Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: How do I remove and replace the motherboard in the Gateway 3-bay nBTX case?

A: Note: Thermal grease and rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol are needed during this procedure. Thermal grease can be purchased at an electronics or computer store. The processor heatsink is removed during this procedure and the thermal grease used between it and the processor must be replaced before re-installing the heatsink.

Remove the motherboard and tray assembly

  1. Turn off the computer, and then disconnect the power cord.

  2. Remove the case access panel.

  3. Remove the hard drive.

  4. Remove the external drive cage.

  5. Remove the power supply.

  6. Remove all add-in cards.

  7. Remove all memory.

  8. Disconnect any cables still attached to the motherboard. This may include, but is not limited to, the intrusion switch cable, IDE and SATA cables, and front I/O cables.

  9. Inside the front of the case, tilt the motherboard and tray up, slide it toward the front of the case about one inch, and then lift the assembly out of the case.
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  10. Remove the motherboard from the tray.

    1. Loosen the four captive screws that secure the processor heatsink and hard drive / air duct shelf to the motherboard, and then lift the items off the motherboard.
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      Note: Lay the processor heatsink with the thermal grease up, so as not to get the grease on other surfaces.

    2. Remove the four screws that secure the motherboard to the tray, and then lift the motherboard off.
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Replace motherboard and tray assembly

  1. Mount the motherboard on the tray.

    1. Place the motherboard on the tray and then secure it with four screws.
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    2. Place hard drive / air duct shelf on the board over the processor.

    3. Prepare the processor heatsink.

      • If you are installing a new heatsink, remove the strip covering the thermal grease.
      • If you are re-installing the old heatsink, using rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol to clean the thermal grease from the processor heatsink, and then apply a small bead (about half the size of a pea) of thermal grease to the bottom of the heatsink.

    4. Place the heatsink on the processor, and then secure it and the hard drive / air duct shelf to the motherboard by tightening the four captive screws.
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  2. At an angle, lower the motherboard assembly into the case.
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  3. Slide the motherboard to the rear of the case until the ports align with the openings at the rear.

    Note: You may need to slightly raise two metal tabs over the network and PS/2 ports before the motherboard is able to slide all the way to the rear of the case.

  4. Connect cables such as an intrusion switch cable, IDE and SATA cables, and front I/O cables to the motherboard.

  5. Replace all memory.

  6. Replace all add-in cards.

  7. Replace the power supply.

  8. Replace the external drive cage.

  9. Remove the hard drive.

  10. Replace the case access panel.

  11. Connect the computer's power cord, and then turn on the computer.