Question Why this PCI-E slot has metal casing?

[Capt. Timeter]

Hello!

Just curious to understand. There are 2 slots on this MoBo, and the first one has something like a metallic enclosure. Is it some kind of reinforcement or just for fancy looks?
I'd think that to reinforce a PCI-E slot one would put a metal plate on the backside of the MoBo, like there is on the CPU socket, but there's nothing except some shiny screws.

Spoiler: Pictures

The other slot on the same MoBo has nothing like this:

Spoiler: the other slot

 

[SkyNetRising]

There are 2 slots on this MoBo, and the first one has something like a metallic enclosure.
Is it some kind of reinforcement or just for fancy looks?

Yes. It's meant for reinforcement.
Modern high performance graphics cards have heavy cooling solutions on them.

PCIE slot reinforcement may still not be enough. For heavy cards you still have to use GPU support also.

 

[Capt. Timeter]

For heavy cards you still have to use GPU support also.

I agree completely. After buying the 4070Ti Super and weighing in the hand the monster that it is, I realized I needed a support.

This reinforcement looks feeble, though.

 

[CountMike]

I agree completely. After buying the 4070Ti Super and weighing in the hand the monster that it is, I realized I needed a support.

This reinforcement looks feeble, though.

It's not as much to carry the weight but to help with pressure on contacts.

 

[Misgar]

This is what might happen without reinforcement, especially if you transport a system with an RTX 3090 (or similar) GPU over rough roads. A metal shroud around the PCIe connector is still no guarantee of durability, but reduces the risk.
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/ih8ebz/me_installing_a_3090_without_steel_reinforced/

 

[Capt. Timeter]

OMG

 

[Capt. Timeter]

Is this reinforcement better than the above?

 

[SkyNetRising]

I'd expect it to be quite rare to break PCIE slot this way.
Unless you're transporting your pc with a heavy graphics card installed and without any support.

Personally I haven't been this unlucky.