News Asus' Q-Release Slim feature is reportedly damaging some GPU PCIe connectors

[Admin]

Users have reported that Asus' Q-Release Slim mechanism is scraping off their GPU's PCIe connectors.

Asus' Q-Release Slim feature is reportedly damaging some GPU PCIe connectors : Read more

 

[sillysaxon]

Cosmetic damage resulting from repeatedly removing a component that's meant to sit there till it needs to be upgraded.

Who cares? And why do they care?

 

[magbarn]

Sounds like the same design team that designed the Ally SD card slot

 

[Notton]

Keep in mind that the PCIe slot is usually only rated between 50 to 1000 insertion cycles, depending on quality.

 

[helper800]

This is so far away from actually "damaging" the operability of the card I question the premise. Sure, this is certainly accelerated wear, but damage usually refers to reduced functionality or something that could break the ability to function. Is this something that is completely innocuous? No, and ASUS should look into the design to reduce wear, but this article appears to frame the issue in an exaggerated fear mongering way.

 

[edzieba]

Mushing away at the FR4 laminate is far from just 'cosmetic' damage. GPU PCBs are not just monolithic fibreglass with traces on the visible faces, they're multi-layer laminates of several sheets bonded together. Poking at the edge can start to delaminate those sheets, which can cause several issues:
- If the debonding is not completely planar, traces can be torn apart when part of a trace sticks to one laminate and part to another.
- Any vias that traverse that bondline will be severed.
- The internal traces are not masked but are bare copper, so exposure means corrosion can occur within the laminate stack
- Corrosion or any other contaminate that gets between the laminates will further force them apart, exacerbating the issue.

 

[helper800]

Mushing away at the FR4 laminate is far from just 'cosmetic' damage. GPU PCBs are not just monolithic fibreglass with traces on the visible faces, they're multi-layer laminates of several sheets bonded together. Poking at the edge can start to delaminate those sheets, which can cause several issues:
- If the debonding is not completely planar, traces can be torn apart when part of a trace sticks to one laminate and part to another.
- Any vias that traverse that bondline will be severed.
- The internal traces are not masked but are bare copper, so exposure means corrosion can occur within the laminate stack
- Corrosion or any other contaminate that gets between the laminates will further force them apart, exacerbating the issue.

As far as I can see none of the above has started to occur after 60 insertions, however, I am not an expert in what you are claiming. PCIe PCBs, as stated previously, are only rated to slot in so many times. Who knows what the slot or each device used to slot in are rated for from the manufacturers. My experience in this regard mainly comes from working QC at an aerospace company for various parts. Could you point out specifically what of the mentioned above you see specifically happening with the PCIe PCB from the picture with 60 insertions?

 

[Gaidax]

Cosmetic damage resulting from repeatedly removing a component that's meant to sit there till it needs to be upgraded.

Who cares? And why do they care?

That's some hot take.

Did you see the image?

You literally got some of the pcb there broken off. And then, do you know where that dust and pieces go - maybe they are still inside that slot and next time you insert something there would lead to permanent damage for that slot or contacts issues?

 

[helper800]

That's some hot take.

Did you see the image?

You literally got some of the pcb there broken off. And then, do you know where that dust and pieces go - maybe they are still inside that slot and next time you insert something there would lead to permanent damage for that slot or contacts issues?

That material did not "break" off, but was worn off over 60 insertions. The material that was worn off would be small particles susceptible to floating around like dust. The article made no mention of any issues in usability, right?

 

[Gaidax]

That material did not "break" off, but was worn off over 60 insertions. The material that was worn off would be small particles susceptible to floating around like dust. The article made no mention of any issues in usability, right?

Do you know that or you assume that?

Because in the same vein I can assume that all that dust and debris are still inside that slot there gathering.

There is no need to defend bad engineering, these things should not be happening.

 

[helper800]

Do you know that or you assume that?

What specific claim are you referring to?

Because in the same vein I can assume that all that dust and debris are still inside that slot there gathering.

There is no need to defend bad engineering, these things should not be happening.

Even if all of that material is in the slot, the article specifically noted nothing of consequence occurred. I am not defending ASUS, I clearly mentioned that they should look into this issue because it seems to be accelerated wear on the device. To what extent the wear may be accelerated, I certainly cannot quantify.

 

[atomicWAR]

So much ado about nothing. Got it...

 

[Gururu]

The same thing happened to video game cartridges in the 70s-90s. The ends and corners would scuff up and raw down. Never had it get down to the contacts or affect playability after certainly 100s if not 1000s of insertions. On these, maybe the QR functionality changes if it can't grip the card well though.

 

[8086]

Cosmetic damage resulting from repeatedly removing a component that's meant to sit there till it needs to be upgraded.

Who cares? And why do they care?

Because this is a design that leaves room for improvement. Maybe a little silicon rubber buffer on the edge of the pusher thing is what is needed to prevent marring of a very expensive PC part. Or maybe use a roller to push up the GPU to reduce friction on the PCB.

 

[Alvar "Miles" Udell]

Considering the vast majority of people will put the same GPU in a socket maybe three times over its lifetime, it's not a big deal.

 

[Amdlova]

My motherboard take lots of hardware The asrock h670 PG 8 dimm kits / 6 gpu / tons of ssd and some cpu changes... Some people are happy with their machines, others need to push the hardware a little more

 

[thestryker]

While it shouldn't be a problem for most people it's still clearly a poor design. This is one of those two things can be true situations.

 

[SirStephenH]

The vast majority of people won't even insert and remove their GPU 6 times, let alone 60. So a tiny bit of wear after 60 insertions isn't really a problem. Yes, it shouldn't happen and should be fixed, but it's not going to have any impact on your system at all, at least at that level of wear.

 

[SirStephenH]

Because in the same vein I can assume that all that dust and debris are still inside that slot there gathering.

There is no need to defend bad engineering, these things should not be happening.

Any wear like that is unacceptable. But let's be realistic here, the tiny amount of dust created by the wear in the image won't do anything. It's not like a decades old console with thousands of cartridge insertions and removals. The vast majority of users won't come anywhere near the 60 insertions required for that minor level of wear.

If you're really concerned then just blow the socket out with some compressed air.

 

[Joseph_138]

So much ado about nothing. Got it...

It's something if your GPU fails, and the AIB refuses to RMA it because of the ragged edge connector.

 

[beyondlogic]

Cosmetic damage resulting from repeatedly removing a component that's meant to sit there till it needs to be upgraded.

Who cares? And why do they care?

its not cosmetic damage if it scratches of the gold contacts you'll lose connectivity.

deep enough scratch and there goes your card.

instead of innovating a connection just make the push tab more visable or use a physical button like gigabyte.

 

[Misgar]

If you're really concerned then just blow the socket out with some compressed air.

Although the quantities of dust are likely to be very small indeed or practically non existent, I recommend holding your breath whilst deliberately disturbing particles of fibreglass dust.
https://dustcontrol.com/the-dangers-of-fibreglass-dust-and-how-to-stay-safe/

If I saw a ragged PCB edge in photos of a second hand GPU on eBay, I'd be less likely to bid on it. For a $20 purchase I wouldn't be too fussy, but on a $200+ card I'd probably look elsewhere. Signs of misuse don't inspire me with confidence.

Cosmetic scratches to the paintwork or alloys can affect the resale value of a car, despite the vehicle still being perfectly driveable.

 

[Dementoss]

If you're removing and refitting your graphics card 60 times or more, then you are a bit of a knob. I can't see this causing any problem for most people.

 

[BTM18]

This is so far away from actually "damaging" the operability of the card I question the premise. Sure, this is certainly accelerated wear, but damage usually refers to reduced functionality or something that could break the ability to function. Is this something that is completely innocuous? No, and ASUS should look into the design to reduce wear, but this article appears to frame the issue in an exaggerated fear mongering way.

You are wrong. Period. This is very bad. Damaged card= bad. Get it?

 

[Fox Tread33]

January 25, 2025 - I find this issue interesting because I bought an ASUS motherboard a couple of years ago, and I was really pleased with the GPU release button feature. I don't understand why after decades motherboard manufacturers still use the old style release tab that is so hard to reach after the GPU is installed. I build full tower PCs, and even with the room they offer to work in. I still find it hard releasing the GPU latch. My experience with the ASUS board wasn't a good one, and I went back to using EVGA boards until that was no longer possible. Also another design feature that I liked about the ASUS board was that rather than having to mount various cables from the sides of the board. Slots were of the "push down" type making cable insertion sooo much easier, and it was easy to confirm that the cable was securely seated. If I recall there have been a number of issues related to the ASUS brand in the past year, and I doubt that I will purchase more of their products in the future.