almost no support in an aluminum rig. You have to get pretty creative on howto support these without that bracket.

Dropped the temps by 5c and also reduced the power draw at the wall by 10watts per card,

I also noticed ~5-8C drop, though I didn't measure any power drap. Didn't take any before-after reading with my kill-a-watt, as I didn't think it'd make a huge difference. You an def feel more air move through the card, tho.

There's 1 screw under the main plastic cover,  Only 6 small screw to remove the cover.  Takes less then 2 mins to remove the back plate.

Very easy job and well worth it

Yep, those 6 screws around the card you remove are just to take off the shroud/air channel. You never touch the heatsink, fan, support plate, or anything. Took me ~15 min to do all 6 cards.

[kalus]

why the heck do they put that cover plate on in the first place?

Because that plate is also the PCI bracket. The card does not fit inside a computer case, and has almost no support in an aluminum rig. You have to get pretty creative on howto support these without that bracket.

oh fuck that bracket.  i thought there was something on the other end that was fucking with the airflow.

still don't know why mfgs decide to reduce the airflow through their cards by decorating their PCI slot cover.  

[mac-coin]

Would any of you guy be interested in replacement back plate with most of it cut away, but still giving your the standard mounting points.

[mdmx]

Can someone show me where on the card the backplate is... is it the side with the fan or the back of the card where the HDMI/DVI connectors are?

[kalus]

back of the card where the HDMI/DVI connectors are

this is what they're referring to.  i was thinking the other end of the card as well. 

[crazyates]

Can someone show me where on the card the backplate is... is it the side with the fan or the back of the card where the HDMI/DVI connectors are?

This is a pic of one removed. Click for bigger picture.


EDIT: Woops. Posted the wrong picture. Right one is up now.

[mdmx]

Can someone show me where on the card the backplate is... is it the side with the fan or the back of the card where the HDMI/DVI connectors are?

This is a pic of one removed. Click for bigger picture.
http://s24.postimg.org/4vlbeh6ox/0107141658.jpg

EDIT: Woops. Posted the wrong picture. Right one is up now.

Did you see any noticeable decrease in the temps?