Why don't PC builders properly torque their screws when mounting motherboards and heat sinks?

[Energycore]

I think "why not" questions are bad questions. You're assuming most PC builders have considered torque screwdrivers and went "nah, not gonna do it because blah". If you're going to say "PC builders should do it, they should use torque screwdrivers" then I would ask why? What do we stand to gain?

[SCHISCHKA]

14 hours ago, SportingKC said:

I have a background in gunsmithing and the cardinal rule for us is nothing gets screwed in or tightened without using a torque screw driver and precise pound per inch to ensure optimal (consistent) performance. 

people laugh at me when I tell them I have been trained in the operation of a screw driver. Then I watch them strip threads or ruin the heads, and then they ask me to fix it.

The only reason I can think of to answer your query is that the industry is in its infancy and not subject to regulations. Any idiot can get a A+ cert and build a computer. I did a trade apprenticeship before going to uni, from the point of view of my background, i think networking cable layers and system engineers do some pretty shoddy work sometimes.

[Arika]

[removed]

[LogicalDrm]

You talk about temps. Why not get your facts straight before using them wrong? Smokeless gunpowder (used in most modern guns) burns with temp of 1500C. Thats about 10-times what max temp of CPU component would be (some mobo parts can take temps of 120-150C). Safe temp for sensitive parts is under 100C. Temp for anything where screws would be? Maybe 50C. Temps for screws used by builders? Maybe closer to 35C. So would rapid temp change between 35C and whatever the room temp is loosen screws? I think not. So that trashes whole temps being a thing.

 

The main difference would be pressure. Guns have to withstand pressure inside barrel. For that reason screws are tighten with such precision. So when temps do raise to 1500C and pressure is raised, they are within set limits. With PC you don't have pressure changes. At all. Only time would be when PC is shipped in cargo hold of plane (or unpressurized place in submarine). So there isn't any basic force to move screws. Only thing would be actual physical wiggling. Which, obviously, does loosen screws. It will also break threads, so we don't need to even talk about that.

[mr moose]

I don't know about you guy's, but My PC is a bit of a weapon and as such should be treated/built/repaired with absolute precision lest someone get hurt.   Where do I find these gunsmithing screws and how do I fix them to the business end of my rig?

 

[CtrlAltELITE]

You mean I shouldnt be screwing my PC together using my breaker bar?

[MEC-777]

It's just not necessary for assembling PC components. All they do is sit there, motionless. There's no physical function, for the most part. Some watercooling parts may require this, but generally speaking; "snug" (or just until you feel it stop) is tight enough. Most CPU coolers/blocks assemble such that you simply bottom out the screws and you're good. No need to crank them down more or torque them further. They're not subject to vibration or movement etc.