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• (edited )
I'm suing Asus

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.

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[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

I have a MSI itx build running 3800mhz ram. Was a simple click and go. Imo it's likely your ram causing the issue, but in reality idk what your setup is. So who knows.

[–] • 0 pt

The ram runs at 4000 MHz CL18 on two previous Asus boards.

It won't even boot at 3400 CL 16, and still blue screens at stock 3200 CL16 on my Gigabyte Z390.

Research into this is because other manufacturers motherboards only seem to handle overclocking 8 Gb sticks. Asus Optimem I and II seem to be the only way to fully overclock high density ram, as well as also being much better for overclocking 8 Gb sticks too.

However well your ram clocks on an MSI board, it will likely still do more on an Asus board with just 2 ram slots and Optimem II (currently Z490 ITX and Apex boards).

MSI / Gigabyte / Asrock specify their boards as default to have and work with 4 ram slots / modules. Asus boards with 2 slots specifically optimize having just two slots for vastly better memory overclocking.

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt (edited )

You sound like an ASUS fanboi, and Idk where you're getting your info. Specs on my board support up to 4600mhz 4800mhz, and it only has 2 DIMM slots. I just think getting DDR4 at that speed is a waste of money seeing as DDR5 is on the horizon.

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

I didn't buy DDR4 4000.

I bought 2x16 Gb 3200 MHz micron E Die for £150 and it overclocked to 4000 MHz CL18 on both my Asus Z370 (I accidentally damaged the pins) and Z390 (stuck screw and broken CMOS).

Specs on the Gigabyte board I got said it supports 4400 MHz but doesn't even boot at 3400 MHz.

Do me a favour then to check - download memtest for free and open it, and tell me if it still says you have 2 populated dimms plus 2 empty ones. This is what it shows for my Gigabyte board. If that's the case then the board has not been optimised for 2 ram slots, they simply remove two but the board still has connections and operates as though it has 4 so it doesn't work any better. Asus boards with 2 ram slots fully disable all the hardware for the two extra slots, so all the power delivery and whatever else goes to just those two slots.

The specs that are listed on the board are usually only tested with 8 Gb ram sticks, and there are no power delivery optimizations for just two slots do enable what such Asus boards can pull off with higher density sticks.