Computer case fan/PSU/case-panel screws (general PC building) screw size
M3 · length not stated in the sources
The screws used on Computer case fan/PSU/case-panel screws (general PC building) are M3. None of the sources we found gives an exact length, so measure the original before you order.
It is listed for wikipedia's Computer case screws article shows and describes an M3 screw as one of the three standard thread types used in PC cases alongside #6-32 UNC, illustrating an M3 screw used for case fans/panels.
This entry is marked confirmed and comes from en.wikipedia.org.
An M3 screw is 3 mm in diameter with a 0.5 mm pitch, tapped with a 2.5 mm drill; imperial look-alike: #5-40 (3.18 mm) or #4-40 — neither interchanges with M3.
Computer case fan/PSU/case-panel screws (general PC building) screw specifications
One row per fitment record. Head, drive are shown only where the source states them; pitch is the ISO coarse pitch for the thread.
| Thread | Length | Pitch | Head | Drive | Where it goes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 | not stated | 0.5 mm | not stated | not stated | Wikipedia's Computer case screws article shows and describes an M3 screw as one of the three standard thread types used in PC cases alongside #6-32 UNC, illustrating an M3 screw used for case fans/panels | Confirmed |
Fitment records and sources
Wikipedia's Computer case screws article shows and describes an M3 screw as one of the three standard thread types used in PC cases alongside #6-32 UNC, illustrating an M3 screw used for case fans/panels.
pitch 0.5 mm · tap 2.5 mm · clearance 3.4 mm · PH1 / Torx T10
How to check the screw before you buy
- Laptop covers and brackets often mix two or three lengths of the same thread, so lay the screws out in the order they came out (a magnetic mat or a sheet of paper with the hole pattern drawn on it works).
- Diameter: across the threads an M3 screw measures about 3 mm with calipers (usually a hair under). If yours measures noticeably more or less, it is a different thread.
- Pitch: 0.5 mm from one thread crest to the next (20 crests per centimetre). A thread pitch gauge or the pitch-gauge tool settles it in seconds.
- Length: measure from under the head to the tip for pan, button, wafer and cap heads; countersunk (flat) heads are measured overall.
- Driver: the source does not name the drive. Standard M3 heads take PH1 for Phillips and T10 for Torx, and a 2.5 mm hex key for socket heads; a bit that fits loosely will cam out and strip the head.
- Tightening: no device-specific torque is published in these records. The site's general figure for M3 is about 80-130 N·cm into metal threads and 35-60 N·cm into plastic bosses; snug it up and stop.
Common mix-ups with M3
- PC cases mix M3 (fans, optical and 2.5in drives) with imperial 6-32 (3.5in drives, motherboard standoffs) - don't force one into the other.
- Suunto dive computer service manuals reference strap pins and battery compartment springs but do not explicitly cite a metric screw thread size in the sections reviewed; do not infer M2/M2.5 fitment for Suunto dive computer straps without direct confirmation.
More in Laptops & PCs
The same screw also fits
Devices whose records share a thread with Computer case fan/PSU/case-panel screws (general PC building), closest length match first.
- Lenovo ThinkPad T520i also M3
- HP EliteBook 8540p also M3
- Lenovo ideapad 310S-14AST also M3
- Lenovo ideapad 330L-17ICH also M3
- Lenovo ideapad 330S-15AST U also M3
- Dell Vostro 15 5590 also M3
- Lenovo Ideapad 100 15IBD also M3
- Lenovo ideapad 330S-14AST also M3
Questions about Computer case fan/PSU/case-panel screws (general PC building) screws
- What size screw does Computer case fan/PSU/case-panel screws (general PC building) use?
- M3 for wikipedia's Computer case screws article shows and describes an M3 screw as one of the three standard thread types used in PC cases alongside #6-32 UNC, illustrating an M3 screw used for case fans/panels.
- How long are the screws in Computer case fan/PSU/case-panel screws (general PC building)?
- None of the sources states a length. Remove one screw and measure it from under the head to the tip (overall for a countersunk head).
- What is the thread pitch of an M3 screw?
- 0.5 mm (coarse), which is the standard pitch for M3 machine screws; a 0.35 mm fine pitch exists but is uncommon. The tap drill is 2.5 mm and the normal clearance hole is 3.4 mm.
- What screwdriver do I need for Computer case fan/PSU/case-panel screws (general PC building)?
- The sources do not name the drive. For M3, Phillips heads normally take PH1 and Torx heads T10; socket heads take a 2.5 mm hex key.
- Can I use an imperial screw instead of M3?
- No. Imperial look-alike: #5-40 (3.18 mm) or #4-40 — neither interchanges with M3. Use a true M3 screw so it does not cross-thread or strip the hole.