One thing though, all the XFX cards have the XFX logo stamped into cutouts on the exhaust port on the plate. IT looks pretty restrictive to me. I'm tempted to get the dremel out and open the exhaust port up all the way and see if it helps temps. I bet it lowers the noise a bit too, less turbulence of the exhaust air.
It's this regular-style exhuast:
Versus XFX's exhaust:
It's hard to say which is more restrictive.. chopping off the logo or the fins is definitely going to hurt resell value if you've ever got that intention
