Help installing the Zotac 780

[darkmav]

Hi,

I just got a Zotac GTX 780 graphics card, and while unboxing it I noticed that there is a plastic plate covering the heat sink fins on the top side of the card, next to the fan.

Does this plate have to be removed? If so, how?

Thanks in advance!

c.f.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1207203/20130728_183531.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1207203/20130728_183537.jpg

As you can probably see, there is a transparent rigid plastic plastic covering the heat fins, and on top of that is some (peelable) plastic covering. My question is -- am I supposed to remove the rigid plastic strip?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jaydip]

I believe so, in any case you should probably contact zotac support and explain the situation.

 

[Doougin]

no the plate does not have to be removed. just peel the plastic sticker off of it. its there to prevent scratches on it while shipping. if u removed the clear plate the card would not cool properly. the fan pushes the air thru the fins out the back of the card.

 

[Meghan54]

Hi,

I just got a Zotac GTX 780 graphics card, and while unboxing it I noticed that there is a plastic plate covering the heat sink fins on the top side of the card, next to the fan.

Does this plate have to be removed? If so, how?

No. If you do remove it, the air from the cooling fan that would normally be forced to flow across the entire heatsink and out the rear of the card would be allowed to escape early and not flow across the entire heatsink nor exit the rear of the card.

 

[darkmav]

no the plate does not have to be removed. just peel the plastic sticker off of it. its there to prevent scratches on it while shipping. if u removed the clear plate the card would not cool properly. the fan pushes the air thru the fins out the back of the card.

Thanks for the reply. Are you sure about this though?

[This is what I thought -- if Zotac had wanted the user to remove the plastic plate, they would've said so.]

 

[Doougin]

im sure. the clear plastic is a window to see the fins but it also holds the air in so it keeps flowing thru the fins and out the back.

 

[Meghan54]

If it was removable, why is it screwed down?

Yes, we're sure.

(I've got the same card, well the Gigabyte version, installed in my wife's computer. Peeled off the plastic protective sticker, left the window intact as it is supposed to be. Works fine and has been for weeks.)

 

[darkmav]

Thank you!