If you need computer screws or are looking to buy extra, it’s not always clear which type you should choose. Fortunately, there are only three main types, and they are easily distinguishable from each other.
6-32 screws are often used for hard drives and container parts; for covers and attachment of daughterboards. M3 screws are used to secure optical disk drives, disk drives. 4-40 screws are used on VGA, DVI, serial ports, parallel ports, and old game ports.
However, some manufacturers have designed housings without screws and that do not require tools for assembly and disassembly.
6-32 screws
6-32 is a unified thread standard. The diameter of the main thread is 3.505 mm or 0.1380 inches, 32 threads per inch and a length of 0.79375 millimeters.
This is by far the most common type of screw in a PC. These screws are used:
- to protect the power supply;
- To keep the motherboard above the riser;
- to attach the hard drives to the chassis;
- to keep the daughtercards in place;
- to support the different parts of the frame;
- close your eyelids.
These screws often have a slot for Phillips type 2 screwdrivers and a hexagonal section for a socket wrench on their heads.
For cover fasteners, some manufacturers use thumb screws that allow the computer to be opened without tools.
M3 screw
The M3 screw is a screw with metric thread.
This screw is the second most commonly used type of screw in PCs. More precisely, it is M3-0.50, where 0.50 indicates that the thread length is 0.50 millimeters. 0.50 is the standard pitch for M3 screws. The screw thread diameter is 3 mm (0.12 inches).
Like 6-32 screws, these screws can be used with size 2 Phillips screwdrivers.
These screws are used:
- to protect optical drives and floppy disk drives;
- To keep the motherboard above the riser;
- to repair 2.5″ SSD;
- to protect 2.5″ hard drives.
These screws can be recognized by their thinner threads than those of 6-32 screws.
Motherboard riser
Motherboard risers or standoffs are used to attach the motherboard to the case chassis without the circuits and solder touching the chassis.
This riser is both a 6-32 type screw and a nut with a hexagonal section body. The assembly of these two elements into one is also called a spacer.
Usually a 6-32 screw is needed to hold the motherboard above the riser.
In some cases, a spacer is used to distance certain elements of the circuit board that heat up, thus optimizing ventilation and heat evacuation by the fans.
4-40 manual screw
4-40 knurled head screws are used to hold the connectors in place, so that the pins do not loosen under the weight of the cables.
These screws are usually in pairs on the VGA, DVI, serial, parallel, and PC game port connectors.
Why choose Deter bolt®?
DETER BOLT® CLASSIC is the system designed and patented by Cagnasso s.r.l. for designers and installers of solar or photovoltaic systems or computer technicians who need larger quantities.
Impossible to unscrew except with our special wrenches, DETER BOLT® CLASSIC screws are safety guarantees for systems. The keys feature a sequence of numbers that makes each one unique, allowing continuous traceability. They are supplied and provided on free loan for use, remaining under the control of our Company at all times.
The size of the DETER BOLT® CLASSIC screw is the standard M8 with different lengths:
- Standard range from 20 to 50 mm fully threaded.
- Special range less than 20 mm and from 55 to 100 mm partially threaded, can be made on request.
The importance and effectiveness of the DETER BOLT® system is due to the use of special keys for screwing and unscrewing.
Illegal key reproduction involves heavy investments, as if they are not made with high quality materials with well-defined technical specifications and are not perfectly identical in the shape of the screw head it is not possible to unscrew them.
