I'm trying to figure out what M.2 motherboard screws to buy for the Acer Aspire TC-865-NESelecti3.

Solaris

I'm trying to figure out what M.2 motherboard screws to buy for the Acer Aspire TC-865-NESelecti3 Desktop.  I am going to install an Intel 760p Series M.2 2280 drive, but I would like to mount it with a screw and I do not know what to buy on amazon.  They sell M.2 screws that fit asus and msi motherboards, but I read that acer makes there own boards for these systems.  If some can help me figure out which screws to buy I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

bkonicke

Sorry for taking your question into the weeds. I don't mean to say you need the adapter, but rather that for only a few bucks more over just screws you get a spare part to boot. As to whether it's an x4 slot, there's an older thread at https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/559753/tc-865-neselecti5-ssd-recommendations which shows a couple of pics of the MB, but I don't see anything about lanes. Maybe one of the ACE folks or a fellow owner can confirm.

If you choose to go with an adapter, then I imagine that one would be fine. I almost randomly chose https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-advanced-solution-Controller-Expansion/dp/B07JKH5VTL/ref=pd_cp_147_1?pd_rd_w=WOP4S&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=5JXXM3JBS8AD3SWJD60C&pd_rd_r=f6a9e98a-e61e-4a75-a958-dc83bf489fa3&pd_rd_wg=GcaZp&pd_rd_i=B07JKH5VTL&psc=1&refRID=5JXXM3JBS8AD3SWJD60C since it was delivered next day and my patience was pretty thin at that point.

Both HWinfo64 and Speccy are reporting my 2280 slot as x1, but I don't recall checking it prior to my problems arising. 

bkonicke

I pulled one from an old laptop wi-fi slot that I've yet to recycle. Another option to consider is buying a PCIe adapter that comes with screws, since they can be had for around $12. I did that because my TC-865NESelecti5 has decided it can no longer work at all with the Adata SX8200NP 480GB I installed at the beginning of the year. You may want to confirm it's a 4 lane slot too, since mine is reporting x1.

Solaris

Ok, I will see if I can find a screw from some old hardware, otherwise I will buy some cheap ones off amazon.  How could I find out if the M.2 slot is running at x4 or x1?  Most of the documentation on the motherboard in the tc-865 is very minimal.  I forgot about those PCIe adapters and if I used one it would get full speed on the main pci slot.  I just dont want to spend much more as this pc isnt for myself.  

Solaris

I think I will try to buy a pci m.2 adapter to maximize performance for this drive.  Could you recommend one that I should buy for the intel 760p 2280 drive?  Would this adapter linked below work?  

https://www.amazon.com/Mailiya-M-2-PCIe-3-0-Adapter/dp/B01N78XZCH/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=pcie+m.2+adapter&qid=1566508892&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Thanks in advance

bkonicke

Sorry for taking your question into the weeds. I don't mean to say you need the adapter, but rather that for only a few bucks more over just screws you get a spare part to boot. As to whether it's an x4 slot, there's an older thread at https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/559753/tc-865-neselecti5-ssd-recommendations which shows a couple of pics of the MB, but I don't see anything about lanes. Maybe one of the ACE folks or a fellow owner can confirm.

If you choose to go with an adapter, then I imagine that one would be fine. I almost randomly chose https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-advanced-solution-Controller-Expansion/dp/B07JKH5VTL/ref=pd_cp_147_1?pd_rd_w=WOP4S&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=5JXXM3JBS8AD3SWJD60C&pd_rd_r=f6a9e98a-e61e-4a75-a958-dc83bf489fa3&pd_rd_wg=GcaZp&pd_rd_i=B07JKH5VTL&psc=1&refRID=5JXXM3JBS8AD3SWJD60C since it was delivered next day and my patience was pretty thin at that point.

Both HWinfo64 and Speccy are reporting my 2280 slot as x1, but I don't recall checking it prior to my problems arising. 

Solaris

Thanks for the help bkonicke!  The dual adapter with heatsink looks great and now I dont have to fret finding a singular screw or deal with reduced performance.  Have a nice weekend