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For this problem their motherboards keep on having:

https://www.google.com/search?q=asus+m.2+screw+stuck&oq=asus&aqs=chrome.0.69i59l3j69i57j69i60.1577j0j7&client=tablet-android-nvidia&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

The boards are advertised with having however many slots for M.2 drives, but the screw that comes holding the cover down to access those slots is sealed shut, and the consumer cannot open them to access the slot with regular normal hand tools (screwdrivers).

People mention they use loctite blue glue but this isn't the issue - all the other screws that came off also have that, and on my last board that had this problem I was able to remove the whole M.2 heatsink from the bottom and tried cooking the screws on my gas hob to melt any such glue, tried using a rubber band under the screwdriver for better grip, tried using pliers on a raised screw to try and turn it (and ofc to the left!), and the screws won't loosen the slightest.

Additionally on the new Z490 board I got, they had the nerve to update the screws on the top heatsink to stronger reinforced flat head screws that open a lot easier to access the top M.2 slot, but then the single screw holding down the cover to the bottom one was the same old weak ass aluminium screw with a tiny Phillips head and sealed down permanently.

Only thing I can do is return it to the seller and I asked them to try remove the screw themselves and if they can send me it back, if not I'll try one replacement and record trying to access the M.2 slot (I already recorded it for my Z390), and if the problem persists small claims court against Asus.

I sent Asus an email with a suitable out of court settlement - Provide me a fully working faultless Z490 itx board without these minor defects and I am still willing to pay for it, albeit subtracted from my other upgrade costs as the only reason I needed to upgrade was due to having the same problem on my Z390, then trying a different brand, other brands don't overclock my ram at all, sent it back and tried to find a replacement Asus Z390, no longer stocked or made, so had to order a Z490 upgrade, and now the same problem.

When the Asus ITX motherboards actually work as they should, you can't get anything better, but the problem is getting one without this and often times other minor defects.

For this problem their motherboards keep on having: https://www.google.com/search?q=asus+m.2+screw+stuck&oq=asus&aqs=chrome.0.69i59l3j69i57j69i60.1577j0j7&client=tablet-android-nvidia&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8 The boards are advertised with having however many slots for M.2 drives, but the screw that comes holding the cover down to access those slots is sealed shut, and the consumer cannot open them to access the slot with regular normal hand tools (screwdrivers). People mention they use loctite blue glue but this isn't the issue - all the other screws that came off also have that, and on my last board that had this problem I was able to remove the whole M.2 heatsink from the bottom and tried cooking the screws on my gas hob to melt any such glue, tried using a rubber band under the screwdriver for better grip, tried using pliers on a raised screw to try and turn it (and ofc to the left!), and the screws won't loosen the slightest. Additionally on the new Z490 board I got, they had the nerve to update the screws on the top heatsink to stronger reinforced flat head screws that open a lot easier to access the top M.2 slot, but then the single screw holding down the cover to the bottom one was the same old weak ass aluminium screw with a tiny Phillips head and sealed down permanently. Only thing I can do is return it to the seller and I asked them to try remove the screw themselves and if they can send me it back, if not I'll try one replacement and record trying to access the M.2 slot (I already recorded it for my Z390), and if the problem persists small claims court against Asus. I sent Asus an email with a suitable out of court settlement - Provide me a fully working faultless Z490 itx board without these minor defects and I am still willing to pay for it, albeit subtracted from my other upgrade costs as the only reason I needed to upgrade was due to having the same problem on my Z390, then trying a different brand, other brands don't overclock my ram at all, sent it back and tried to find a replacement Asus Z390, no longer stocked or made, so had to order a Z490 upgrade, and now the same problem. When the Asus ITX motherboards actually work as they should, you can't get anything better, but the problem is getting one without this and often times other minor defects.

(post is archived)

[–] 1 pt

I used to love smaller manufacturer boards, like DFI and ABIT. Sure, they were buggy and sometimes trash, but those quirks came with benefits. High end chipsets and capacitors, better layouts, custom bioses and nearly infinite bios settings (hello max overclocks!) and you knew that your purchase was supporting innovation.

Which manufacturers are like that today? Maybe MSI, to a lesser degree?

[–] 0 pt

I've not tried a current MSI board, gigabyte won't overclock on my ram at all and I have a Z390 with up to June 30th to return by for a refund. Asus boards when they work can't be beatwn.

The problem now is getting an Asus board that works as advertised! Can't even access the M.2 slots, my last one also had a severed CMOS battery cable.

When trying to raise awareness of the problems with Asus themselves, it's always 'we have no contract with you, go to the retailer'.

All the retailer can do is refund or replace, but all the replacements have the same problem!

Other users resort to using drills to remove the screws, or I just read supergluing a screwdriver to the screw so it doesnt slip or strip and you can put on more pressure.

But why when removable screws to access the M.2 slots should be removable in the first place? And when it happens 2 times so far, and if it happens a 3rd time, retailers will get fed up of me and say 'you can't have had 3 faulty ones in a row!'.

THEY'RE NOT 'FAULTY' THEY HAVE STUCK M.2 SCREWS FUCKING OPEN ONE YOURSELVES AND REMOVE THE SCREWS FOR ME BEFORE SENDING IT TO ME THEN!!! But they won't currently do this because of coronavirus.

[–] 1 pt

gay

[–] 0 pt

Me or Asus?

Well yes I am but did you mean to insult me or them?

MSI > ASUS

[–] 0 pt

For normal sized boards maybe, but both MSI and Gigabyte ITX boards aren't as well specified for both CPU and Ram overclocking, and like I mentioned I tried a Gigabyte one already and it is completely incompatible with my current ram.