Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 screw size
M3 · 5 mm long
Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 takes M3 metric screws, 5 mm long.
Where it is used: side cover and expansion card bracket retention.
This entry is marked confirmed and comes from dell.com.
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.
Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 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 | 5 mm | 0.5 mm | not stated | not stated | Side cover and expansion card bracket retention | Confirmed |
Fitment records and sources
Side cover and expansion card bracket retention
pitch 0.5 mm · tap 2.5 mm · clearance 3.4 mm · PH1 / Torx T10
How to check the screw before you buy
- A screw that is even 1 mm too long in a laptop base can push into the keyboard, battery or a board trace, so match the length position by position.
- 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.
- The record states 5 mm. Going longer risks bottoming out or touching parts behind the hole; going shorter loses thread engagement.
- 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
- Server drive caddy screws (Dell, HP) are usually M3 in very short lengths (3-4mm) because they bite into thin sheet metal — they are NOT the 6-32 UNC screws that go into the drive's own side holes.
- M3 (3.0mm, 0.5mm pitch) is not #6-32 UNC (~3.5mm) — they look identical and cross-thread, the single most common PC-building mistake.
Buy these screws at TechSpare Warehouse
In stock and shipped from South Carolina. Our black screws are Phillips wafer head (low profile); match the head style and length to the original before you order.
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Devices whose records share a thread with Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010, closest length match first.
- HP ProBook 6460b also M3 × 5 mm
- Dell Inspiron 8200 also M3 × 5 mm
- Dell Inspiron 5160 also M3 × 5 mm
- HP ProBook 6465b also M3 × 5 mm
- HP Compaq nx6115 also M3 × 5 mm
- Dell Latitude C610 also M3 × 5 mm
- HP EliteBook 8530w also M3 × 5 mm
- HP nx8220 (nw8240 page id 462857; one guide covers all three) also M3 × 5 mm
Questions about Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 screws
- What size screw does Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 use?
- M3 × 5 mm for side cover and expansion card bracket retention.
- How long are the screws in Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010?
- The record gives 5 mm. Measure the original from under the head (overall for a countersunk head) to confirm before ordering.
- 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 Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010?
- 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.
- Where can I buy replacement screws for Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010?
- TechSpareWarehouse (our own store) lists M3 x 5mm, which matches the length in the records above.