In short: Removing a GPU can be one of the most stressful steps in customizing a PC, as other components often obscure the release flap. Motherboard manufacturers have recently been looking for ways to simplify the process, and exhibits at Gamescom 2024 show they’re still honing new methods.

Motherboard vendors like Asus and MSI are already touting new mechanisms to help users install and remove PCIe components faster and more securely. The quality of life improvements are small bonuses that come with important new features for upcoming motherboards designed for AMD Ryzen 9000 and Intel Core Ultra 200 processors.

Removing a graphics card usually requires pressing a release flap at the end of the PCIe slot. However, the flap is often difficult to reach as you have to reach under the GPU, especially when removing larger cards. Installing and removing M.2 SSDs can also be challenging as many cards require screws.

MSI showcased new methods of handling the two parts at its Gamescom 2024 booth, using an upcoming Intel 800 series motherboard that will support Arrow Lake Core Ultra 200 CPUs. Inserting and removing the SSD now only requires pressing a lock button on the back of the drive. The company also added a new GPU slot release button on the side for easier access. An indicator next to the button shows whether it is in the locked or unlocked position. Users must press the button once before installing the GPU and again before pulling it out.

The new MSI system is similar to one that Asus introduced in its Z690 motherboards in 2021. However, Asus has evolved that design, as YouTuber “der8auer” (The Farmer) explained while demonstrating the company’s recently introduced X870 boards for AMD’s Zen 5 Ryzen 9000 processors.

The new mechanism, called Q-Release, allows users to simply slot the GPU onto the motherboard, but it will only release when pulled from the back. Asus has also redesigned its M.2 connector, introducing a release flap and an adjustable slider to accommodate different sized SSDs.

According to the latest information, the X870 and X870E motherboards are expected to ship in October. Datasheets for the Asus and Gigabyte models are available now. The cheaper B850 and B840 boards, meanwhile, may not appear until CES 2025. Intel will fully unveil its Z890 motherboards along with Arrow Lake later this year, but information on the lower-end 800-series is not yet available.