ASUS China Compensates Users with GPU Damage Caused by PCIe Q-Release Slim Mechanism

[AleksandarK]

ASUS China has launched an extensive customer support program addressing potential graphics card damage linked to its PCIe Q-Release Slim mechanism. The initiative includes full motherboard replacements, compensation packages, and warranty coverage for affected customers. The compensation package encompasses a 200 RMB ($27) store credit and complete motherboard replacement for affected units across multiple product lines, including the Z790, B860, Z890, B850, and X870 series motherboards. Particularly, the affected motherboard lineup includes high-end models like the ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme and ROG Crosshair X870E Hero. The controversy centers on the mechanism's internal peg design, which reportedly can affect graphics card PCIe connectors during repeated installation and removal cycles.

ASUS China has confirmed the development of a revised Q-Release Slim design, though no specific timeline has been announced. Warranty coverage varies by graphics card manufacturer. ASUS and MSI have committed to priority repairs and free card replacements for both PCB wear and gold finger damage when repairs prove unsuccessful. However, Gigabyte and Colorful cards require evaluation at repair centers before determining coverage eligibility. This regional response contrasts sharply with ASUS's US position, which maintains that internal testing shows no correlation between the Q-Release Slim mechanism and graphics card damage. While ASUS continues to defend the mechanism's design integrity internationally, its comprehensive response in the Chinese market suggests a more cautious approach to potential hardware compatibility issues. We must wait and see if the worldwide ASUS position will change in the coming days and if the North American department issues any different response.



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[_roman_]

Poor Quality - I saw it with the firmware and hardware with my ASUS X670 mainboard.

Just one sample - so the statement about ASUS is not valid, right?

This regional response contrasts sharply with ASUS's US position, which maintains that internal testing shows no correlation between the Q-Release Slim mechanism and graphics card damage.

When I put a graphic card in a mainboard slot who can damage the graphic card?

• power supply unit
• mouse
• keyboard
• mousepad
• desk
• chair
• computer case
• graphic card
• monitor
• cpu
• cpu cooler
• DRAM
• what else?

• ASUS mainboard​

 

[Assimilator]

$27 credit if the board has destroyed a $2,700 GPU? Sounds totally fair!

 

[Carillon]

it is clearly the interaction between the release mechanism and the chinese weather that causes the videocards damage. Outside of china it is user error, as the weather is not chinese there.

$27 credit if the board has destroyed a $2,700 GPU? Sounds totally fair!

if i understood correctly, they are replacing/fixing the gpus too

 

[_roman_]

With a 4 weeks wait period. And maybe you get a fake one back. Or it is lost in the repair center forever. In the past I read someone send in a hardware for repair and it was ripped out for spare parts and than it was gone.

 

[Jtuck9]

Poor Quality - I saw it with the firmware and hardware with my ASUS X670 mainboard.

Just one sample - so the statement about ASUS is not valid, right?


When I put a graphic card in a mainboard slot who can damage the graphic card?

• power supply unit
• mouse
• keyboard
• mousepad
• desk
• chair
• computer case
• graphic card
• monitor
• cpu
• cpu cooler
• DRAM
• what else?

• ASUS mainboard​

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[Bomby569]

no one QC's stuff anymore, this is absolutely insane. Break first, apologise later, make money

 

[katzi]

no one QC's stuff anymore, this is absolutely insane. Break first, apologise later, make money

It's as if they took a page out of Ford Motor Company's book.

Calculate the cost of life/fix vs proper engineering cost. Then engineer crap because they don't value life, but they Do value profits.

 

[Dammeron]

Not defending anyone here, but the damage done in this pic is weird:

If the Q-Realease Slim works the way De8auer showed (You pull the card by the side near the back of the case), the damaged corner should be on the left - either of the short slot or the long one.

 

[ty_ger]

Not defending anyone here, but the damage done in this pic is weird:

If the Q-Realease Slim works the way De8auer showed, the damaged corner should be on the left side (You pull the card by the side near the back of the case), the damaged corner should be on the left - either of the short slot or the long one.

To me, it looks like damage caused while insterting the card while the card was pushed in the slot a little too far to the right. Like, it scraped on the metal separating strip while it wedged itself leftwards to center itself in the slot. I wonder how the right hook mechanism works, how well it aligns the card initially, and if it is easy to accidentally misalign the card in the slot while pushing it in. Maybe if they get rid of the metal separating strip, or make it more of a wedge, their problems will be less; but with so much card already seated at that point, it would be better for the contacts lifespan if initial alignment was more certain, rather than sliding the card left or right in the slot while so many contacts are engaged.

 

[TheDeeGee]

I wouldn't want a replacement, just my money back and off to another brand.

 

[billEST]

we see who is the boss

china : money , remplace

europe : fuck customer

 

[uber_m0j0]

Is this damage only from repeated use?
In the last three weeks, I purchased an Asus TUF 870 mobo and really don't want to return it.
I almost never take a card out once I install it, so wasn't really planning to use the quick release
that often, maybe one-three times during the life of the system?

 

[Octavean]

$27 credit if the board has destroyed a $2,700 GPU? Sounds totally fair!

Thoughts and prayers,....

Asus has feelings too, do they not (as they laugh all the way to their respective Bank$)?

They are people too, are they not. Prick them and do they not bleed (cold hard ca$h)?

This whole incident has been an embarrassment (of riche$) for them.

 

[_roman_]

Is this damage only from repeated use?

Short: YES

You may check the other posts about it here - you may search with keywords hardwareluxx. I think the tester there is called schilling - like the old austrian currency.