I recently traveled with my computer and thought that it would be best (on the long trip) to remove the graphics card from the comptuer and put it in its original box, so that it doesn't bang around during the car ride. I packed it in the box like when it arrived, all the safe plastic/padding, etc.
The card is a GTX 580 from EVGA. There are these little black rectangular pieces on the back that I noticed chipped off during the ride, and I have no idea what they are. I am afraid to leave the computer running for long with these things off. The computer does boot, but I turned it off quickly to prevent damage.
I circled in red the places where the black rectangles are here: http://i.imgur.com/TZAGsEN.jpg
There are also some of these pieces on the back of what looks like where the GPU is. These did not chip off. They only chipped off from where I circled on the picture. If it helps, they all have the same writing on them: "330" (this is in larger letters, separated) followed by "9841z e" (this is in smaller letters, underneath). Also, in small white writing on the back of the card itself, numbers like C593, C597, C600, C604, C586 all seem to label these spots on the card.
I am having a lot of trouble figuring out what these things are/what any of the stuff on the back of graphics cards are. I suppose my questions are, what fell off? Is it safe to use the card with them off? Can I repair this? Etc.
Thanks for any help.