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What is the size of the screw used to mount 3.5 hard drives?

I am getting conflicting information online.

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6-32 3/16 to 1/4 inch long

Anybody who has worked inside of computers, installing motherboard, hard drives, optical drives, case screws, etc. have been frustrated with the standards mix for screw-types used to secure the hardware.

Basically almost all computer screws are either SAE 6-32 or Metric M3

For instance, 3-1/2" hard drives use SAE 6-32 threads as Paul stated. However 2-1/2" harddrives or SSDs and optical drives use M3 threads.

Motherboards use either M3 or 6-32 screws to fasten the board into the standoffs, which themselves are typically provided with 6-32 threads to mount to the case. I have standoffs that are M3 female and 6/32 male, talk about a mix.

Computer cases typically use 6-32 threading.

I usually have a container with a mix of M3 and 6-32 screws that I have collected over the years, and just select what fits when I am installing computer hardware. An M3 screw just slips into a 6-32 hole, and a 6-32 screw will not fit in a M3 hole without cutting new threads and jamming (not a good thing). Never use brute force!

David

Now you tell me

Roscoe

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