ASUS fixed a big problem with their PCIe Q-Release system on the ROG Crosshair X870E Apex motherboard. They changed the Q-Release Slim design because it damaged GPU PCIe connectors over time. Users on Reddit and Bilibili noticed scratches and shared pictures of the issue. ASUS first said this happened naturally after taking out and putting in graphics cards about 60 times.
The company later took out the metal bracket that caused all the scratching. Outside experts checked the new design and found it barely touches the sensitive PCIe parts anymore. This matters a lot because high-end graphics cards have tiny electrical contacts that break easily. Even small scratches can mess up how these expensive parts work in your computer.
Other companies tested different quick-release designs and proved ASUS needed to make these changes. The tests showed how the old design scraped against important parts each time someone removed their graphics card. Some countries helped customers more than others after this became public. A few places gave out new motherboards or store credit to people who bought the flawed version.
These changes show how important it is to think about physical stress on computer parts. Quick-release buttons make building computers easier, but not if they damage expensive components. ASUS had to balance making parts simple to remove against keeping them safe for years of use. The new design protects your hardware better without making it harder to swap parts.
The company later took out the metal bracket that caused all the scratching. Outside experts checked the new design and found it barely touches the sensitive PCIe parts anymore. This matters a lot because high-end graphics cards have tiny electrical contacts that break easily. Even small scratches can mess up how these expensive parts work in your computer.
Other companies tested different quick-release designs and proved ASUS needed to make these changes. The tests showed how the old design scraped against important parts each time someone removed their graphics card. Some countries helped customers more than others after this became public. A few places gave out new motherboards or store credit to people who bought the flawed version.
These changes show how important it is to think about physical stress on computer parts. Quick-release buttons make building computers easier, but not if they damage expensive components. ASUS had to balance making parts simple to remove against keeping them safe for years of use. The new design protects your hardware better without making it harder to swap parts.
