How to replace the System board on a Latitude 3120

This 3D experience gives you the step by step process of replacing the System board and a Latitude 3120. The procedure will also include removing the Palmrest and Keyboard Assembly, Battery, Dummy battery cell, Solid-state drive SSD, Heatsink assembly, World-facing camera, Power-adapter port and reinstalling them.

Removal

Palmrest and Keyboard Assembly

1. Identify the palmrest and keyboard assembly highlighted in blue.
2. Loosen the captive screws that secure the palmrest assembly.
3. Place the system on a flat surface with the keyboard facing up. Open the system to 180 degrees.
4. Use a plastic scribe, pry from the U-shaped recesses near the hinges at the top edge.
5. Use the scribe to pry open the top, left, and right sides of the palmrest.
6. Gently flip over the palmrest assembly.
7. Disconnect the battery cable, lift the latch and disconnect keyboard and touchpad cables.
8. Lift and remove the palmrest assembly and keyboard from the computer chassis.

Battery

Dummy battery cell

1. Identify the dummy battery cell highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screws that secure the dummy battery cell to the system board.
3. Lift and remove the dummy battery cell from the computer chassis.

Solid-state drive (SSD)

1. Identify the SSD (solid-state drive) highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screw that secures the solid state drive to the system board.
3. Lift the thermal shield to remove it from the system.
4. Holding the sides of the SSD, carefully slide it out to remove.

Heatsink assembly

1. Identify the heatsink assembly highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screws that secure the heatsink assembly to the system board.
3. Lift and remove the heatsink assembly from the system board. Note the thermal tape locations.

World-facing camera

1. Identify the world facing camera highlighted in blue.
2. Disconnect the world facing camera cable from the connector.
3. Remove the screw that secures the world facing camera module.
4. Lift to remove the world facing camera module.

Power-adapter port

1. Identify the power adapter port highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screws that secure the power adapter port.
3. Lift and remove the power adapter port from the computer chassis.
4. Disconnect the power adapter port cable from the system board.

System board

1. Identify the System board highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screw that secures the bracket to the wireless module (WLAN).
3. Lift the bracket off the wireless module.
4. Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless module (WLAN).
5. Remove the screw that secures the display cable bracket to the system board.
6. Lift the right side to release and remove the display cable bracket.
7. Open the latch and disconnect the display cable from the system board.
8. Disconnect the speaker and audio board cables from the system board.
9. Remove the screws that secure the USB Type-A bracket to the system board.
10. Lift and remove the USB Type-A bracket from the system board.
11. Remove the screws that secure the system board. Depending on the configuration, it may have 4-6 screws.
12. Carefully slide the system board to the right to remove. Do not bend.

Install

System board

1. Identify the system board location highlighted in blue.
2. Install the system board into the slot on the system, aligning the ports.
3. Install the screws that secure the system board. Depending on the configuration, it may have 4-6 screws.
4. Install the USB Type-A bracket on the system board.
5. Install the screws to secure the USB Type-A bracket to the system board.
6. Connect the speaker cable and the audio board cable to the system board.
7. Connect the display cable to the system board. Close the latch to secure.
8. Install the display cable bracket on the system board.
9. Install the screw to secure the display bracket to the system board.
10. Connect the WLAN black cable to the auxiliary (filled triangle).
11. Connect the WLAN white cable to the main (empty triangle).
12. Align the screw hole on the bracket with the screw hole on the wireless module.
13. Install the screw that secures the bracket and wireless module to the system.

Power-adapter port

1. Identify the power adapter port location highlighted in blue.
2. Connect the power adapter port cable to the system board.
3. Place the power adapter port into the slot on the computer chassis.
4. Install the screws that secure the power adapter port.

World-facing camera

1. Identify the world facing camera location highlighted in blue.
2. Insert the world facing camera module into the slot on the chassis.
3. Install the screw that secures the world facing camera module.
4. Connect the world facing camera cable to the connector.

Heatsink assembly

1. Identify the heatsink assembly location highlighted in blue.
2. Install the heatsink assembly on the system board and align the screw holes.
3. Install the screws to secure the heatsink assembly to the system board.

Solid-state drive (SSD)

1. Identify the SSD (solid-state drive) location highlighted in blue.
2. Align the notch on the SSD with the tab on the slot and slide the SSD into the slot.
3. Install the solid-state drive thermal shield.
4. Install the screw that secures the SSD and thermal shield.

Dummy battery cell

1. Identify the dummy battery cell location highlighted in blue.
2. Align and place the dummy battery cell into the computer chassis.
3. Replace the screws to secure the dummy battery cell.

Battery

Palmrest and Keyboard Assembly

1. Identify the palmrest and keyboard assembly location highlighted in blue.
2. Connect the battery cable keyboard and touchpad cables.Close the latch to secure.
3. Gently flip over the palmrest assembly with the keyboard facing downward.
4. Align the palmrest and press until it clicks into place.
5. Close the display assembly and position the system as shown.
6. Tighten the captive screws that secure the palmrest assembly.