How to access PCIe ejection Levers under long cards?

[ArtistUSA]

GTX 1080 Ti Graphics Card

I have GTX 1080 Ti graphics card inserted in a ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme mother board. The graphics card has failed, and so the need to remove it. Trouble is this card is long enough to make the PCIe slot's ejector levers inaccessible as shown in the picture. What is the best way to reach the ejection levers, and press them down, so that this card can be removed?

[Nate152]

Hello ArtistUSA

On the backplate side, you should be able to get to the pcie latch with the eraser end of a pencil.

[ArtistUSA · Accepted solution]

There is no room for anything the diameter of a pencil under this graphics card. This is true even when the card is pulled out as far as its retainer will allow, and the rear end pivoted up from where it is retainned at the PCIe connector as far as it will go.

I attempted with a plastic knife. This did not work for me because I cannot see what I am doing under the graphics card. Also, on the empty PCI connector, I have experienced how much force is required to push it down. It is a lot. The plastic knife cannot do it because it is not rigid enough. When tested on the empty PCI connector the knife flexes too much in the length between my finger, and the latch.

How would this be done in a computer repair shop? Surely a shop cannot afford to spend the amount of time I already have just to remove a card like this. Is there a specialized tool for doing this? 

[Nate152 · Accepted solution]

You might need to use a screwdriver or something similar. Be extremely careful not to scratch any traces on the motherboard.

Here is a video that may help.

[ArtistUSA]

I was trying to press down on that lever from the wrong direction. I see now that it is accessible frrom the board's side. This did work to enable to extract the board. Thanks 🙂