Can i use an high quality, insulated electrical tape to secure my second NVM- ssd, since i am missing the screw ?

[electronicworld]

Is this a sensible solution, what could go wrong ? I am using the system as of right now and everything looks fine. Anybodys got experience with those low effort diy solutions ?

 

[P4-630]

Find/buy a screw that fits?

 

[electronicworld]

Find/buy a screw that fits?

How can i determine the dimensions properties of the screw ? Should i just post the picture of the screw hole on my B550 mag bazooka mobo ?

I've looked everywhere inside the motherboard box but no screw going into there is included.

 

[P4-630]

Try

Amazon.com

 

[OneMoar]

no tape god no
if the board doesn't have stand offs and just a hole do this

take three zip ties

slide the first zip tie over the second so it looks like this []-[]----[]
sandwitch the ssd between the first two leaving the tail on the first one long enough to go though the hole. secure to the back with the 3d ziptie
the reason for the one underneeth is to prevent you from bending the ssd by overtighting it

 

[Super Firm Tofu]

The included screw is usually in a flat plastic bag. It's possible to mistake it for empty.

I bought this kit to have on hand when I was planning on replacing the quick latch versions that came on my latest board, but didn't end up using them

Amazon.com

 

[tabascosauz]

Is this a sensible solution, what could go wrong ? I am using the system as of right now and everything looks fine. Anybodys got experience with those low effort diy solutions ?

If you live in an area with brick and mortar stores, just go to the store and ask to see if they stock M.2 screw kits that work for MSI boards. As long as the board still has a standard-style standoff to secure the drive, you're golden.

Micro Connectors M.2 SSD Mounting Screws Kit for ASUS Motherboards - Case Screws - Memory Express Inc.

www.memoryexpress.com

If not, drop MSI a line and see what they can do. The screws for the M.2 heatsink itself for MSI's B550 boards are proprietary and sometimes captive, integrated into the heatsink. Last time I contacted them to see if I could get some missing M.2 screws for my B550 Unify-X; customer service got back to me within 5 minutes and gave me the email for their dedicated parts department guy. Luckily I ended up finding the screw so didn't follow through with it, but never hurts to ask.

 

[bobbybluz]

Tape will eventually come loose due to heat. I know this because I tried doing the same thing when I couldn't find the M2 screw for an Asus mobo. It took less than 30 minutes to pop up. I found a screw that fit the next day.

 

[80251]

For some reason tape doesn't last long in PC enclosures -- especially for this type of application. I have to wrap my electrical tape really tightly in a PC case otherwise it eventually just unravels.

 

[Nuke Dukem]

I had the same problem when I bought a secondhand motherboard - it was just the board, didn't come with anything. The smart thing to do was to buy a screw, but all the shops had were standoff+screw combos at prices I didn't like.

So I just made a screw from soft wood and epoxy resin - wood for the threaded axis and epoxy for the head. I don't have pictures right now, but I think I can hear the ghetto mods thread calling me...

 

[LabRat 891]

no tape god no
if the board doesn't have stand offs and just a hole do this

take three zip ties

slide the first zip tie over the second so it looks like this []-[]----[]
sandwitch the ssd between the first two leaving the tail on the first one long enough to go though the hole. secure to the back with the 3d ziptie
the reason for the one underneeth is to prevent you from bending the ssd by overtighting it

(Will try to remember this.)
I've temporarily retained m.2 drives with zip ties before, but never as craftily as this.

Also, I've used M.2 adapter cards that don't utilize a screw, they use rubber/silicone pop-thru retainers. Might look through your accumulated fasteners and see if you've got a mini rubber dingly to shove in the hole

 

[Chrispy_]

As others have mentioned, electrical tape is a no because the heat in a PC softens the adhesive until it's useless, and leaves your unsecured thing covered in sticky crap.

If your first SSD is secured with both a screw and a motherboard-attached heatsink, you don't need both. Steal the screw from the 1st SSD and let the heatsink hold it down because it should be clamped down onto the post by the heatsink anyway.

Edit:
Yeah, if your system specs are up to date, do that. Your motherboard heatsink can keep your primary SSD in without the screw, the M.2 slot will spring the SSD up against the thermal pad which has plenty of grip to lock it in place, leaving you a spare screw for the post in your second M.2 slot:

 

[caroline!]

For some reason tape doesn't last long in PC enclosures -- especially for this type of application. I have to wrap my electrical tape really tightly in a PC case otherwise it eventually just unravels.

I reckon both OP & you are talking about the regular electrical work PVC tape. That's just how that tape is.
The same will happen if you use it to cover a spliced wire inside an appliance, or after a few weeks inside an electrical box, it slowly loses its properties when exposed to heat and changes in humidity. It's not really meant to be a permanent cover for spliced wires but most electricians I know use it that way...
The proper tape for permanent wiring jobs is EPR, there are a few brands but the Scotch 23 is at least for me the most popular.

Not sure if it'd work to keep a SSD in place though. Just get a screw and that's it.

 

[ir_cow]

The included screw is usually in a flat plastic bag. It's possible to mistake it for empty.

I bought this kit to have on hand when I was planning on replacing the quick latch versions that came on my latest board, but didn't end up using them

Amazon.com

Bought the exact same thing from Amazon. A little pricy, I was lazy and didn't want to find the correct size and buy a QYT 100 bag.

 

[bobbybluz]

I don't know about today but Scotch 33+ used to be THE electrical tape to use. I have large rolls of gaffers tape that stage crews use in the entertainment business. Even that industrial grade tape didn't last long for keeping a NVMe drive in place. I have a stash of NVMe screws in my large PC toolkit screwbox now so I'm set for the foreseeable future.