PSA Warning: Asus Z690 Formula VRM block corroded

Grim5 · 15 Feb 2023 at 05:51

This is now in the media after several owners encountered this. The VRM block on this motherboard uses coated aluminium and a number of users have now reported corrosion and gunk in the block and their loop

PSA: Corrosion Happening on ASUS ROG Z690 Formula VRM Block, Company Remains Silent

I've been using the ASUS ROG Z690 Formula motherboard in all my recent CPU water block reviews, and also detailed it here for a specific EK VRM bridge block article. While the board has reached end-of-life status at ASUS internally, the company's customers are only just starting to face...

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random_matt · 15 Feb 2023 at 06:48

People should read the whole article including the comments. Hope Asus get the biggest law suit in history, cut corner champions.

Rroff · 15 Feb 2023 at 06:54

Surprise... good luck to any affected customers.

pastymuncher · 15 Feb 2023 at 10:11

Why do this on a board that they charge a small fortune for? It's nothing but penny pinching!! As for EK's involvement, that's just another example of how poorly they think of their customers. Why else would they cheap out and use aluminium instead of doing it properly with copper. Even if Asus specified aluminium EK should have spoken up and warned them that this would happen. They would know that the majority of water cooling loops will have copper components in them and that this would be the result. Mixing metals is basic knowledge in what not to do when building a loop.

Fatpizza · 15 Feb 2023 at 15:08

I'm waiting for ther V3000 in white so I only set up my Z690 formula loop in a temporary setup last week. Took the VRM block out of the loop today.
Sucks though because I built a PC for a friend using this motherboard who has no idea about water cooling, so now I'll have to redo the CPU section of his loop to avoid the VRM block. Or just wait for the replacement and hope for the best.

LePhuronn · 16 Feb 2023 at 14:11

If the aluminium was copper or nickel plated it wouldn't be an issue. But we all know what EK's nickel plating is like.

And there's no excuse for using aluminium in the first place.

Thekwango · 16 Feb 2023 at 14:19

good ole Asus at it again. premium price, poverty product.

clone · 19 Feb 2023 at 06:04

That's disgusting I had that motherboard and used the vrm heatsink and I never knew they made it like that.

Grim5 · 19 Feb 2023 at 06:20

I had the x570 version of this board and the loop connected through that VRM block for a year and a half before the look got disassembled and the loop was still clean, I even took a torch and had a look around and it looked clean inside. So hit seems this change to aluminium is a recent development for Asus as they try to cut costs

clone · 27 Feb 2023 at 07:23

I see they are offering a new block or full refund on this board now.

Fatpizza · 27 Feb 2023 at 07:37

clone said:
I see they are offering a new block or full refund on this board now.

Where did you see that?

clone · 27 Feb 2023 at 07:50

Gamers nexus.

BUDFORCE · 5 Mar 2023 at 21:36

Thekwango said:
good ole Asus at it again. premium price, poverty product.

This so much.

SC489 · 5 Apr 2023 at 08:53

Does this problem affect the Strix Z790 boards?

clone · 5 Apr 2023 at 09:28

Does it have a built-in waterblock.

LuckyBenski · 5 Apr 2023 at 09:31

SC489 said:
Does this problem affect the Strix Z790 boards?

I don't see a Strix Z790 board with an included water block so I don't think it'll be an issue.

clone · 5 Apr 2023 at 09:32

Then your fine

SC489 · 5 Apr 2023 at 13:03

clone said:
Does it have a built-in waterblock.

No just a bulky VRM heatsink

pc-guy · 8 Apr 2023 at 20:44

Looks like EK messed it up big time as opposed to Asus.

I still don’t understand why EK is such a premium product and people willing to buy their products so readily when they have a trend or track record of pushing out crap after crap

clone · 10 Apr 2023 at 07:56

Probably thought that not many if anyone would use the block as I ran my z490 formula on air for a while before I water-cooled it,didnt need to as it wasn't hot.