ASUS’s high-end ROG Z690 Formula motherboards are dying due to corrosion forming within the EK Waterblock that covers the VRMs.
ASUS’s High-End ROG Z690 Formula Motherboards Have A Corrosion Issue, VRM Waterblock From EK Damaged To The Point of No Return
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 motherboard was launched more than a year ago and one of the most highlighted features of this design was that it featured a hybrid cooling design that covered the VRM area. The hybrid cooling design featured an EK CrossChill III design which was meant to offer better cooling to the internal power delivery when coupled with a custom-loop water-cooling solution.
During its announcement, ASUS advertised the water block on the ROG Maximus Z690 Formula to utilize a nickel-plated design but it turns out that it wasn’t true as the block instead featured nickel-plated aluminum instead of copper, reports TechPowerUp. The mix and match of different metallic materials are always considered to be a bad idea and it also isn’t the first time that ASUS has done so with their first-gen ROG Formula designs also incorporating a similar design choice which was also affected by corrosion.
Now, almost a year later, Reddit and tech forums are being piled up with user reports which show corrosion within the VRM water block. These reports aren’t new and actually a few months old but it’s only now that ASUS and EK are responding to the issue. A TechPowerUp reader emailed EK and their reply is quoted below:
EK-Quantum Momentum² VRM Bridge ROG Incompatibility Announcement
Dear and valued EK Customer,
We regret to inform you that the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 FORMULA motherboard is incompatible with our EK-Quantum Momentum² VRM Bridge ROG Maximus Z690 Formula solution, as well as other copper-based EK products.
We have developed the liquid distribution VRM Bridge solution to help our users get the full benefits from motherboards that feature CrossChill EK III hybrid VRM thermal solution by connecting any EK-Quantum Velocity² CPU water block directly to the VRM thermal water ports.
Unfortunately, EK and ASUS have discovered the issue of the VRM block corrosion. We are already working closely to address this issue and offer support to all affected customers.
ASUS is readying an adequate replacement hybrid VRM thermal solution for everyone affected by this issue. Feel free to reach out to your local ASUS support team for any additional information.
In the meantime, EK and ASUS are improving collaborative processes and development guardrails to ensure all future products exceed our customers’ expectations.
We are genuinely sorry for any inconvenience this might be causing you.
We appreciate your understanding,
Team EK
So it looks like that ASUS will be addressing the issue by offering a replacement hybrid thermal water block solution. The new solution is being designed by EK once again but one should not be forgotten that users paid almost $800 US to acquire this high-end motherboard and they were left out in the dark for months before this issue spread out.
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ASUS & EK missed big time on the quality assurance process when designing this cooling system for the Formula and enthusiasts paid a hefty price. ASUS didn’t release a Formula motherboard within its Z790 lineup but if they do, users must remain cautious and read more detailed reviews before buying into another corrosive mess.
The post Corrosion Is Killing ASUS’s ROG Z690 Formula Motherboards, Replacement VRM Waterblock In The Works by Hassan Mujtaba appeared first on Wccftech.
