Marvell Technology, Inc., a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, today announced in collaboration with TeraHop, a global optical solutions provider for AI driven data centers, the demonstration of the industry's first end-to-end PCIe Gen 6 over optics in the Marvell booth #2129 at OFC 2025. The demonstration will showcase the extension of PCIe reach beyond traditional electrical limits to enable low-latency, standards-based AI scale-up infrastructure.

As AI workloads drive exponential data growth, PCIe connectivity must evolve to support higher bandwidth and longer reach. The Marvell Alaska P PCIe Gen 6 retimer and its PCIe Gen 7 SerDes technology enable low-latency, low bit-error-rate transmission over optical fiber, delivering the scalability, power efficiency, and high performance required for next-generation accelerated infrastructure. With PCIe over optics, system designers will be able to take advantage of longer links between devices that feature the low latency of PCIe technology.

Kioxia's LC9 Series 122.88 TB NVMe SSD was photographed on the show floor at NVIDIA's GTC 2025 by Tom's Hardware, revealing the first production-ready implementation of the company's BiCS FLASH generation 8 3D QLC technology with 2 Tb die density. The 2.5-inch form factor drive delivers immense storage density in the enterprise SSD market on a PCIe 5.0 connection. The LC9 Series features a dual-port design providing 32 GT/s throughput via PCIe 5.0 1x4 or 2x2 configurations, with NVMe 2.0 and NVMe-MI compliance. Built specifically to address density requirements for AI workloads, the drive leverages CMOS directly Bonded to Array (CBA) technology in its flash architecture. The enterprise-class unit is rated at 0.3 drive writes per day (DWPD) and 67,000 TBW endurance, positioning it for read-intensive applications rather than write-heavy workloads. The reported read speeds are around 15 GB/s, as demonstrated at the booth.

The LC9 supports vector database operations through Kioxia's AiSAQ technology implementation, which transfers vector database operations from DRAM to SSD storage. This approach significantly reduces system-level costs while maintaining acceptable latency profiles for AI RAG operations. Kioxia demonstrated the SSD at booth #1811 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center through March 21, with live performance demonstrations highlighting its capabilities in AI dataset retrieval operations. The drive represents a critical advancement for enterprise AI infrastructure where data density and retrieval speeds are becoming bottlenecks in scaled LLM deployments. A massive capacity will allow entire enterprises to operate AI LLMs on top of company data with RAG and at low latency and high endurance.

The AI data center buildout requires massive bandwidth from accelerator to accelerator and from accelerator to CPU. At the core of that bandwidth bridge is PCIe technology, which constantly needs to evolve to satisfy massive bandwidth requirements. Today, PCI-SIG, the working group behind the PCI and PCIe connector, is releasing details about the almost ready 0.9 version of the PCIe 7.0 connector and its final specifications. The latest PCIe 7.0 will bring 128 GT/s speeds, with a bi-directional bandwidth of 512 GB/s in the x16 lane configuration. Targeting applications like 800G Ethernet, AI/ML, cloud, quantum computing, hyperscalers, military/aerospace, and cloud providers all need massive bandwidth for their respective applications and use cases to work flawlessly.

Interestingly, as PCIe doubles bandwidth over the traditional three-year cadence, high bandwidth for things like storage is becoming available on fewer and fewer lanes. For example, PCIe 3.0 with x16 lanes delivers 32 GB/s of bi-directional bandwidth. And now, PCIe 7.0 delivers that same bandwidth on only a single x1 lane. Some other goals of the new PCIe 7.0 include significant improvements in channel parameters and signal integrity while enhancing power efficiency and maintaining the protocol's low-latency characteristics. All while ensuring complete backward compatibility with previous generations of the standard. Notably, the PCIe 7.0 standard uses PAM4 signaling, which was first presented for PCIe 6.0. Here is a nice PAM4 signaling primer if you want to learn more about PAM4 signaling. Below are the specifications of PCIe generations and their respective characteristics. We expect to see final version v1.0 by end of the year, and some PCIe 7.0 accelerators next year.

Today we are delighted to present you the newly launched VEGA M from CHIEFTEC, which boasts 80 Plus Gold certified efficiency, ATX 3.1 compliance and native PCI-E Gen 5 connector.

Features

• Compliant with ATX 12 V 3.1
• Support PCIe GEN 5 (12 V - 2x6)
• 80 Plus Gold certified efficiency
• LLC Half-Bridge converter with DC to DC technology
• Fully modular cable management

Supermicro, Inc., a Total IT Solution Provider for AI, Cloud, Storage, and 5G/Edge, announced a new optimized storage server for high-performance software-defined storage workloads. This first-of-its-class storage server from a major Tier 1 provider utilizes Supermicro's system design expertise to create a high-density storage server for software-defined workloads found in AI and ML training and inferencing, analytics and enterprise storage workloads. Supermicro worked closely with NVIDIA and WEKA to enable customers to create power-efficient high-performance storage systems for their AI factories.

"The Supermicro Petascale server with the NVIDIA Grace CPU Superchip highlights Supermicro's focus on innovation and customer choice," said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. "We have developed the Petascale storage server using the NVIDIA Grace CPU with 144 Arm Neoverse V2 cores enabling high-performance I/O for software-defined storage workloads. We have demonstrated that the system can fully unleash the system's PCIe Gen 5 performance SSD bandwidth with linear scalability. Supermicro continues to bring to market the most advanced and optimized storage solutions available."

ASUS has discreetly modified its controversial Q-Release Slim mechanism in the newly launched ROG Crosshair X870E Apex motherboard, removing a metal bracket linked to GPU PCIe connector scratches. The unannounced revision, spotted by Uniko's Hardware, follows months of backlash from enthusiasts who reported cosmetic damage to high-end GPUs after repeated use of the quick-release feature. While ASUS has not formally addressed the redesign, it acknowledges the issue—a stark contrast to its earlier dismissal of concerns as "typical wear-and-tear" after 60+ removal cycles. The controversy, first spotted in January 2025, escalated when users shared evidence of scratched PCIe pins on platforms like Reddit and Bilibili.

ASUS's global responses varied sharply: its US division downplayed functional risks, while ASUS China rolled out compensation, including motherboard replacements and store credits, and confirmed a redesign was underway. This regional split shows differing consumer protection norms, with China's aggressive compensation contrasting Western markets' reliance on warranty assurances. Competitors seized the moment. GIGABYTE's AORUS Japan publicly mocked ASUS with a 100-cycle stress test of its EZ Latch Plus, showcasing zero GPU damage—a direct jab at Q-Release Slim's durability. The campaign, echoed by GIGABYTE's Western accounts, emphasized rivalries in the premium motherboard segment. ASUS's quiet hardware fix avoids a formal recall, likely due to the niche impact—frequent GPU swaps are rare among mainstream users.

MSI IPC, a global leader in industrial computing solutions, proudly unveils the MS-CF05, V2.0, a high-performance ATX motherboard engineered for industrial automation, edge computing, and embedded applications. Designed to support 14th, 13th, and 12th Gen Intel Core, Pentium, and Celeron processors, the MS-CF05, V2.0 delivers exceptional computing power, scalability, and I/O flexibility, including a PCI slot for legacy support, making it ideal for modern industrial needs.

Around late January, concerned owners of high-end ASUS motherboards uploaded photo and video evidence of alleged physical damage caused by the manufacturer's PCIe "Q-Release Slim" system. Social media and forum posts showed worrying scraping and scratching on graphics card interfaces. The North American branch of ASUS responded to reports with a public service announcement: "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." Rival brands have kept tabs on this sorry situation; many offer similar motherboard-mounted GPU quick release systems. Yesterday, GIGABYTE's Japanese office posted a very "on the nose" demonstration of their EZ Latch Plus design.

The AORUS Japan social media account's "Ultimate PCIe Scratch Test" video involved the repeated insertion and removal of a candidate card from a GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE motherboard. An anonymous employee completed one hundred cycles. Upon the experiment's conclusion, the graphics card's interface displayed zero evidence of physical deterioration. The manufacturer's Japanese AORUS branch boasted (via machine translation): "start building your PC with confidence! GIGABYTE's renowned easy DIY and ultra-durable design ensures smooth, hassle-free builds and rock-solid reliability. No more worrying about peeling golden finger contacts or scratches from metal edges." Their sarcastic delivery seemingly pokes fun at ASUS and the "troubled" Q-Release Slim system; it should be noted that it is a relatively new design. As reported back in early February, ASUS China launched an extensive customer support/compensation program. According to user accounts, some very expensive custom GeForce RTX 50-series cards have suffered cosmetic damage on PCIe interfaces. GIGABYTE's Western web presences have joined in on the fun—the AORUS Official social media account delivered a slightly different spin on their overall message: "game on with confidence! With our renowned DIY-friendly and Ultra Durable design, you'll enjoy a smooth, hassle-free build with rock-solid reliability. No more worries about gold finger paint peeling or scratches from metal edges—our design provides complete protection for both your GPU and motherboard."

Embedded World is one of the most influential exhibitions in the global embedded technology sector, attracting numerous experts in industrial computing, automotive electronics, IoT, and AI technologies each year. Phison Electronics (8299TT), a leading innovator of NAND controller and NAND storage solutions, will participate in the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion at Embedded World 2025 in Germany from March 11 to 13.

Phison will showcase its exclusive AI solution aiDAPTIV+, the enterprise ultra-high-capacity PASCARI PCIe 5.0 122.88 TB SSD, and its latest automotive storage technology, the MPT5 Automotive PCIe Gen 4 SSD, demonstrating over 15 years of technical expertise in the embedded market.

Logic Fruit Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge FPGA-based solutions, proudly announces the release of its latest High-Speed Interface IP stack, including PCIe Gen 6 Controller IP, PCIe Gen 6 PHY IP, and CXL 3 Controller IP.

These high-performance solutions enable seamless data transfer, ensuring reliability, scalability, and efficiency for next-generation computing applications such as AI/ML, data centers, and high-performance networking.

The ICY DOCK CP146 is a revolutionary mobile rack that transforms unused PCIe panel space into high-speed removable M.2 NVMe SSD bay (2230/2242/2260/2280). Unlike traditional PCIe adapters, the CP146 allows users to install M.2 NVMe SSDs without occupying any PCIe slots. Many modern system chassis include PCIe panel areas with no corresponding PCIe slots underneath—perfect for upgrading with the CP146.

With its SlimSAS 4i interface, the CP146 supports PCIe 4.0 x4 bandwidth, delivering up to 64 Gbps transfer speeds. The tool-free removable SSD tray streamlines SSD installation and replacement, making it ideal for users who prioritize both functionality and convenience.

Bolt Graphics announces Zeus, a completely new GPU design for high performance workloads including rendering, HPC, and gaming. Zeus addresses performance, efficiency, and functionality limitations with legacy GPUs.

Zeus is orders of magnitude faster than any other GPU in key workloads. Users can gain 10x in rendering performance, 6x in FP64 HPC workload performance, and 300x in electromagnetic wave simulations. Users running these types of demanding workloads need access to large amounts of memory. Bolt brings expandable memory to GPUs, for the first time, which allows users to increase their memory up to 384 GB in a PCIe card, and up to 2.25 TB per Zeus in a 2U server. A rack of Zeus 2U servers can be configured with up to 180 TB of memory, 8x larger than legacy GPUs.

Industrial digitalization is reshaping connectivity requirements across various sectors. From smart manufacturing floors to remote monitoring stations, the industrial environment demands wireless solutions that excel in extreme conditions. Temperature fluctuations ranging from -40°C to 85°C, which were once limiting factors for wireless deployments, now represent the standard operating range for mission-critical industrial systems. This shift reflects the growing importance of wireless connectivity in driving industrial automation, remote operations, and the broader Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) ecosystem.

Wi-Fi 6: Mastering Temperature Extremes
The Cervoz new Wi-Fi module, MEC-WIFI-2042B-30 W delivers reliable wireless connectivity across the industrial temperature range of -40°C to 85°C. This temperature resilience, combined with Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax) technology, ensures consistent connectivity in environments where standard wireless solutions would fail. The module's 2T2R MIMO architecture delivers throughput up to 1201 Mbps on 80 MHz channels while maintaining stability across both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Whether deployed in freezing outdoor installations or high-temperature industrial environments, this robust architecture ensures uninterrupted performance for data-intensive applications.

TSMC appears to be in for a competitive period, as sources close to Reuters note that both NVIDIA and Broadcom have tested Intel's 18A node with initial test chips. These tests are early indicators of whether Intel can successfully pivot into the contract manufacturing sector currently dominated by TSMC. Intel's 18A technology—featuring RibbonFET transistors and PowerVia backside power delivery—continues progressing through its development roadmap. The technology's performance characteristics reportedly sit between TSMC's current and next-generation nodes, creating a narrow window of competitive opportunity that Intel must capitalize on. What makes these particular tests significant is their positioning relative to actual production commitments. Chip designers typically run multiple test phases before allocating high-volume manufacturing contracts, with each progression reducing technical risk.

Reuters also reported that a six-month qualification delay for third-party IP blocks, which represents a critical vulnerability in Intel's foundry strategy, potentially undermining its ability to service smaller chip designers who rely on these standardized components. However, when this IP (PHY, controller, PCIe interface, etc.) is qualified for the 18A node, it is expected to go into many SoCs that will equal in millions of shipped chips. Additionally, the geopolitical dimensions of Intel's foundry efforts ease concerns of US-based chip designers as they gain a valuable manufacturing partner in their supply chain. Nonetheless, the 18A node is competitive with TSMC, and Intel plans only to evolve from here. Intel's current financial trajectory is the number one beneficiary if it proves good. With foundry revenues declining 60% year-over-year and profitability pushed beyond 2027, the company must demonstrate commercial viability to investors increasingly skeptical of its capital-intensive manufacturing strategy. Securing high-profile customers like NVIDIA could provide the market validation necessary to sustain continued investment in its foundry infrastructure.

Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd (Credo) an innovator in providing secure, high-speed connectivity solutions that deliver improved reliability and energy efficiency, today announced that its PCI Express (PCIe) 5.0 specification capable "Toucan" retimer has successfully passed the testing at the PCI-SIG Compliance Workshop #133 in Taipei. This milestone confirms the retimer's compliance with the rigorous standards required for PCIe 5.0 technology integrations, and it now will be officially listed on the PCI-SIG Integrators List.

"We are excited to announce that our Toucan retimer has passed the PCI-SIG Compliance Workshop, a critical step in ensuring Credo's PCIe technology solutions seamlessly integrate into the evolving high-performance AI infrastructure," said Phil Kumin, AVP of Product for PCIe/CXL at Credo. "Considering that retimers are required to undergo extensive testing, this achievement not only reinforces our leadership in high-speed connectivity but also provides our customers with the confidence that Credo's products meet the highest standards of interoperability and performance."

Montage Technology today announced the mass production of its I/O expansion device for the new-generation CPU platforms—the I/O Hub (IOH) chip M88IO3020. This product is specifically designed for Intel's Birch Stream platform, aiming to provide a highly integrated and flexible I/O expansion solution for applications such as cloud computing, big data, and enterprise storage.

Montage's IOH chip establishes connectivity with Intel's latest Granite Rapids processors via the PCIe bus, achieving a maximum bandwidth of 64 Gbps. The chip features configurable high-speed interfaces including PCIe, SATA, and USB to meet diverse application requirements.

Today, we introduced the Framework Desktop, a tiny 4.5L Mini-ITX desktop powered by AMD's massive new Ryzen AI Max processors. Pre-orders are open now, with first shipments in early Q3 2025. When AMD shared the Ryzen AI Max with us, we immediately knew we had to use it. It has up to 16 CPU cores at 5.1 GHz boost clock, discrete-level Radeon 8060S graphics, and support for up to an insane 128 GB of unified LPDDR5x. That enables 1440p or higher gaming on the heaviest titles, big creative and workstation workloads, and true local AI use cases. This is an absolute monster of a processor, and we shifted our roadmap a year ago to make space for it. In a desktop form factor, we get to unlock every bit of its performance with 120 W sustained power and 140 W boost while staying quiet and cool.

You may still be wondering, why does Framework need to build a desktop? Aren't desktops already modular and upgradeable? They are. In fact, the desktop PC ethos is part of what inspired the Framework Laptop to begin with. The desktop world is amazing. There is a broad, long-lived, interoperable ecosystem with hundreds of brands and hundreds of millions of consumers participating. You can build, upgrade, repair, and personalize to the limits of your imagination (and budget, and desk space), and share your amazing creations with all of the other true believers. We want to make this space as accessible as we possibly can by building a desktop that is simultaneously small and simple and incredibly powerful and customizable. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience the culture around PCs and PC gaming first-hand.

NVIDIA's problems with its latest flagship RTX 50 series "Blackwell" GPUs continue. First, it was melting power cables, then stability issues, and recently, the case of missing ROPs. Today, we got a confirmation that NVIDIA is investigating users experiencing significant stability problems, with reports of widespread black screen issues and system crashes since the launch of the dedicated 572 driver branch. Unlike owners of previous generation cards who can roll back to stable drivers, RTX 50 series users are particularly affected as no alternative drivers are available for their hardware. The problems span across the entire RTX 50 lineup, including the 5090, 5080, and newly announced 5070 Ti models. Users have reported issues ranging from display flickering to complete system failures, with some experiencing blue screen of death (BSOD) errors during normal operation.

The situation is especially problematic when using advanced features like DLSS 4 frame generation. NVIDIA staff member Manuel recently addressed these concerns on the GeForce Forums, confirming that the company is actively investigating the problems. Preliminary investigation suggests the issues might extend beyond driver software, potentially requiring VBIOS updates to resolve the stability problems fully. Some users have found temporary relief by reducing PCIe speeds below Gen 5 or lowering monitor refresh rates to 60 Hz, suggesting potential firmware-level compatibility issues. However, these workarounds are not guaranteed solutions for all affected users. The latest driver update (572.47), which added support for the RTX 5070 Ti, failed to address these critical stability issues, including only a single bug fix related to monitor wake-up from sleep mode. This has left many early adopters of the RTX 50 series frustrated with their premium hardware purchases.

Micron Technology, Inc., today announced the Micron 4600 PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD, an innovative client storage drive for OEMs that is designed to deliver exceptional performance and user experience for gamers, creators and professionals. Leveraging Micron G9 TLC NAND, the 4600 SSD is Micron's first Gen 5 client SSD and doubles the performance of its predecessor.

The Micron 4600 SSD showcases sequential read speeds of 14.5 GB/s and write speeds of 12.0 GB/s. These capabilities allow users to load a large language model (LLM) from the SSD to DRAM in less than one second, enhancing the user experience with AI PCs. For AI model loading times, the 4600 SSD reduces load times by up to 62% compared to Gen 4 performance SSDs ensuring rapid deployment of LLMs and other AI workloads. Additionally, the 4600 SSD provides up to 107% improved energy efficiency (MB/s per watt) compared to Gen 4 performance SSDs, enhancing battery life and overall system efficiency.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading innovator in computing, networking, and storage solutions, today officially launched the QDA-UMP4A adapter. This adapter allows users to install an M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD into a 2.5-inch U.2 (SFF-8639) PCIe NVMe SSD slot of a QNAP NAS.

QNAP Product Manager Andy Chuang stated: "The QDA-UMP4A is ideal for users who need versatile drive options for various scenarios, from enterprise applications to multimedia workloads. Users can boost data-heavy applications with QNAP's U.2 SSD-based flagship all-flash NAS models."

German overclocking specialist Der8auer has showcased a custom water block for NVIDIA's flagship RTX 5090 Founders Edition, achieving a remarkable 30-degree Celsius reduction in core GPU temperatures. The prototype copper cooling solution demonstrated peak operating temperatures of just 43.8°C, compared to the stock cooler's 73.8°C under identical testing conditions. The design features an all-copper construction with a substantial 14 mm-thick cold plate, engineered specifically for optimal thermal transfer from the GB202 die. While maintaining the dual-slot form factor of the original Founders Edition cooler, the water block incorporates multiple cooling channels beneath a transparent top panel that reveals the coolant flow.

Memory temperatures also significantly improved, dropping by 38 degrees Celsius below stock measurements. Despite its impressive thermal performance, the prototype faces several engineering challenges. The team was constrained by the graphics card's display output ribbon cable, which prevented a more compact design closer to the actual PCB dimensions. Additionally, the Founders Edition card's unique split PCIe finger design presented structural concerns that require additional reinforcement before any potential commercial release. Der8auer's prototype prioritizes function over aesthetics, omitting common features like RGB lighting in favor of raw cooling performance. The water block's industrial design reflects its proof-of-concept nature, though the transparent top panel offers practical utility for monitoring coolant flow. While no retail release timeline has been announced, Der8auer indicated that addressing the PCIe slot structural support issue remains a critical milestone before any commercial version could be considered.

NVIDIA's high-TDP flagship GPU, the GeForce RTX 5090, appears to cause additional headaches for users, not including the high power bill. According to a Reddit user, we now have the first documented case of a melted power connector on NVIDIA's flagship GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition, reigniting concerns over high-wattage GPU safety from the last generation. While playing Battlefield 5, Reddit user ivan6953 detected a burning odor and immediately shut down their system, only to discover severe damage to both the RTX 5090's 12V-2×6 connector and their ASUS ROG Loki SFX-L PSU. The user had employed a Moddiy 12VHPWR cable, marketed as ATX 3.0/PCIe 5.0-compliant and rated for RTX 5090's 600 watts of power. Despite claims of secure installation—audible clicks at both ends—the cable melted at 500-520 W load, charring connectors on the GPU and PSU.

Notably, the same cable had powered an RTX 4090 FE for two years without issue. NVIDIA's RTX 5090 FE ships with a redesigned adapter featuring a longer, more flexible cable and an angled connector to reduce strain in compact builds. NVIDIA asserts that no incidents have occurred with its bundled adapter, emphasizing compliance with the updated 12V-2×6 standard, which shortens sensing pins to prevent power flow if connections loosen. Hence, an older connector can not provide 100% secure usage despite the user thinking that the sensing pins are touching properly.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, and storage solutions innovator, has expanded its diverse portfolio of short-depth NAS products designed for edge storage. The new 1U short-depth rackmount 4-bay 2.5GbE NAS TS-h765eU features a shorter chassis depth and is perfect for small media cabinets and wall-mounted network racks in space-constrained office environments or industrial settings. The TS-h765eU is a long-term supply model till 2031, making it a reliable NAS choice for organizations planning long-term projects or multi-site deployments.

The TS-h765eU combines robust performance, multitasking capabilities, and great I/O expandability to meet diverse application requirements. It features the latest Intel Atom x7000C Series processor, supports built-in 8 GB DDR5 RAM, upgradable to 16 GB (In-Band ECC), has dual 2.5GbE ports, and provides four 3.5-inch SATA drive bays and three E1.S/M.2 PCIe NVMe slots for installing E1.S/M.2 2280 SSDs to enhance read/write performance or upgrading to 10GbE using E1.S interface network modules. Running the ZFS-based QuTS hero operating system, the TS-h765eU prioritizes data integrity, immutability with WORM protection, and powerful data reduction.

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.

HXL/9550pro and HardwareLuxx's Andreas Schilling shared evidence of the ASUS PCIe Q-Release Slim—the manufacturer's latest ejection mechanism—causing damage to graphics card PCIe connectors. Recent feedback suggests that repeated usage can scrape or grind off material present on a card's interface. HXL gathered critiques from multiple sources (owners of Intel 800 and AMD 800 series boards), and linked a relevant Bilibili video. The footage presents a damaged GALAX RTX 4070 Ti HOF OC LAB model, following sixty quick release cycles—paired with a ROG Strix B850-A Gaming Wi-Fi S motherboard. Tony Wu, ASUS China's general manager, eventually weighed in on community discussions—stating that he will investigate this matter and report back with his findings.

Schilling expressed similar frustrations—his chosen platform is producing unwanted results: "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 (GeForce RTX 5090) card got stuck in the slot. First damage visible." Press outlets have picked up on the recent surge in Q-Release Slim user feedback—several publications have gathered additional examples of the new mechanism inflicting damage on a variety of graphics card models.