Pci Nightmare

What you mean, it won't come out? If you've broke the PCIe retainer, there shouldn't be anything holding the card in it's slot, apart from the screw retainer at the end of the card. That plastic retainer is only to ensure the card(s) stay in place if the system is transported..

To remove cards from the slot, you simply flex the plastic clip from the underside of the card or try to reach it with your fingers and easy it upwards. Does that help?

Yeah, that tab-lock is just there so the card won't wiggle loose if you apply pressure here and there to the connectors on the front of the card (the face).


You can see them pretty good here or see the attachment below:




And they hook around the tab-key on the card. Here you can see it as the little booty shaped tab on the back of the card.




Before I install a card I usually try to bend the tab-lock as far out as I can. I actually hope it will break off but they're usually too tuff and never do (for me). I hate that lock & key idea - always problematic. Grrr! Pre-bending it like this will usually defeat it or at least limber it up some.

Anyways, if yours broke then it probably broke on the left side of that booty's toe part and the card will be free to remove. If there's still a part of the tab-lock hooked around the tab-key then you're going to have to get a finger in there and bend it out to free up the card.

Do not use anything that could scratch or damage the MB if your finger won't fit for some reason. And if that's the case you might be able to remove the front fan assembly. But I'm not 100% sure if you can do that or not with the cards still in place. I'm only like, 90% sure you still can.

Anyway to remove that just remove all of your hard drives and look inside. You'll see a single screw on one corner - and that's all there is holding it in place. Remove the screw and pull straight up wiggling it slightly as you do. With that out of the way you should be able to fit a finger in to grab the tab.

If your finger still won't fit get an old tooth-brush and heat up the end of the handle till you can bend it around and flatten the tip in order to make a "special tool" that will work for this purpose without damaging your MB. Dip the tool in cold water to harden it more quickly after you shape it.


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GenericMacName said:

Thanks For The Help! I got it out and did what i should have from the begining... BROKE EVERY FRICKEN CLIP OFF!!!
Works like a charm!

Click to expand...

That's ok till you move the machine about.

Yeah, they shouldn't come loose. A bump or jar hard enough to loosen them from their socket would likely break things anyway.

If I remember my history correctly this practice started on AGP and was added because some manufacturers produced boards that were thinner than normal. This caused a wave of customer complaints which was answered in quite short order by clips like that. Also sometimes a top pressure brace apparatus tho I don't see those any longer. I guess there aren't any more thin boards being produced (???) but I suppose it makes some sense again with the weight of the newer cards - some of which have heavy heat-pipes, fans, and cowls. Good retailers and VARs will often ship such cards uninstalled and have the user install them just for that weight reason tho so... <shrug>


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Same thing happened to me during a clean out. Got just my finger to apply some pressure on the release, but it wouldn't come out. It snapped off without a massive amount of force.
Would applecare cover the cost to replace it? Would it require a full board replacement or can the pci be replaced?

That should be covered by Apple Care IMO. Of course you'll have to ask them about that. I know they don't like to service user misuse or abuse issues tho so who knows.

And yeah, that would be a new motherboard.

Yeah, those PCI-E retaining clips are BY FAR the worst design I've ever seen... Like you've I've snapped a few in my day. Usually the heat sinks on the cards stick out so far that it's nearly impossible to get your finger on them and the plastic is so thin that they're easy to break. I've seen a few manufacturers use a slightly different design, but again, it's a "small space, big fingers, can't see what you're doing" issue.

You could TRY to use something small and stiff (think heavy duty paperclip) to push the what's left of the back slide of the clip out of the retention hole on the card.... But you gotta be VERY careful that you don't slip and scratch any of the traces on the card itself.

2002cbr600f4i said:

You could TRY to use something small and stiff (think heavy duty paperclip) to push the what's left of the back slide of the clip out of the retention hole on the card.... But you gotta be VERY careful that you don't slip and scratch any of the traces on the card itself.

Click to expand...

Definitely don't scratch/cut any traces.

Best not to use metal, if at all possible. I've actually used a bamboo chopstick with success. The plastic dental mirrors available (eBay and a few electronic supply places carry) can work wonders. Cheap, and non-conductive.