[SOLVED] Do I have to use an M.2 standoff?

[LucaFire]

Hey!

So I have an MSI B450 Tomahawk Max and today I was installing the M.2 drive and noticed that the board didn't come with a standoff.

Considering the quarantine, I can't go out to the PC stores (because I'm in Italy and they're all closed). The standoffs I find online (mostly only Amazon Italy ships right now) all have reviews saying that they don't work with MSI boards.

Do I really need to use a standoff or can I get by for a little just screwing it straight to the mobo?
I can't tell if the drive is touching something that it might short out on (I can include a picture if you would like).

 

[RealBeast]

Hey!

So I have an MSI B450 Tomahawk Max and today I was installing the M.2 drive and noticed that the board didn't come with a standoff.

Considering the quarantine, I can't go out to the PC stores (because I'm in Italy and they're all closed). The standoffs I find online (mostly only Amazon Italy ships right now) all have reviews saying that they don't work with MSI boards.

Do I really need to use a standoff or can I get by for a little just screwing it straight to the mobo?
I can't tell if the drive is touching something that it might short out on (I can include a picture if you would like).

You should use the standoff. I got an ASUS board that had none and their support sent me some by 2 day FedEx.

The correct screw size is 2.0 x 3mm (CM2x3-3.3) but you can use an M2 8mm screw and just turn it until the M.2 drive is parallel to the board; the tension of the drive connector will push it up against the screw head.

Also, if you have two connectors perhaps the other has a standoff that can be moved.

 

[LucaFire]

You should use the standoff. I got an ASUS board that had none and their support sent me some by 2 day FedEx.

The correct screw size is 2.0 x 3mm (CM2x3-3.3) but you can use an M2 8mm screw and just turn it until the M.2 drive is parallel to the board; the tension of the drive connector will push it up against the screw head.

Also, if you have two connectors perhaps the other has a standoff that can be moved.

Thanks for the recommendation! I haven't contacted the MSI Support yet (because I've heard they don't send parts), but I might in the future.

Other than that, I appreciate your suggestion on the M2 8mm!

Also, I know you might not know - but in the case that all immediate solutions (MSI support, finding other standoff, ordering online) doesn't work, would I be able to use the drive without the standoff?

 

[RealBeast]

Thanks for the recommendation! I haven't contacted the MSI Support yet (because I've heard they don't send parts), but I might in the future.

Other than that, I appreciate your suggestion on the M2 8mm!

Also, I know you might not know - but in the case that all immediate solutions (MSI support, finding other standoff, ordering online) doesn't work, would I be able to use the drive without the standoff?

I would be reluctant to use an M.2 drive that is not secured down, as board vibration and drive temperature changes would eventually cause it to become dislodged and that could damage the drive and/or board.

 

[LucaFire]

I would be reluctant to use an M.2 drive that is not secured down, as board vibration and drive temperature changes would eventually cause it to become dislodged and that could damage the drive and/or board.

Thank you so much!

Here's something funny- I was so dumb. I thought that the standoff was actually the screw so I was searching for the standoff that I had all along.
I had the screw which came with the box.
I've never worked with M.2s before (first time build with them - usually went with SATA ahaha).

Thank you so much, nonetheless. It'll give me some information in the future in case this actually happens.