Maximus XI Extreme PCH heatsink screw stuck / RMA?

[B3rT111]

Hi everyone

I recently received my brandnew M11E motherboard.
Unfortunately one of the PCH heatsink screws (3 in total) sits very tight and can't be loosened.
So far every attempt to loosen the screw failed. To make matters worse the screw head is stripped.
It is one of those micro flathead screws. Very small and fragile. The other two screws were secured by Loctite. Maybe too much?

There are two M2 NVMe ports below the PCH heatsink I want to access.

I uploaded some pictures in order to show you
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i167973umisyiro/AAA5tuYuqVBgyapyiTAN8vpda?dl=0

Any idea? RMA?

It's so frustrating. 😞

Best regards
Robert

[Guitarmageddon1]

marcolisi wrote:
It seems that others got into the same problem.
Hence this is an issue. It should be something with no issue whatsoever .
We are here to talk about it and there were other before having the same issue with other asus motherboard.

Spending 600 dollars to get screwed by a screw doesn't feel right.

I should bill asus 20 dollars for the extractor I have ordered for me now trying to remove the screw

Where did you find a small enough extractor? I was worried about tracking one down until by some miracle I got the screw loose. I was sweating haha. Now Im missing one but the graphics card covers it up. I learned my lesson thats for sure.

[marcolisi]

Guitarmageddon888 wrote:
Where did you find a small enough extractor? I was worried about tracking one down until by some miracle I got the screw loose. I was sweating haha. Now Im missing one but the graphics card covers it up. I learned my lesson thats for sure.

How were you able to lose up the screw ?

[rjbarker]

marcolisi wrote:
It seems that others got into the same problem.
Hence this is an issue. It should be something with no issue whatsoever .
We are here to talk about it and there were other before having the same issue with other asus motherboard.

Spending 600 dollars to get screwed by a screw doesn't feel right.

I should bill asus 20 dollars for the extractor I have ordered for me now trying to remove the screw

I have removed many many VRM Heat Sinks , PCH covers...and dismantled 680, 780Ti and 1080Ti GPU's to install EK Waterblocks.....heres the deal with all of them...many tiny tiny screws will have locktite on them and are indeed "seated" quite firmly (for obvious reasons)...this is not different than taking out all the screws from a $1000 GPU (the little tiny ones that secure the GPU PCB to the Stock Air Cooler.....I wouldnt doubt that there are some screws that are perhaps a little more snug than others..BUT as was pointed out earlier ...patience and the CORRECT size phillips screwdriver IS the the key........once the screwdriver is seated properly in the screwhead there should be "0" play...and push down firmly as you twist in a counterclockwise direction...if that screwdriver head has any looseness to it all in the screw...it isnt the correct size and you very likely will strip it.....
I winder how many of these stripped screw heads are due to the wrong size screwdriver ........
Trust me when I dismantle GPU's to install Waterblocks.....I dont (nor ever have) stripped a screw head......

btw...I have never had to take a hair dryer to a board for this....my phillips screwdriver is from a set that I purchased a number of years ago...the actual screwdriver is about the size of a bic pen,,,,

[rjbarker]

marcolisi wrote:
It seems that others got into the same problem.
Hence this is an issue. It should be something with no issue whatsoever .
We are here to talk about it and there were other before having the same issue with other asus motherboard.

Spending 600 dollars to get screwed by a screw doesn't feel right.

I should bill asus 20 dollars for the extractor I have ordered for me now trying to remove the screw

I have removed many many VRM Heat Sinks , PCH covers...and dismantled 680, 780Ti and 1080Ti GPU's to install EK Waterblocks.....heres the deal with all of them...many tiny tiny screws will have locktite on them and are indeed "seated" quite firmly (for obvious reasons)...this is not different than taking out all the screws from a $1000 GPU (the little tiny ones that secure the GPU PCB to the Stock Air Cooler.....I wouldnt doubt that there are some screws that are perhaps a little more snug than others..BUT as was pointed out earlier ...patience and the CORRECT size phillips screwdriver IS the the key........once the screwdriver is seated properly in the screwhead there should be "0" play...and push down firmly as you twist in a counterclockwise direction...if that screwdriver head has any looseness to it all in the screw...it isnt the correct size and you very likely will strip it.....
I winder how many of these stripped screw heads are due to the wrong size screwdriver ........
Trust me when I dismantle GPU's to install Waterblocks.....I dont (nor ever have) stripped a screw head......

btw...I have never had to take a hair dryer to a board for this....my phillips screwdriver is from a set that I purchased a number of years ago...the actual screwdriver is about the size of a bic pen,,,,

[btrach144]

+1. I had a screw on the PCH that was impossible to remove. I got it off but nearly stripped it in the process.

My first board had a stuck column of pixels on the LiveDash display. Second LiveDash display was sideways.

It’s like they have no quality control.*

[JustinThyme]

This is mostly about the proper tool. There are many on the market but unfortunately most of those are cheap. My hex kit was actually made for RC cars (another overly expensive hobby) Hudy. The tool should fit so snug it takes a little effort to get in and out. The junk that gets shipped with parts are not useable. If the screws are really that bad and need different ones just get some grade 8 or 316 stainless replacements. As mentioned if the loctite has a good grip a little heat solves that.*

On a sour note the OP is now forced to try an easy out or drill the head off and use small locking pliers. *