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5.25" Drive Mounting Screws

I

imported_Imp

Diamond Member
Just been wondering about this for a while. I've always noticed that 5.25" drive mounts (not ones with rails) in the case provide holes for 8 screws, 4 on each side, as does the optical drive itself. However, every manual, installation guide I've seen recommends using only 4 screws, 2 on each side. So is there a reason for not using the other available screw holes? Or is it just to save screws since 4 is enough? Also, does it help with vibration if you use all 8 of them?

Thanks.
 
I've always used 4 screws, 2 per side. Makes sense to me!

However, I have friends that use 1 screw on 1 side, and that's it. That never made any sense to me -- laziness, I guess... 😀
 
I think the 8 are there for flexibility and backward compatibility. I use 2 on one side only sometimes, but if I can get to the other side easily, I put a third in there. Usually to keep it in the middle of the bay.
 
For an optical drive, I put only 2 on each side. With my hd enclosure however, I put every screw that I could in there.
 
Just putting a screw or two in one side isn't a good practice. My recent cases have had rails or other screwless mountings, so I haven't had to use screws. But if the rail system is loose, I'll tack the drive down with at least one screw per side. I have a 10k SCSI drive that shakes the whole case so I can imagine the optical drives bouncing around if I didn't fasten them pretty securely. But if the drive bay is too wide, I use washers, etc. to shim the drive so the screws aren't stressing the drive case. Just common sense really.

Bottom line is that the eight holes are for flexibility and some toolless rail systems expect that as they use both pairs of holes for hooks - some use the bottom holes plus a pair of the side holes. IAC, four screws is plenty. Given my druthers, I'll use the more centrally located pair of holes.

.bh.
 
Originally posted by: Imp
Just been wondering about this for a while. I've always noticed that 5.25" drive mounts (not ones with rails) in the case provide holes for 8 screws, 4 on each side, as does the optical drive itself. However, every manual, installation guide I've seen recommends using only 4 screws, 2 on each side. So is there a reason for not using the other available screw holes? Or is it just to save screws since 4 is enough? Also, does it help with vibration if you use all 8 of them?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

ii cant think of many cases that has the option of letting you use the ones on the bottom. The only time i ever seen u mount the screws on the bottom is on a external case. But i have always used 4 screws. It helps with vibration and also adds a bit of safty if someone knocks it with a oops.
 
I was thinking that mounting all 8 screws would help with vibration or something (Optical vibrates the floor when spinning slow). Still, I just keep to 4 in accordance with manuals. Also, don't know if I just use cheap cases, but every case I've used (all 4! without rails) has had holes for all 8.
 
Originally posted by: Imp
I was thinking that mounting all 8 screws would help with vibration or something (Optical vibrates the floor when spinning slow). Still, I just keep to 4 in accordance with manuals. Also, don't know if I just use cheap cases, but every case I've used (all 4! without rails) has had holes for all 8.
Click to expand...

bah i got confused with hard drives.... blah yeah i still only use 4 in X manner. If im building it for someone else tho i use all 8 for astetics.
 
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