Product review (5 stars): Does it really provide extra cooling....
I purchased the 100-BP-3973-B9 for 970 SSC (04G-P4-3975-KR) and I honestly don't know if it really makes a difference. It certainly gives the card a different look, and most likely makes the card a lot stiffer. But as for extra cooling for the VRAM chips, I can't say if it really does or not.

I gave it five stars for it's looks and that it certainly isn't doing any harm to the card. For how many years have cards not had any kind of cooling for the VRAM chips on the back of graphics cards and they all ran just fine. To me, I think it's more about looks, more than anything else.

The back plate comes with little longer screws for installation, and a nut for one of the corners. It only takes about five minutes to remove the existing screws and attach the back plate. You may, or may not, need a pliers to hold the nut while when installing.

The only reason I got the back plate was, I had a $20 credit to use. I do like really like the look that it gives the card. You don't see all the solder or chips on the back. Gives it a nice clean, finished look. Perhaps this is just something that EVGA should provide with their cards. But I suppose then they wouldn't be suckering us out of another $20.