Product review (5 stars): Must have when purchasing a GTX970 SSC.
The GTX 970 SSC back plate is a must have if you purchase a EVGA GTX 970 SSC. Not only does the backplate help with the cooling of the card, but it also increases the support/rigidity of the card to prevent the infamous GPU sag. If you are unsure what GPU sag is, since the 970 is a fairly heavy card, the card tends to sag on the PCIE port. This puts unnecessary stress on the PCIE slot which isn't the best when it comes to the reliability and longevity of the PCIE slot on your motherboard. In conclusion, I highly recommend this backplate. The price is very reasonable for the quality you receive.