Dell Latitude E5470 Motherboard Replacement

ID: 219950

Description: [youtubevideo|BkoSruPISs8]Use this guide to...

Steps:

1. Shut down the laptop, unplug the charger, and remove any external devices.
2. Wear an anti-static wrist strap or touch a grounded metal object before handling the motherboard.
3. Gather an iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit, a replacement motherboard, and any optional thermal paste supplies.
4. Keep donor screws separated by length, because this model uses different screw depths.
5. Close the display and place the laptop upside down on a soft, clean surface.
6. Use the screwdriver from the iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit to remove the eight screws securing the bottom cover.
7. Lift the bottom cover away to expose the internal components.
8. Inspect the internal battery for swelling before touching the motherboard.
9. Stop if the battery is swollen, because forcing or puncturing it can cause fire or injury.
10. Skylake-era Latitude models can suffer from swollen batteries that deform the chassis.
11. Disconnect the battery before disconnecting any motherboard cables.
12. Remove the SSD if one is installed and set it aside.
13. Remove the RAM module if one is installed and set it aside.
14. Use the correct SSD screws during reassembly, because the SSD screws are smaller than the hard drive screws.
15. Do not force larger hard drive screws into the SSD mounting points.
16. Use a plastic tool from the toolkit to disconnect the Wi-Fi antenna leads straight up from the Wi-Fi card.
17. Unroute the Wi-Fi antenna cables from their channels.
18. Remove the Wi-Fi card so it can't move loose while the motherboard is out.
19. Some E5470 chassis include 4G antennas and a rear SIM tray even when the 4G module isn't installed.
20. Disconnect the display cable from the motherboard.
21. Disconnect the touchpad, security-device, and speaker cables from the motherboard.
22. Disconnect the three small ribbon cables and the audio connector near the keyboard area.
23. Lift ribbon cable locks before pulling the cables, because the ribbons tear easily.
24. Use the screwdriver from the toolkit to remove the screws securing the plastic intermediate frame.
25. Lift the intermediate frame away from the chassis.
26. Use the printed screw labels as a map during reassembly, because Dell marks many screw sizes and depths on the chassis and motherboard.
27. Use 3 mm screws in shallow locations near plastic and under the battery, because a longer 5 mm screw can pierce the chassis.
28. Check for any 2.5 mm markings before installing a screw in a marked hole.
29. Carefully release the keyboard retainer.
30. The keyboard retainer is delicate, so don't pry hard in one spot.
31. Lift the keyboard and feed its small ribbon cables through the opening in the chassis.
32. This unit uses five keyboard retaining screws during reassembly.
33. Remove the SD card adapter or small card tray before lifting the motherboard.
34. Remove the SIM tray if the chassis has one.
35. Leaving a tray installed can tear the tray support when the motherboard is lifted.
36. Reposition the small card support if it comes loose during disassembly.
37. Disconnect the DC-in power connector from the motherboard.
38. Remove the connector assembly if the cable won't come free cleanly.
39. The cable can be difficult to remove if its wires are folded or twisted tightly in the chassis.
40. Use the better donor DC-in power connector if the original connector is worn.
41. Use the screwdriver from the toolkit to remove the three screws securing the motherboard.
42. Read the numbers and screw markings printed directly on the motherboard.
43. Set the three motherboard screws apart so they don't get mixed with the frame screws.
44. Lift the motherboard slowly from the chassis.
45. Work around the rear edge and ports as you lift.
46. Stop if the board catches, because a hidden cable, tray, bracket, or rear connector may still be holding it.
47. Set the removed motherboard aside on an anti-static surface.
48. Inspect the fan before reassembly and leave it installed if it tested good.
49. Use a paper towel to remove the old thermal paste from the CPU, integrated graphics die, and heatsink contact plate.
50. Apply a small drop of thermal paste to each die.
51. Spread the paste into a thin, even layer across each die.
52. A drop-only method exists, but spreading the paste helps ensure full coverage on mobile chips.
53. Place the replacement motherboard into the chassis, aligning the external ports and rear connectors.
54. Make sure no antenna, keyboard, audio, speaker, touchpad, or display cable is trapped under the board.
55. Install the three motherboard screws in their marked locations.
56. Install the longer screws before the smaller screws if you are sorting many donor screws.
57. Reinstall the plastic intermediate frame and its screws.
58. Match each screw to the printed 5 mm, 3 mm, or 2.5 mm marking.
59. Install 3 mm screws in the shallow spots near plastic and under the battery.
60. Install the two 5 mm rear screws that are visible from the outside of the laptop.
61. Use undamaged screws in visible exterior locations if you are choosing from donor hardware.
62. Route the Wi-Fi antenna cables through their original channels.
63. Reinstall the small support that holds the antenna cables in place.
64. Reinstall the Wi-Fi card and press the antenna leads onto their terminals.
65. Route optional 4G antenna cables separately if the chassis has them.
66. Keep unused 4G antenna cables in their channels so the cover can close without pinching them.
67. Place the keyboard back into position with its ribbon cables passing through the chassis opening.
68. Install the five keyboard retaining screws.
69. Reconnect the keyboard ribbons, display cable, touchpad cable, security-device cable, speaker cable, audio connector, and remaining small ribbons.
70. Close each ribbon cable lock after the cable is fully seated.
71. Reinstall the RAM module if you removed it.
72. Install the SSD and secure it with the correct SSD screws.
73. Use matching replacement SSD screws if the originals are missing.
74. Do not substitute the larger hard drive screws for the SSD screws.
75. Reconnect the battery.
76. Reinstall the bottom cover and secure the eight bottom cover screws.
77. Connect the charger and check that the laptop powers on and charges.
78. Test the keyboard, touchpad, speakers, Wi-Fi, display, and fan before putting tools away.
79. Reseat the DC-in power connector if the laptop still won't charge.
80. Use a multimeter to investigate a board-level power fault if charging fails with and without a known-good battery.
81. Reseat the Wi-Fi antenna leads if Wi-Fi reception is poor or missing.
82. Reseat the small ribbon cables if the keyboard, touchpad, audio, or security devices don't work.
83. Check cable routing and screw lengths if the motherboard won't sit flat or the bottom cover won't close.
84. Inspect the fan and thermal paste if the laptop overheats after reassembly.