ASUS just changed how PCIe slots work on their newest motherboards. Only ASUS China admitted they fixed their Q-Release Slim PCIe system for taking out graphics cards easily. This newer design makes you pull your card from one place instead of pushing a button first. Many people found this caused problems because their computer cases lacked space, which led to scratched GPU connectors.
The scratches might seem minor since your card still runs fine. But when these marks show up on pricey cards like RTX 5090 or 4090 models, it makes ASUS boards look bad. Your expensive GPU loses value just because you removed it once from your computer.
ASUS has already started fixing this issue, as seen on their APEX motherboard with the X870E chipset. Most fancy Intel and AMD 800-series boards include the Q-Release Slim feature. The APEX board didn't launch last year with other models but recently appeared for sale on Newegg, showing clear design changes to the PCIe connector.
ASUS removed the small metal piece between the power and data lanes on the PCIe slot. That metal part caused all those scratches, and taking it away should stop the problem completely. A tech reviewer from Uniko's Hardware noticed this change first by looking very closely at the boards.
ASUS never officially informed anyone about this fix. The company stayed silent even when pictures clearly showed different designs between early promotional photos and current products. ASUS North America refuses to admit any problems exist but tells unhappy customers to call support about warranty help immediately.
We don't know if all 800-series motherboards will receive this updated design yet. Most companies would announce a recall and replace defective products. ASUS probably thinks it costs more than it's worth since the issue only scratches cards rather than breaks them. Customers deserve better communication from such a big computer company.
The scratches might seem minor since your card still runs fine. But when these marks show up on pricey cards like RTX 5090 or 4090 models, it makes ASUS boards look bad. Your expensive GPU loses value just because you removed it once from your computer.
ASUS has already started fixing this issue, as seen on their APEX motherboard with the X870E chipset. Most fancy Intel and AMD 800-series boards include the Q-Release Slim feature. The APEX board didn't launch last year with other models but recently appeared for sale on Newegg, showing clear design changes to the PCIe connector.
ASUS removed the small metal piece between the power and data lanes on the PCIe slot. That metal part caused all those scratches, and taking it away should stop the problem completely. A tech reviewer from Uniko's Hardware noticed this change first by looking very closely at the boards.
ASUS never officially informed anyone about this fix. The company stayed silent even when pictures clearly showed different designs between early promotional photos and current products. ASUS North America refuses to admit any problems exist but tells unhappy customers to call support about warranty help immediately.
We don't know if all 800-series motherboards will receive this updated design yet. Most companies would announce a recall and replace defective products. ASUS probably thinks it costs more than it's worth since the issue only scratches cards rather than breaks them. Customers deserve better communication from such a big computer company.
