Is it ok if screws binding mobo to case aren’t flush with mobo?

[COWZYOV]

The screws become REALLY hard to tighten once they get through mobo holes into the holes in the case. Is it ok if they’re only part of the way in, and are still protruding a bit and not flush with the mobo? They still seem to support the mobo’s weight...

Edit:

I (again) tested my mobo tightness. The screws aren’t all the way in, but also don’t wobble. In fact, they don’t budge at all, save for turning when I try to unscrew them.
The mobo also is held firmly in place, despite the screws not being in all the way. Tugging on the mobo doesn’t dislodge it or the screws holding it, even when I tug the mobo till it bends a bit. I’m sure it’s not SO secure that I can’t forcibly yank it off, ripping the screws out, but obviously im not going to pull that hard (don’t want to crack the mobo), and I don’t think regular usage will put anything close to that level of physical stress on it either.

Sorry for not making the above details clear earlier.

Edit #2:

Update: I think I WAS using the wrong screws after all. Either I’m somehow misunderstanding something, or the manual was wrong/the packages were mislabeled.

I tried a different set of screws which came with the case, and these worked just as intended.

The previous screws are black, but seem to have turned a bit white at their bases; I can’t see the standoff interiors so well, but I think something similar happened there too. I presume this means they got slightly stripped due to the misuse.
Also, the screws I removed seem to have become temporarily magnetized, sticking to my screwdriver. Not sure if that detail is important or not.
Should I be worried about metal shavings being left behind? I didn’t see any metal shavings stuck to the screws I removed. Also, I powered on the pc after changing the screws and ran an intensive game on it to put high strain on the cpu and gpu, and ran into no short-circuit issues.

Should I still be worried about unseen metal shavings causing short circuiting?

[Bing Chilling]

yes if the mobo is secure then it's fine,
thats all the screw does.

[Illusion of Progress]

They should not be hard to tighten. Ensure that you are using the correct screws, and that you are screwing them in straight and not angled. I would not let it be unless all of the screws were snugly holding it in place.

Also, ensure you are screwing it into the standoffs and NOT screwing the motherboard directly into the case, or you will end up with (at least) a dead motherboard.

[Pocahawtness]

I am guessing you are using the wrong screws.

[Supafly]

If they're too tight before flush with the board they are the wrong type or screw.

Either

1. Screws with different type of threads. Switch them before you damage the threads inside the mounting nut. As the nut will need replacing.

or

2. Screws that are too long.

3. 1&2

Use the right screws. They are only to secure the board to the case. If you have a tower and it isn't secure it could cause things to come loose. Cables or even the back plate. Maybe not immediately but over time.

[COWZYOV]

These ARE the correct screws; they came with the tower, and based on the instructions in the tower’s manual, they’re in the right place.

[Set-115689]

COWZYOV の投稿を引用：

These ARE the correct screws; they came with the tower, and based on the instructions in the tower’s manual, they’re in the right place.

If you have extra case screws you can try one? The screws should go in easy. So it's either the standoffs or the screws that might be a bit off. The mainboard shouldn't be flopping around loose or moving. The mainboard can short out on stuff.

[Washell]

Are you attaching the motherboard on little screws like linked below, or directly to the metal of the case?

https://www.startech.com/en-nl/computer-parts/screwnutm

If it's directly to the metal of the case, go find the little baggie of standoff screws and put those in first.

[Illusion of Progress]

COWZYOV の投稿を引用：

These ARE the correct screws; they came with the tower, and based on the instructions in the tower’s manual, they’re in the right place.

I'll ask again, are you screwing the standoffs to the case, and then the motherboard to the standoffs, or are you screwing the motherboard directly into the case? If you've already powered on the PC and it hasn't fried the motherboard then I'll presume you did indeed use the standoffs. If you haven't yet given the PC power, do not (!) until you ensure you've used the standoffs.

If they are becoming too hard to tighten and don't go all the way, there's only two possible causes I can think of; either they aren't being screwed in at the right angle, or the threading of the screw and where it's being screwed in don't match. Well, that or a third that the hole where the screw goes in wasn't machined deep enough, preventing it from going in further, but I wouldn't suspect that one.

[COWZYOV]

Have been using the pc for over a week and no motherboard dying.

[COWZYOV]

Just tested; put one of the extra screws into an unused standoff in the case (my mobo is small relative to the case, so there are extra standoffs). Even without the mobo in between it and the hole, the screw only goes in a small amount of the way.

[shoopy]

May just be defective if you're sure you're using the right screws. The standoffs could be poorly tapped and have burrs stuck inside. Take a screw and screw it in then back it out a few times to see if it gets easier, but don't force it.

[Illusion of Progress]

Sounds like a mATX motherboard in an ATX case. In that situation, you don't need those extra standoffs in if you're not using them (nor will they hurt being there), but now that I think of, some cases themselves sort of have no traditional standoffs and the side itself is just sort of raised in spots to keep the motherboard up. Can't remember where I saw this but I know I've experienced at least once in my time. Is your case like that, or does it have more traditional standoffs?

Anyway, if it's running fine, you're safe from that part, but so far as it not being held firmly in place, it may add some unnecessary stress to spots of the motherboard. Something like that might only show itself down the line, if at all, depending on how not-snug it is.

[COWZYOV]

Illusion of Progress の投稿を引用：

Sounds like a mATX motherboard in an ATX case. In that situation, you don't need those extra standoffs in if you're not using them (nor will they hurt being there), but now that I think of, some cases themselves sort of have no traditional standoffs and the side itself is just sort of raised in spots to keep the motherboard up. Can't remember where I saw this but I know I've experienced at least once in my time. Is your case like that, or does it have more traditional standoffs?

Anyway, if it's running fine, you're safe from that part, but so far as it not being held firmly in place, it may add some unnecessary stress to spots of the motherboard. Something like that might only show itself down the line, if at all, depending on how not-snug it is.

It has small metal “tubes” which the screws go into. Like you suspected, I’m quite sure those aren’t traditional standoffs (they’re not removable either, so far as I can tell).

Also, I (again) tested my mobo tightness. The screws aren’t all the way in, but also don’t wobble. In fact, they don’t budge at all, save for turning when I try to unscrew them.
The mobo also is held firmly in place, despite the screws not being in all the way. Tugging on the mobo doesn’t dislodge it or the screws holding it, even when I tug the mobo till it bends a bit. I’m sure it’s not SO secure that I can’t forcibly yank it off, ripping the screws out, but obviously im not going to pull that hard (don’t want to crack the mobo), and I don’t think regular usage will put anything close to that level of physical stress on it either.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

COWZYOV の投稿を引用：

These ARE the correct screws; they came with the tower, and based on the instructions in the tower’s manual, they’re in the right place.

You should have two sets of screw thread types, try the other thread type. If they are tight to turn, your doing something wrong. Also when you place a screw, turn it the other way first until it clicks into place, then screw it down.

Cases don't need manuals it's all common sense. Take a motherboard stand off in your hand and try the screw into them by hand. That's how smooth the threads should be when using the correct screws, you shouldn't have any issues turning by hand.

Also try not to over tighten them once all are in place, just make them have a snug fit. The stand offs do serve a purpose, they ground the motherboard to the case and thus to the power supply.

[Illusion of Progress]

If the motherboard has no "play" and sits firmly in place, then it should be fine.