Asus ROG Ally microSD Card Reader Malfunction and RMA Programs
The Asus ROG Ally microSD card reader may malfunction, the company admits, with the handheld manufacturer also opening up RMA programs for users experiencing memory card issues. The issue is rooted in the handheld’s thermal design, Asus says, and it has also opened up a broader discussion on how it’s addressing this problem.
We’ve been covering the ROG Ally microSD card issues for some time now, with some users claiming that their cards become unusable or just refuse to read on the handheld. Others claim that their cards need to be checked via a different PC, presumably because they’re heating up to the point where they’re damaged.
In a statement provided to PC Game Spotlight, Asus explains, “The SD card reader may malfunction under certain thermal stress conditions.” The company goes on to explain that the root cause is Asus’s thermal design, which is causing the handheld to overheat in this area.
“Due to the proximity of the microSD card reader to the power delivery VRMs, which feed the AMD APU, this area may be susceptible to thermal stress under certain workloads,” Asus explains. Essentially, the handheld is struggling to feed power to the AMD APU and other components, leading to excessive heat in this area.
YouTuber CPPC TEK analyzed the microSD card overheating issue and found that manually adjusting the fan curves actually helps prevent problems. CPPC TEK predicted that Asus would need to deliver an update with more aggressive fan curves to address this issue for a larger user base.
Asus says, “We are aware that some users may need to tolerate more fan noise to prevent their microSD cards from being damaged.” The company has also opened up RMA programs for those experiencing memory card problems, and it plans to release an update “to modify the device’s fan curves in order to mitigate future problems.”
Many of you have likely been experiencing these issues, especially since we started covering the topic back in October. It’s good to see Asus acknowledging the problem and taking steps to address it.
If you’re looking to replace your microSD cards, we’d recommend checking out our recent Best Steam Deck and ROG Ally SSD roundup, which includes some great options that are a bit bigger than the standard card. Staying informed is essential on this one, especially since we don’t know when the update will drop.
