I'm building my first PC and just mounted the CPU and RAM. I'm ready to install my M.2 drive, but here's the issue: my MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk motherboard doesn't have a screw or standoff for the M.2 slot, even though I was given a compatible screw in a bag. I've checked thoroughly, and there was no standoff included in the box. I also noticed that there are two additional M.2 slots under a plate secured with screws, but it looks like those already have standoffs. I'm wondering a couple of things:
1. Can I proceed with installing my drive in the first M.2 slot without a standoff, or do I need to return the motherboard?
2. Is it okay to use the second M.2 slot instead, or will that cause issues if the first one remains empty?
3 Answers
No worries! That board has toolless M.2 slots, which means you don’t need standoffs or screws for those. Just make sure to use the correct heat sink, they might have come loose in the packaging. Also, if you use the middle slots, they can interfere with the USB 4 ports, so it's best to keep them empty if you don't need them.
You definitely don't need standoffs or screws for that motherboard. Just check the manual—it'll show you how to install the drive directly into the slot without the additional hardware. If you need help, here's a link to the manual: https://download-2.msi.com/archive/mnu_exe/mb/MAGX870TOMAHAWKWIFI_English.pdf.
Just wanted to chime in—it's common for those heat sinks to come separately, so you might just not have had them installed initially. Once you find them, you'll be all set to install your SSD without any problems.
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