Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

41

Time Required

                          8 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

6

  • Base Cover
  • 8 steps
  • Wireless Card
  • 8 steps
  • Solid-State Drive
  • 4 steps
  • Rear-I/O Cover
  • 5 steps
  • Computer Base
  • 8 steps
  • Heat-Sink Assembly
  • 8 steps

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2

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Loosen the Screws
  • WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer.
  • Loosen the five captive screws that secure the base cover to the computer base.

WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer.

Loosen the five captive screws that secure the base cover to the computer base.

1024

Step 2

              Pry the Base Cover
  • Using a plastic scribe, gently pry the base cover to release the tabs on the base cover from the slots on the computer base.

Using a plastic scribe, gently pry the base cover to release the tabs on the base cover from the slots on the computer base.

Step 3

              Lift the Base Cover
  • Lift the base cover off the computer base.

Lift the base cover off the computer base.

Step 4

              Disconnect the Battery Cable
  • Using a plastic scribe, disconnect the battery cable from the system board.

Using a plastic scribe, disconnect the battery cable from the system board.

Step 5

              Press and Hold the Power-Button
  • Press and hold the power button for five seconds to ground the system board.

Press and hold the power button for five seconds to ground the system board.

Step 6

              Connect the Battery Cable
  • Connect the battery cable to the system board.

Connect the battery cable to the system board.

Step 7

              Slide the Tabs
  • Slide the tabs on the NEW base cover into the slots on the computer base and snap the base cover into place

Slide the tabs on the NEW base cover into the slots on the computer base and snap the base cover into place

Step 8

              Tighten the Five Captive Screws
  • Tighten the five captive screws that secure the base cover to the computer base.

Tighten the five captive screws that secure the base cover to the computer base.

Step 9

              Align the Notch
  • WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer.
  • CAUTION: To avoid damaging the wireless card, do not place any cables under it.
  • Remove the screw (M2x3) that secures the wireless card and bracket to the computer base.

CAUTION: To avoid damaging the wireless card, do not place any cables under it.

Remove the screw (M2x3) that secures the wireless card and bracket to the computer base.

Step 10

              Lift the Wireless-Card Bracket
  • Lift the wireless-card bracket off the wireless card.

Lift the wireless-card bracket off the wireless card.

Step 11

              Disconnecting the Antenna Cables
  • Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card.

Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card.

Step 12

              Align the Notch
  • CAUTION: To avoid damaging the wireless card, do not place any cables under it.
  • Align the notch on the wireless card with the tab on the wireless-card slot.

Align the notch on the wireless card with the tab on the wireless-card slot.

Step 13

              Slide the Wireless Card
  • Slide the NEW wireless card at an angle into the wireless-card slot.

Slide the NEW wireless card at an angle into the wireless-card slot.

Step 14

              Connect the Antenna Cables
  • Connect the antenna cables to the wireless card.

Connect the antenna cables to the wireless card.

Step 15

              Align the Screw Hole
  • Align the screw hole on the wireless-card bracket with the screw hole on the wireless card and the computer base.

Align the screw hole on the wireless-card bracket with the screw hole on the wireless card and the computer base.

Step 16

              Replace the Screw
  • Replace the screw (M2x3) that secures the wireless-card bracket to the wireless card and the computer base.

Replace the screw (M2x3) that secures the wireless-card bracket to the wireless card and the computer base.

Step 17

              Remove the Screw
  • WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer.
  • Remove the screw (M2x3) that secures the solid-state drive to the computer base.

Remove the screw (M2x3) that secures the solid-state drive to the computer base.

Step 18

              Lift and Slide the Solid-State Drive
  • Lift and slide the solid-state drive from the solid-state drive slot.

Lift and slide the solid-state drive from the solid-state drive slot.

Step 19

              Align the Notch
  • Align the notch on the NEW solid-state drive with the tab on the solid-state drive slot and slide the solid-state drive into the solid-state drive slot.

Align the notch on the NEW solid-state drive with the tab on the solid-state drive slot and slide the solid-state drive into the solid-state drive slot.

Step 20

              Press the Memory Module
  • Press the memory module down until it clicks into place.

Press the memory module down until it clicks into place.

Step 21

              Remove the Screws
  • Remove the two screws (M2.5x6L) that secure the rear-I/O cover to the palm-rest assembly.

Remove the two screws (M2.5x6L) that secure the rear-I/O cover to the palm-rest assembly.

Step 22

              Using a Plastic Scribe
  • Using a plastic scribe, gently release the tabs that secure rear-I/O cover to the computer base.

Using a plastic scribe, gently release the tabs that secure rear-I/O cover to the computer base.

Step 23

              Removing the Rear-I/O
  • Slide and remove the rear-I/O cover from the computer base.

Slide and remove the rear-I/O cover from the computer base.

Step 24

              Sliding the Rear-I/O
  • Slide the NEW rear-I/O cover into the slots on the computer base and snap the rear-I/O cover into place.

Slide the NEW rear-I/O cover into the slots on the computer base and snap the rear-I/O cover into place.

Step 25

              Replace the two Screws
  • Replace the two screws (M2.5x6L) that secure the rear-I/O cover to the palm-rest assembly.

Replace the two screws (M2.5x6L) that secure the rear-I/O cover to the palm-rest assembly.

Step 26

              Remove the Screws
  • WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer.
  • Remove the eleven (M2.5x6L) screws that secure the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Remove the eleven (M2.5x6L) screws that secure the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Step 27

              Remove the Screw
  • Remove the (M2x3) screw that secures the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Remove the (M2x3) screw that secures the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Step 28

              Remove the Two Screws
  • Remove the two (M2.5x6L) screws that secure the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Remove the two (M2.5x6L) screws that secure the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Step 29

              Lift the Computer Base
  • Lift the computer base from the palm-rest assembly.

Lift the computer base from the palm-rest assembly.

Step 30

              Align the Screw Holes
  • Align the screw holes on the NEW computer base with the screw holes on the palm-rest assembly.

Align the screw holes on the NEW computer base with the screw holes on the palm-rest assembly.

Step 31

              Replace the Screws
  • Replace the two (M2.5x6L) screws that secure the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Replace the two (M2.5x6L) screws that secure the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Step 32

              Replace the Screw
  • Replace the (M2x3) screw that secures the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Replace the (M2x3) screw that secures the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Step 33

              Replace the Eleven Screws
  • Replace the eleven (M2.5x6L) screws that secure the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Replace the eleven (M2.5x6L) screws that secure the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.

Step 34

              Disconnect the Left-Fan Cable
  • WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer.
  • WARNING: The heat sink may become hot during normal operation. Allow sufficient time for the heat sink to cool before you touch it.
  • CAUTION: For maximum cooling of the processor, do not touch the heat transfer areas on the heat sink. The oils in your skin can reduce the heat transfer capability of the thermal grease.
  • Disconnect the left-fan cable from the system board.

WARNING: The heat sink may become hot during normal operation. Allow sufficient time for the heat sink to cool before you touch it.

CAUTION: For maximum cooling of the processor, do not touch the heat transfer areas on the heat sink. The oils in your skin can reduce the heat transfer capability of the thermal grease.

Disconnect the left-fan cable from the system board.

Step 35

              Disconnecting the Right-Fan Cable
  • Disconnect the right-fan cable from the system board.

Disconnect the right-fan cable from the system board.

Step 36

              Remove the Seven Screws
  • In sequential order (as indicated on the heat-sink assembly), remove the seven screws (M2x3) that secure the heat-sink assembly to the system board.

In sequential order (as indicated on the heat-sink assembly), remove the seven screws (M2x3) that secure the heat-sink assembly to the system board.

Step 37

              Lifiting the Heat-Sink Assembly
  • Lift the heat-sink assembly off the system board.

Lift the heat-sink assembly off the system board.

Step 38

              Align the Screw Holes
  • CAUTION: Incorrect alignment of the heat sink can damage the system board and processor.
  • NOTE: The original thermal grease can be reused if the original system board and fan are reinstalled together. If either the system board or the fan is replaced, use the thermal pad provided in the kit to ensure that thermal conductivity is achieved.
  • Align the screw holes on the NEW heat-sink assembly with the screw holes on the system board.

CAUTION: Incorrect alignment of the heat sink can damage the system board and processor.

NOTE: The original thermal grease can be reused if the original system board and fan are reinstalled together. If either the system board or the fan is replaced, use the thermal pad provided in the kit to ensure that thermal conductivity is achieved.

Align the screw holes on the NEW heat-sink assembly with the screw holes on the system board.

Step 39

              Replace the Screws
  • In sequential order (indicated on the heat-sink assembly), replace the seven screws (M2x3) that secure the heat-sink assembly to the system board.

In sequential order (indicated on the heat-sink assembly), replace the seven screws (M2x3) that secure the heat-sink assembly to the system board.

Step 40

              Connecting the Right-Fan Cable
  • Connect the right-fan cable to the respective connector on the system board.

Connect the right-fan cable to the respective connector on the system board.

Step 41

              Connecting the Left-Fan Cable
  • Connect the left-fan cable to the respective connector on the system board.

Connect the left-fan cable to the respective connector on the system board.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Terrence15

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                                            1,980 Guides authored

Kanishk Modi - Nov 14, 2022

Reply

What size and thickness of thermal pads do I require for the VRAM chips and the VRMs? I have a 2017 Alienware 15R3 with a 6gb 1060