In the competitive world of PC hardware, companies often find subtle and not-so-subtle ways to point out each other’s flaws. Recently, Gigabyte took the opportunity to highlight one of its motherboard features while poking fun at rival ASUS. The moment came after reports surfaced about ASUS’s Q-Release Slim mechanism scratching the connectors of graphics cards during repeated use.
ASUS’s Q-Release Slim, which debuted on its 800 series motherboards, was designed to make it easier for users to remove and install graphics cards. The feature, however, quickly drew criticism when users noticed it could leave scratches and even chip the edges of GPU connectors after repeated insertions. Although ASUS has since updated the mechanism to fix the issue, it gave competitors like Gigabyte plenty of room to take aim.
On social media, Gigabyte shared a video demonstration of its own EZ-Latch Plus feature, which serves a similar purpose. In the clip, the company showcased a graphics card being inserted and removed from a Gigabyte motherboard more than one hundred times without showing any visible damage to the GPU connector. The post proudly noted that after all those insertions, the card remained in perfect condition.
While Gigabyte did not name ASUS directly, the timing and tone of the post made it clear who the target was. ASUS’s Q-Release controversy has been widely discussed among PC building enthusiasts, and Gigabyte clearly wanted to position its EZ-Latch Plus as a superior, more reliable solution.
For consumers, this serves as a reminder that even convenience features can have unintended consequences if not carefully engineered. Gigabyte’s move also underscores how important durability and attention to detail have become in high-end PC components, where buyers expect flawless performance and long-term reliability.
In the end, Gigabyte’s playful jab highlights the value of competition in the industry. It pushes companies to refine their designs and gives builders more choices. For now, Gigabyte can enjoy a small victory while ASUS works to ensure its revised Q-Release Slim lives up to its promise without leaving a mark.
