What is the purpose of this metallic part of my motherboard?

[Dakath]

I'm planning on buying a new video card tomorrow, but I'm afraid that this metallic thing will be in the way of the GPU. What is it? Can I remove in case my card doesn't fit?

Here's the card:

 

[elbert]

Its the heatsink for your southbridge chip. Keeps the chiip cool in other words. No dont remove but it shouldn't. If it does tho would could cut on video card plastic fan shroud a bit.