Installing a System Board

Important

The illustrations in this document show a typical computer. They may not exactly match your configuration and may include options you did not purchase. However, they are similar enough to your computer that they should help you install your system board successfully.

Installing the processor

    This section shows you how to install processors into socket and slot connectors on the system board.

Identify your processor. For more information, see "Identifying your processor".
If you have a socket processor, go to "Installing a socket processor".
If you have a slot processor, go to "Installing a slot processor".

Installing a socket processor

To install a socket processor:

    1. Lift up the lever that is on the side of the socket.

    2. Match up the pins on the bottom of the new processor with the holes in the socket, then gently insert the processor into the socket.
      Use the corner arrow reference marks on the processor and socket to align the processor in the socket.

Warning

Do not force the processor into the socket or you could damage the processor.

    1. Press down on the lever that is on the side of the socket.

    2. If your new processor already has the heat sink attached, go to Step 7. Otherwise, go to the next step.

    3. If you have a new heat sink and there is a plastic strip on the bottom of the new heat sink, remove it.
      - OR -
      If you have an old heat sink and a silicon-covered thermal conductor pad came with the new processor kit, scrape the old conductor pad off and clean the heat sink with isopropyl alcohol. Then place the new conductor pad in the center of the old heat sink.
    1. Place the heat sink on top of the processor.
    1. Your heat sink may have one of the following retention mechanisms. Follow the instructions that most closely resemble your heat sink.

Warning

You may need to use a small blade screwdriver or needle nose pliers to help you secure the clip. Be careful not to apply too much force or you could damage the socket or system board.

      1. Heat sink with removable retention clips.
      1. Heat sink with captive retention clips
      1. Passive heat sink with removable retention clip
    1. If the processor you are replacing has an active heat sink with a fan power cable that connects to the system board, connect the fan power cable to the fan power cable connector on the system board.

Installing a slot processor

To install a slot processor:

    1. Align the processor notch with the processor connector notch, then slide the new processor through the retention rails and into the processor slot on the system board.

    1. Push evenly on both edges until the processor is firmly seated in the processor connector and locks into place.

    2. Your slot processor may have one of the following retention mechanisms. Follow the instructions that most closely resemble your processor.

      1. If you have a processor retention cap, secure it to the retention rails with the screws that you removed earlier.
      1. If you have a bottom retention bracket, insert the retention bracket into the clips until it clicks into place.
      1. If the retention mechanism has latches, close the latches so they click into place.
      1. If the processor has tabs on the sides, make sure that when you installed the processor the tabs locked into place.
    1. If you have a full-size tower case with an additional cooling fan and fan duct, place the duct tabs into the chassis slots and slide the fan duct down until the tabs on the duct slide into the slots in the chassis. Insert and tighten the screw on the back of the chassis that holds the fan duct in place, then connect the fan power connector.
      - OR -
      If you have a mid-size tower case with an additional cooling fan and fan duct, insert the fan/duct assembly over the processor, then connect the fan power connector.
    1. If your processor has an active heat sink, plug the heat sink fan power cable into the fan power cable connector on the system board.

Installing memory modules

    If you removed the memory modules from the old system board, install the modules on the new system board.

    Match the memory module banks on the new system board with the memory module banks on the old system board so you are using the same banks.

To install memory modules:

    1. Find the memory module banks on your system board.
    1. Align the notches on the memory module with the notches on the memory module bank, then press the module firmly into the bank. The tabs on the sides of the module bank should secure the memory module automatically. When the module is secure, you hear a click.
      Your system board has one of the following types of memory modules.
      1. DIMM memory
      1. RIMM memory
    1. Repeat this procedure for any additional memory modules that need to be installed.

Installing the new system board

To install the new system board:

    1. Slide the system board toward the back of the case. The system board standoffs slide into the keyhole slots.

Important

The new system board must have special standoffs (pem studs) mounted on the bottom of the board. If necessary, use the standoffs from the original system board.

    1. Insert the thumbscrew and lock it into place using a screwdriver, coin, or your fingers.

Reinstalling the power supply

    If you removed the power supply, reinstall it.

To reinstall the power supply:

    1. Your power supply may have one of the following retention mechanisms. Follow the instructions that most closely resemble your power supply.
      - OR -
    1. Connect the power cables to your drives, such as CD and diskette drives.
    1. Connect the power cables to your drives, such as hard drives.

Connecting the power supply cables

To connect the power supply cables:

    1. Connect the power supply harness to the system board connector making sure the harness locks into place.
    1. If you have a second, smaller, auxiliary power cable, connect the auxiliary power cable to the system board connector making sure the cable locks into place.

Reinstalling add-in cards

Tips & Tricks

See the documentation that came with your computer for exact instructions on reinstalling add-in cards.

Warning

Do not touch the contacts on the bottom part of the add-in card. Touching the contacts can cause electrostatic damage to the card.

To reinstall the add-in cards:

    1. Swing the add-in card retention cover open.
    1. Install your add-in cards into the add-in card slots.
      You can slightly seesaw the card end-to-end to help insert the card, but do not bend the card sideways.

    1. Push the add-in card retention cover inward, then secure the add-in card retention cover with the retention thumb-screw.

    2. If you disconnected any add-in card cables, reconnect the cables.

Connecting drive cables

Tips & Tricks

Diskette drive cable connectors are not as wide as hard drive or CD drive cable connectors. All cable connectors are keyed so they can only connect one way.

To connect drive cables to the system board:

Using your notes, reconnect the drive cables.

Connecting audio cables

    See your notes and illustrations for more information on where to connect your audio cables.

To connect audio cables to the system board:

Connect integrated audio cables making sure that the tab on each cable locks into the connector.

Connecting front panel cables

    Cables are connected to the front panel connector on the system board individually or in a single cable called a front panel harness . There may be more than one set of cables.

To connect the front panel cables into the front panel connectors:

    1. Examine the end of the front panel cables and compare them with the connectors on the system board. Reconnect the cables. The end of the cables are keyed so they can only be connected to the connectors one way.
    1. Replace the computer case cover.
      See the documentation that came with your computer for instructions on replacing your computer case cover.
    1. Reconnect the external cables, then plug in the power cord.