Many motherboard manufacturers, and especially those of high-end, have added some steel reinforcement on PCI-Express supports (and in some cases even RAM bases) to avoid, or minimize, that the graphics card's weight can damage itself. And if they've done this, we're telling you now, because of course the weight of the graph can damage the socket, and they even separate us from the worst cases.
Yes, the PCI-Express socks can be damaged by the weight of the graphics card
On the market there are graphics cards weighing over a kilogram, and that weight is usually distributed between the PC side back cover and the PCI-Express socket itself. For this reason, depending on how we apply the graphic (we now define it), the socks can be rolled up and split. Also to show the button:
More related to this, however, is user interaction: how to insert a picture and especially the care we have, because sometimes by making fake components inside a PC we can accidentally crash and damage the socket (as in the picture above).
It is not uncommon to be injured, but more commonly is that by the weight of the graph itself it is ultimately bent, something that in extreme cases may not work because the heatsink can be separated from its objects. Th is happens because the graphic is "tied" to its back and socket area, leaving another corner in the air, just in case. PCI-Express power transmission cables
How to block PCI-Express from motherboard
The first thing we can do to avoid this is to have a bit more of a graphics card loaded on the box anchors and smaller on the PCI-Express base. In this way, we will be reducing the weight that supports the PCI-Express socket a little, but ultimately it is an indication.
Of course, one of the best things we can do to avoid damaging the PCI-Express on the board and which in turn will help keep the graphics itself consistent, is to get graphics support. These types of support are often a flexible pillar that will be able to hold the graffiti-enabled part of the bottom of the box, though there are some that use the box extension ports themselves to support the weight of the graphics card, even though it doesn't work well.
There are more advanced models like the Deepcool GH-1, but there are some simple and inexpensive ones that can be purchased at any store online.
Yes, the last but the most important step we must take be careful when handling Hardware so as not to hit it or create more pressure than it has already made its weight.