How to replace the System Board on a XPS 16 DA16260

This 3D experience gives you the step by step process of replacing the System Board and a XPS 16 DA16260. The procedure will also include removing the Palm rest and Keyboard Assembly, Battery, SSD, Shield, Left Thermal Fan, Right Thermal Fan, Heat sink and reinstalling them.

Removal

Palm rest and Keyboard Assembly

1. Identify the palm rest and keyboard assembly highlighted in blue.
2. Using the Torx 5H, remove the screws that secure the base cover to the palm rest and keyboard assembly.
3. Open the display, position the computer on its side, release the palm rest assembly using a plastic scribe and then place the system on a flat surface.
4. Insert the plastic scribe near the hinge and loosen the palm rest and keyboard assembly.
5. Lift and turn over the palm rest and keyboard assembly and place it on a flat surface.
6. Using the pull tab, disconnect the battery cable from the system board.
7. Using the pull tab, disconnect the MCU cable from the connector on the system board.
8. Remove the palm rest and keyboard assembly.

Battery

1. Identify the battery highlighted in blue.
2. Using the pull tab, disconnect the battery cable from the battery.
3. Remove the screws that secure the battery from the base cover.
4. Lift the battery off the base cover.

Solid State Drive (SSD)

Wireless Module Shield

1. Identify the wireless module shield highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screw that secures the wireless module shield to the system board.
3. Lift the wireless module shield off the system board.
4. Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless module.

Left Thermal Fan

1. Identify the left thermal fan highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screws that secure the left thermal fan to the base cover.
3. Lift the latch and disconnect the left thermal fan cable from the system board.
4. Slide and remove the left thermal fan from the base cover.

Right Thermal Fan

1. Identify the right thermal fan highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screws that secure the right thermal fan to the base cover.
3. Lift the latch and disconnect the right thermal fan cable from the system board.
4. Slide and remove the right thermal fan from the base cover.

Heat sink

1. Identify the heat sink highlighted in blue. Ensure the system is cooled down before removal.
2. Loosen the captive screws that secure the heat sink to the system board. Loosen in reverse order.
3. Lift the heat sink off the system board.
4. Use the alcohol pad to clean the system board and heatsink as shown in the video.

System Board

1. Identify the system board highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screws that secure the display cable bracket to the base cover.
3. Lift and remove the display cable bracket off the base cover.
4. Disconnect the display cables from the system board.
5. Remove the screws that secure the left and right PCBeam cables to the system board.
6. Disconnect the left and right PCBeam cables from the system board.
7. Remove the left and right PCBeam interposers from the system board, storing them carefully for reuse.
8. Disconnect the left and right speaker cables from the system board.
9. Remove the screws that secure the system board to the base cover.
10. Hold the system board by its short edges and lift it from the base cover.

Install

System Board

1. Identify the system board location highlighted in blue.
2. Install the system board into the slot on the system and align the screw holes.
3. Install the screws that secure the system board to the base cover.
4. Connect the left and right speaker cables to the system board.
5. Install the left and right PCBeam interposers on the system board, ensuring it is seated firmly. Position it correctly using the mounting holes on the system board.
6. Connect the left and right PCBeam cables to the system board.
7. Install the screws that secure the left and right PCBeam cables to the system board.
8. Connect the display cables to the system board.
9. Install display cable bracket to the system board and align with the screw holes.
10. Install the screws that secure the display cable bracket to the base cover.

Heat sink

1. Identify the heat sink location highlighted in blue.
2. Apply a pea sized amount of thermal material as shown in the video.
3. Place the heat sink on the system board and align the screw holes.
4. Tighten the captive screws that secure the heat sink to the system board. Tighten in order. Do not over tighten.

Right Thermal Fan

1. Identify the right thermal fan location highlighted in blue.
2. Slide and install the right thermal fan into position on the base cover.
3. Install the screws that secure the right thermal fan to the base cover.
4. Connect the right thermal fan cable to the system board and close the latch.

Left Thermal Fan

1. Identify the left thermal fan location highlighted in blue.
2. Slide and install the left thermal fan into position on the base cover.
3. Install the screws that secure the left thermal fan to the base cover.
4. Connect the left thermal fan cable to the system board and close the latch.

Wireless Module Shield

1. Identify the wireless module shield location highlighted in blue.
2. Connect the white sleeved antenna cable to the wireless module (black triangle).
3. Connect the black labeled antenna cable to the wireless module (empty triangle).
4. Install the wireless module shield to the system board.
5. Install the screw that secures the wireless module shield to the system board.

Solid State Drive (SSD)

Battery

1. Identify the battery location highlighted in blue.
2. Install the battery into the slot on the base cover.
3. Install the screws that secure the battery to the base cover.
4. Connect the battery cable to the battery.

Palm rest and Keyboard Assembly

1. Identify the palm rest and keyboard assembly location highlighted in blue.
2. Place the palm rest and keyboard assembly in front of the base cover.
3. Connect the MCU cable to the system board.
4. Connect the battery cable to the system board.
5. Flip the palm rest and keyboard assembly towards the base cover.
6. Align and snap the palm rest and keyboard assembly into position on the base cover.
7. Close the display and place the system as shown in the video.
8. Using the Torx 5H, install the screws that secure the base cover to the palm rest and keyboard assembly.