Identifying the screws to mount motherboard onto case

Hello Rezelute,

3 looks more like a drive bay screw. It'll work though if it there's enough of the screw head holding down the motherboard, and it's not stripping the mount screw (left below).

2 would be the motherboard screw (right below) . Double check that the mount screw (left below) is ok.



Hope this helps,
Shawn

I would have to see the screws up close and personal to be sure but my guess is if screw #2 bottoms out prematurely, it may have the wrong thread. It appears in the photo to have a tapered thread which would make it a sheet metal screw. The correct screw for mounting MOBOs to the traditional brass standoffs is a 6-32 screw and doesn't have to be very long although screws #2 and #3 both look a bit short (and the diameter of #3 looks a bit small based on fan screws usually being 6-32). Screw #1 (why do I sound like I'm hosting Let's Make a Deal?) is definitely too long. Screw #4 is probably also too long.

I just ran a 6/32 screw into a spare standoff I had knocking about and it bottomed out at a red hair over 3/16". I'm thinkin' the screw you use should be between 1/4" and 3/16" longer than the thickness of your MOBO (do not include the screw head in your measurement) to ensure enough thread goes inside the standoff to secure the board without bottoming out. If the screws you have are both too long and too short, head on down to your friendly neighborhood hardware store/home center and get the right length (I suggest you check the depth your standoffs have first; most cases use 6-32 thumbscrews to secure the side panels, btw). If you can't find black oxide, get plated steel ones and color the heads with a fine Sharpie felt pin (it actually works; I've done it before).

Edit. Ok, some posts have happened since I started posting. If screw #3's threads don't wobble around in the standoff, then it's probably the right diameter (just because it goes in doesn't always mean it fits correctly). What I said about length stands unless your illustration shows it bottomed out in the standoff, in which case that is probably the correct length.

I had (and still have) a lot of screws and fittings that came with my current and previous cases. Many of the screws do look alike, but the threads on them are slightly different. Not enough to prevent the screws from being started, but quite often enough to prevent them from being fully screwed in. The easiest thing to do would be to take the required number of motherboard standoffs and pair them individually with the correct screws. The ones Shawn illustrated above are the ones you need, but bear in mind what I've said about screws being similar but different.

roy69 said:

The top pic is for your mobo
The lower picture is the black screw for mounting your gfx card etc to the case.

Justin,

I agree with Roy. Use the screws in your top screenshot. You'll end up stripping the mount screws if you try to force using the screws in the lower screenshot.

How much easier PC building would be if every screw required (motherboard, drive, add-on card, etc.) were exactly the same. It would save a lot of confusion.