Introduction: Replacing Various Computer (Laptop) Parts

This instructable seeks to help people with the replacement of the more commonly upgraded computer parts. For this instructable, you will need one screwdriver, a thin plastic material to pry off the keyboard such as a guitar pick or license and a then object such as a toothpick to detach the keyboard.

Step 1: Replacing the Power Supply

  1. Start by removing any external electronics and power sources from the laptop.

  2. Disconnect all the power supply cables that lead to the other components of the computer.

  3. Unscrew all the pins that attach the power supply in position. Ensure the four-or eight- CPU power pin is disconnected .

  4. Pull out the older power supply and replace with the new power supply.

  5. Return the other power supply cables to all the components of the computer.

  6. The chassis is reassembled and the external power supply cables are put back in place.

Step 2: Replacing/Removing Memory (RAM)

  1. Determine the amount of memory your laptop has and whether or not your laptop can hold anymore.
  2. Prior to purchasing memory, do research on your laptop model to determine the compatibility of a memory card with your system. Memory types should be paired together (4GB with 4GB, etc.)
  3. Power off your laptop and remove its power source.
  4. Remove the panel on the bottom of your laptop obscuring your memory banks. Depending on your laptop model this may require you to remove the entire back casing of your laptop.
  5. Before interacting with the memory banks in anyway, ground yourself by touching a metal surface. This will dispel any static electricity that may harm your laptops electronic components.
  6. Remove memory in the upper slots and relocate it within the bottom memory slot.
  7. Insert the new memory card within the upper memory slot.
  8. Reseal, reinsert the power and power up your laptop.
  9. Test your memory capacity to determine if the added memory has had an effect on your laptop.

*When handling memory card, interact only with the sides and when inserting them only push on the white sticker.

*Ensure that you insert the RAM at a 45 degree angle to the memory banks and fully insert it, otherwise you will receive a memory error on your laptop (simply relocate the memory correctly within your laptop to fix this).

Step 3: Replacing Optical Drive

  1. Turn off your laptop
  2. Remove an external devices from your laptop
  3. Remove the power supply from your laptop
  4. Remove any screws that hold your Optical Drive in place
  5. Pull on the optical drive to remove it from your chassis
  6. Search for an appropriate replacement; if not the same model then do research using your laptop manufacturer’s website to ensure that the replacement is compatible with your system.
  7. Insert the new optical drive into the vacant slot.
  8. Reinsert any screws to bind the Optical Drive into place.
  9. Reinsert the power supply to your laptop.
  10. Power-up your laptop and test your new optical drive to determine if it functions properly.

Step 4: Replacing the Fan

  1. After the cables and power supplies are out, the 4-pin cable that extends from the fan to the motherboard should be detached.

  2. Press down the lever beside the fan and then remove the fun.

  3. Put the new fan into place and then reattach to their initial locations.

  4. Reattach the fan cable to the motherboard and reassemble your laptop.

  5. Power up your laptop and listen for the low hum of the fan to know if you were successful or not.

Step 5: Replacing GPU

  1. To begin with, the PC should be turned off and any other external cables should be disconnected from the computer. Then the computer case is safely removed.

  2. Unscrew the slots. After the removal of the case, then the screw slots are made visible. Safely unscrew them to detach the motherboard from the other case sides.

  3. Unplug the internal power connections. The power cables that are attached to the graphics card safely. This is because in respect to the power of the graphical chip used, thus the much power supply to it is required.

  4. The pull out then plug in. after the safe freeing of the old graphics card from the PCI-e slot, the old graphics card can therefore be removed and plug in the new one.

  5. After this, the PC is then put up again and the case again put in place.

Step 6: Replacing CPU

  1. Ensure your laptop is updated to the most current BIOS. Without this your computer will be incompatible with newer CPUs and will not boot.
  2. Turn off your laptop and remove the power supply and disconnect any external devices such as mice.
  3. Remove the keyboard, display, and shell to expose your computer’s inner electronics.Depending on your laptop you may need to remove the GPU to reach the CPU.
  4. Remove the heat sink holding in your laptop’s CPU.
  5. Replace with new CPU.
  6. Add a (paper)thin layer of thermal paste to the new CPU.
  7. Reassemble and boot up your laptop with the new CPU to determine if it functions correctly.

*Only remove those screws which are necessary to reach the computer's internal structure and those securing the CPU in place, otherwise you may misplace screws or unnecessarily loosen other components. Try to only only interact with those screws on the surface (front and back of the laptop) and those that are noticeable in helping you achieve your objective. If you are having trouble with disassembly then there are more than likely overlooked screws.