Asus says don’t worry about GPUs scratched by Q-Release PCIe slots

If you just spent almost $3,000 on a new graphics card, plus several hundred more for a fancy new motherboard to take advantage of it, the last thing you want to hear is that the latter could damage the former. But several users of Asus motherboards with Q-Release Slim PCIe slots say they’ve scratched their GPUs. And after reviewing the reports, Asus says “there is no need for concern.”

Asus sent PCWorld an extended statement on the situation, affirming that the company is aware of the reports highlighted by a HardwareLuxx editor earlier this week. I’ve collected the relevant portions below.

“In our internal testing and evaluation of the extremely small number of cases reported we found no damage to the motherboard or graphics card that would affect functionality and or performance. However, it is important to emphasize that any type of PCIe add in card will exhibit signs of usage and wear marking after 60 continuous insertions and removals. Additionally, if the installation and removal are not performed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations (see below), the likelihood of scratches and or wear may increase. Despite this, we have found no impact on the functionality of either the graphics card or the motherboard. 

Asus

For those currently using ASUS motherboards with the PCIe Q-Release Slim design, there is no need for concern. Simply follow the official removal guidelines to avoid any potential damage. We would note minimal effort is required and excessive force should not be applied. If you encounter any specific issues or abnormalities, ASUS will take full responsibility and handle them.

The full statement was also posted to a Reddit thread by an Asus community manager, if you want to go over it in detail. “Asus will take full responsibility” is a pretty bold stance and worthy of applause, albeit absent any reports of more serious issues.

As stated in our original story, the reports of scratches and chips are coming from professional hardware reviewers, who will insert and remove graphics cards far more often than normal PC builders by an order of magnitude. The odds of causing serious damage to a GPU with just three or four insertions into a motherboard as a regular user are extremely low.

That said, the very specific front-to-back motion and pull that Asus recommends for the Q-Release Slim isn’t exactly smooth or natural if you’ve been building PCs for years. That’s according to PCWorld’s Adam Patrick Murray and others here at our (virtual) office. “For me, one of the problems is that it goes against decades of learned knowledge of never pulling on anything in that slot,” said Murray. “It’s an uphill climb to then turn around and tell people that it’s ok to yank on your GPU.”

Andreas Schilling of HardwareLuxx, who helped spread the word of the problem initially, also responded to the statement. He pointed out that this motion might not be compatible with the dimensions of a typical ATX PC case. “It is not always possible to create the necessary angle because of the back of the case,” he said on BlueSky.

Asus

Q-Release Slim PCIe ports are featured on the latest and most expensive Asus motherboards, ones typically marketed at gamers and content creators. The older Q-Release system (sans Slim), which used a release button catch that moves the hard-to-reach tab a few centimeters away from the GPU area, is not showing the same issues.