Asus Q-Release Slim motherboard mechanism may be damaging graphics card's PCIe connectors

[Daniel Sims]

PSA: Asus and other PC hardware vendors have spent the last few years exploring ways to make installing and removing motherboard components easier and safer. Asus' latest method aims to eliminate release buttons and latches from PCIe slots, but recent reports indicate that the procedure risks chipping the gold fingers.

Owners of Asus' AMD X800 and Intel Z800 motherboards should exercise caution when removing their graphics cards. Multiple reports show that the company's recently introduced Q-Release Slim system can scratch the GPU's connection pins.

A recently uploaded Bilibili video showed how the mechanism can chip the end of a graphics card's short gold finger, which faces the long gold finger. Hardware Luxx's Andreas Schilling later shared a photo of his GeForce RTX 5090 exhibiting similar damage. Schilling reported that the pins frequently became caught in the PCIe slot during benchmarks involving repeated GPU removal and swapping.

I'm not happy with the solution either. We use the Strix X870E-E Gaming for testing the graphics cards. So I have had to remove graphics cards from the slot a few dozen times. This didn't always go smoothly and very often the card got stuck in the slot. First damage visible. https://t.co/CHVKFBrbY8 pic.twitter.com/1pEUXmQQES

– Andreas Schilling 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@aschilling) January 24, 2025

Asus introduced Q-Release Slim to simplify the process of detaching graphics cards and other PCIe add-in boards. Traditional mechanisms require pressing a latch at the end of the slot to release the gold finger, which often proves difficult because large GPUs can completely obscure the latch.

The company began using an alternative method in 2021 involving pressing a release button placed in a more accessible position. MSI demonstrated a similar system at Gamescom last year, suggesting that the trend is catching on. However, Asus's Q-Release Slim mechanism aims to simplify things further.

With Q-Release Slim, users simply hold the motherboard down with one hand, slightly tilt the card upward, and remove it by pulling toward the I/O bracket. The design prevents the gold fingers from shifting in any other direction.

Asus is working to address the recent reports of chipped connectors, but hasn't yet provided details on a remedy. It remains unclear if the company might revert to an earlier system or try something new with future motherboards.

The PCIe slot isn't the only port motherboard manufacturers are trying to improve. MSI also introduced a Q-Release system for the M.2 slot for Z800 boards. Installing and removing NVMe SSDs normally involves screws that can sometimes become frustrating due to their small size. With MSI's new system, pressing a lock button behind the drive secures the SSD without the need for screws. Asus uses a similar system with a release latch and a sliding gate that supports 2280 and 2230 drives. Unlike Asus's GPU slot method, SSD Q-Release mechanisms haven't encountered widespread problems thus far.

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Asus Q-Release Slim motherboard mechanism may be damaging graphics card's PCIe connectors

 

[Axeia]

Traditional mechanisms require pressing a latch at the end of the slot to release the gold finger, which often proves difficult because large GPUs can completely obscure the latch.

That's not the problem is it?
GPUs expand in length and thickness 'downwards' without making the latch harder to get to. But as far as I know aside from some aftermarket 'backplate cooling' solutions that dimension is left alone.

I only find it hard to reach when using a big air-cooler that almost touches the graphics card. Especially in smaller cases. Just having the plastic latch go a little bit further into that direction is already a big help. Let's see if I can demonstrate this with ASCII art. The latch is at the position of the equals signs:

+--------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                        |
|        +----------------------+   +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+      |
|        | CPU                  |   | | | | | | | |      |
|        | Heatsink             |   | | | | | | | |  «   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  R   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  A   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  M   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  «   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |      |
|        +----------------------+   +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+      |
|+-------------------------==--------------------------+ |
| GPU           can grow 'bigger'                      | |
|               in length or  downwards without issue  | |
|+-----------------------------------------------------+ |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
+--------------------------------------------------------+

Problem is sticking my big hand in between the RAM, CPU heatsink and the graphics card itself.


[edit]
Select the code block to see the ASCII art (I just reported it as the bug on the forum).

 

[GodisanAtheist]

That's not the problem is it?
GPUs expand in length and thickness 'downwards' without making the latch harder to get to. But as far as I know aside from some aftermarket 'backplate cooling' solutions that dimension is left alone.

I only find it hard to reach when using a big air-cooler that almost touches the graphics card. Especially in smaller cases. Just having the plastic latch go a little bit further into that direction is already a big help. Let's see if I can demonstrate this with ASCII art. The latch is at the position of the equals signs:

+--------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                        |
|        +----------------------+   +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+      |
|        | CPU                  |   | | | | | | | |      |
|        | Heatsink             |   | | | | | | | |  «   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  R   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  A   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  M   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  «   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |      |
|        +----------------------+   +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+      |
|+-------------------------==--------------------------+ |
| GPU           can grow 'bigger'                      | |
|               in length or  downwards without issue  | |
|+-----------------------------------------------------+ |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
+--------------------------------------------------------+

Problem is sticking my big hand in between the RAM, CPU heatsink and the graphics card itself.


[edit]
Select the code block to see the ASCII art.
Why is it white on light grey in dark mode and where do I report this?

-Yep, issue should be easily resolved by making the release mechanism a bit bigger or easier to trigger when trying to cram sausage fingers between all the components that occupy that area.

Asus went in search of a fancier solution to the problem and created new issues instead.

Realistically however most people will install a GPU once and then never really touch it again until they buy a replacement or if they're so inclined do a dusting and repaste or whatever.

Sounds like the issue cropped up for the reviewer due to swapping in and out multiple cards.

 

[seeprime]

That's not the problem is it?
GPUs expand in length and thickness 'downwards' without making the latch harder to get to. But as far as I know aside from some aftermarket 'backplate cooling' solutions that dimension is left alone.

I only find it hard to reach when using a big air-cooler that almost touches the graphics card. Especially in smaller cases. Just having the plastic latch go a little bit further into that direction is already a big help. Let's see if I can demonstrate this with ASCII art. The latch is at the position of the equals signs:

+--------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                        |
|        +----------------------+   +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+      |
|        | CPU                  |   | | | | | | | |      |
|        | Heatsink             |   | | | | | | | |  «   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  R   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  A   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  M   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |  «   |
|        |                      |   | | | | | | | |      |
|        +----------------------+   +-+ +-+ +-+ +-+      |
|+-------------------------==--------------------------+ |
| GPU           can grow 'bigger'                      | |
|               in length or  downwards without issue  | |
|+-----------------------------------------------------+ |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
|                                                        |
+--------------------------------------------------------+

Problem is sticking my big hand in between the RAM, CPU heatsink and the graphics card itself.


[edit]
Select the code block to see the ASCII art (I just reported it as the bug on the forum).

Plastic spludgers work well with little risk of causing damage.

 

[DukeJukem]

Wow who would've thought ripping something like a graphics card out diagonally could cause issues...lol.

"Graphics cards are so big now boss people can't get their wittle finga in thaya to pop it out."

"Perhaps we could make the release flappy thingy longer so they can reachy now?"

"Dat'll never work soy. Hour poopy plastic material wood snap."

"Make it out of not garbo materiol."

"Impossibru. New Mecherniszm"

 

[captaincranky]

The PCIe slot isn't the only port motherboard manufacturers are trying to improve. MSI also introduced a Q-Release system for the M.2 slot for Z800 boards. Installing and removing NVMe SSDs normally involves screws that can sometimes become frustrating due to their small size. With MSI's new system, pressing a lock button behind the drive secures the SSD without the need for screws.

While it isn't normally "recommended by the factory", to use magnetic objects around electronics, all ya gotta do is magnetize your tiny little screwdriver, and the problem mostly disappears.

But granted, that does sound like an arduous amount of extra effort for a silly work around.

 

[Axeia]

While it isn't normally "recommended by the factory", to use magnetic objects around electronics, all ya gotta do is magnetize your tiny little screwdriver, and the problem mostly disappears.

But granted, that does sound like an arduous amount of extra effort for a silly work around.

I'm not a fan of those tiny screws. For the rest of the PC a generic Phillips screwdriver pretty much everyone already has will do but for M2 SSDs for some reason they chose a size where you need a Philips screwdriver aimed at the electronics market. It's inconvenient, I don't get why they didn't just go with something similar to RAM slots for those. Hell they could have reused the so-dimm form factor and just keyed it differently to prevent people from doing it wrong (put in 2 notches to signify it's M2)

 

[captaincranky]

I'm not a fan of those tiny screws. For the rest of the PC a generic Phillips screwdriver pretty much everyone already has will do but for M2 SSDs for some reason they chose a size where you need a Philips screwdriver aimed at the electronics market. It's inconvenient, I don't get why they didn't just go with something similar to RAM slots for those. Hell they could have reused the so-dimm form factor and just keyed it differently to prevent people from doing it wrong (put in 2 notches to signify it's M2)

Well, we (myself included) fancy ourselves "builders", while I sometimes like to come clean and self title myself an "assembler", as a reality check. Nobody likes those tiny screws. However, from a design standpoint, the way MVme drives are affixed, is ideal. At least with respect to giving the components around them, "room to breath", while saving space, and protecting them from torsional damage at the same time. Annoying, but still ideal, In this case, the only thing that has to be removed is the VGA, and those monstrosities are always in the way of anything you're trying to accomplish.

I'm fortunate enough, (some would argue "unfortunate enough") to have a Harbor Freight B & M store about 2 miles from my house. Let's face facts, computers are about as "electronic-y" of things as you're likely to find, (save for the TV), around the house. It had to, at some point, come to the brink of buying suitable tools to service electronic equipment. As fate would have it, Harbor Freight has a miniature screwdriver set to do just that.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/screwdrivers-nutdrivers/screwdrivers-screwdriver-sets/precision/6-piece-electricians-micro-screwdriver-set-96075.html

OK these are an "updated" set as compared to the set I have. Mine are a prior 4 buck cash and carry, 2 bucks with coupon item, "I may need these someday", impulse buy.. these are $9,00 when not on sale.

If you have Prime, you can always di*k amazon around and make them bring you just this set, for $6.99.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CK5P9Y1K/ref=vp_d_fuw_pd?_encoding=UTF8&pf_rd_p=95590a51-8b9e-49a7-bb36-7db49ee510df&pf_rd_r=RNHFPKJ8YJ88Y4HA02VB&pd_rd_wg=bl5hj&pd_rd_i=B0CK5P9Y1K&pd_rd_w=byCoM&content-id=amzn1.sym.95590a51-8b9e-49a7-bb36-7db49ee510df&pd_rd_r=da846370-56a5-4a62-8318-12ac9094cc1f&th=1

In any event, these would bring you "out of the darkness into the light" with regard to installing NVme drives. They even give you a "magnetizer", so you don't have to have an old guitar speaker laying around to do the job. We Prime-less peons have to spend $35.00 to be rewarded with free shipping I always wait and recklessly buy sh!t I don't need for the free shipping alone.

Hope this helps.

 

[Axeia]

Hope this helps.

Thanks, but I'm good

I have a set with everything in tiny sizes and including weird shapes like Nintendo's triwing. But a lot of people just have that one flathead and that one Phillips screwdriver, and that Phillips was so you needed for decades till M2 showed up to the party, they could have easily used a slightly bigger screw with a minimal impact on the footprint.
Or imo even better a clipping system like some so-dimm slots have. Just need clearance for tall components which is already the case anyway. Too late for it now but it sure would have been nice if it started out like that.

I get it though, modelling a little screw notch /hole in a PCB has no extra tooling or development costs. Just a shame they picked such a tiny one.

 

[captaincranky]

Thanks, but I'm good

I wish you'd have let me know you were posting on behalf of others and not yourself. It would have saved me a lot of time. I simply wouldn't have bothered.