What is This Inside my Mobo Packaging?

[Thalyn]

I recieved my new MSI z97-G45 mobo today, that I ordered off NCIX.com (Canada). When I opened it, I noticed something inside the anti-static packaging along with the mobo. It was moving around.

What on earth is this? I have an idea but I am no expert. What is it doing inside? Could this have harmed the mobo? I won't be able to install it until this weekend.

Thank you in advance for any answers.

I also apologize for the crappy picture quality. Took them with my phone.

 

[Nordic]

I doubt it would of damaged anything. One side appears to screw into something, and I can't see the other. I am guessing the other side has a hole, in which something else screws into it. If that is true this appears to be a stand off of some sort.

You could also check the parts list that is in the motherboards manual. If one did not come with the motherboard, their website will have one.

It might just have ended up in their by accident. It happens.

 

[64K]

Looks like a mobo standoff to me too. I don't know how it ended up the package though. Even if this was one of the mobos tested by Quality Control before packaging they probably wouldn't have mounted it in a case to test it but that's just a guess.

 

[Thalyn]

Yeah, that's what it looked like to me, too. I was really confused to see it inside the anti-static with the mobo itself. It was loose and just moving around the entire mobo. The mobo isn't meant to come with any, as far as I am aware. There is only just the one, too, sealed in there with the mobo.

I am worried that it may have damaged something while in it was in transit and that screw was free to move around. I'm really anxious to see if it works now, but I won't be able to do so until the weekend. I did pay for NCIX's ExpressRMA for 30 days starting on the ship date. But I'd really hate to stretch this out.

 

[Kursah]

Thumb screw is what it looks like...what does the other end of the large side look like? phillips? flat? has a hole?

I wouldn't worry...odds are it was off of one of the test benches at the verification/testing table and it probably fell off the magnetic end of a screw driver and got wedged in and shipped with the board. I can't imagine there'd be an issue, and if there is...RMA it.

If there was damage, you'd likely see or smell it at this point, and I doubt it would've left any kind of running validation station if it failed any test depending on their testing standards.

 

[newtekie1]

Looks like the mSATA stand off to me.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

It looks like a thumb screw to me--maybe for screwing in standoffs. I doubt it came off the motherboard and it definitely shouldn't have been in the bag with the motherboard. Unless you see visible damage (e.g. where it got jostled and scratched it) it likely didn't damage anything (mass too little).

What does the side without the threads show? Is it solid or does it have a hole?


Edit: I think @newtekie1 may be right. I have a similar board but it has two M.2 instead of mSATA.

 

[sneekypeet]

Looks like the mSATA stand off to me.

Was just thinking it is to hold in the card in the mSATA slot under the CPU socket.

 

[newtekie1]

Was just thinking it is to hold in the card in the mSATA slot under the CPU socket.

It is a stand off, with a screw already in the top of it(at least in my picture). So the standoff is supposed to stay in the motherboard, you unscrew the little screw from the top of the standoff and use the little screw to hold the mSATA drive in.

 

[Thalyn]

I'm an idiot and I appear to have lost whatever that was. I've looked about 10 minutes for it, in the area it was, and haven't been able to find it. I will continue to look. If it's from the mSATA, it's not something I'll need. I really am an idiot. This is off to a great start, lol.

I took closer pictures of the mobo itself. I don't think it looks damaged...to my eye anyway. I took pictures of where the screw could have possibly come from. I don't know if these will help you guys.

Still, if it came off, not a good sign, is it?

EDIT: When I look at the picture newtekie1 posted and my own board, it pretty much is the mSATA stand off because I no longer have one on my board. I don't plan to use that, so I reckon it shouldn't be a big deal? However, I don't think this is a good sign if already something has come off the mobo. I know it's meant to be able to come loose, but....
I also can't appear to find it anymore. I feel like an idiot.

 

[sneekypeet]

It really isn't that big of a deal. The socket was protected and that would take the most damage from something like this if not. Otherwise i would install it and fire it up and see what shakes.

 

[Thalyn]

I won't worry about it then, thanks, guys. I feel a little more at east knowing where it actually came from now, since it does indeed look like it came from the mSATA. I'll install it this weekend and hope it fires up normally. Really wish I could do so now, but it'll have to wait. I don't have thermal paste yet.

I just hope the screw wasn't necessary to mount the mobo properly because I've gone and lost it. I'll keep looking for it.

 

[sneekypeet]

I just hope the screw wasn't necessary to mount the mobo properly

Has nothing to do with mounting the motherboard.

 

[Thalyn]

Thanks. I didn't think so and I did figure it was a stupid question, but wanted to make sure because as you probably already know, I am pretty new at this. As I won't be mounting a mSATA in there, I don't think I'll need it. I really appreciate the help you guys have been giving me in this thread and my other one from a few days ago.