Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Brant Baugher
  • Comments: 8
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Motherboard Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

10

Time Required

35 - 50 minutes

Introduction

Many components play a role in a computer's function. The motherboard allows these components to communicate with each other. The motherboard acts as the central hub of communication for all components in a device. If you find that your computer is acting slow, struggling to load, or displays the blue screen of death (BSoD), your motherboard may be faulty. Follow these instructions to replace the motherboard from your device.

Before you begin the repair, make sure that your laptop is powered off and it is unplugged from the charger.

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    • Use tweezers to peel the plastic cover off the connector.

    • Use a spudger or your fingernail to pry up the battery straight up from the motherboard.

    This does not mention the wire that connects the speakers entwined with the battery nor the screws that hold the battery down. This is not a huge deal, just pointing it out

    José B. -

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    • Lift the battery out of the frame and remove it from the device.

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    • Unscrew the 3mm screw holding down the wireless adapter using a Phillips #00 screwdriver.

    • Slide the adapter out of its connector.

    • Detach the black and gray cables and separate them from the frame of the fan by gently pulling upwards.

    You can leave the wireless card connected and remove it from its socket. Lower risk for some than removing the connectors on the card.

    David Sherrington -

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    • Unlatch and remove the cable connecting to the frame of the fan by flipping the thin black tab up.

    • Separate the cable from the frame of the fan.

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    • Loosen the five screws connecting the fan to the motherboard using a Philips #00 head screwdriver.

    • These screws will not come out and will stay connected to the fan.

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    • Gently disconnect the two cables located on right and left side of the fan.

    • To identify these, they are labeled "FANR1" and FANL2" on the motherboard.

    • Lift the fan up and out and remove it from the device.

    Should you use a thermal paste between the heatsink and the top of the chips?

    John Winner -

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    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the five 4 mm screws below the charging port.

    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the two 3 mm screws.

    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the two 5 mm screws securing a silver plate on the charging port, in the top-right.

    • Remove the silver plate on top of the charging port.

    There are more screws to remove along the left side of the motherboard. Zoom into the photo and remove all those shown already removed before the photo was taken.

    There are also two more screws to remove on the top edge of the motherboard, at either side of the center section where the processor is.

    David Sherrington -

    What's happened to the fan assemblies between steps 3 and 4? Is there anything tricky about removing them?

    Jim Gillespie -

    See also Lenovo support videos at https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/gb/en/produ...

    Jim Gillespie -

    You don't need to undo the m.2 SSD retaining screws.

    Jim Gillespie -

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    • Disconnect all the ribbon wires from the motherboard.

    • All ribbon wires can be disconnected by flipping up the thin black tab at their connection points, and pulling the ribbon out.

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    • Disconnect the black attachment at the top right corner of the motherboard.

    • Insert the SIM eject bit into the small hole on the top and apply a small amount of pressure to release the clip.

    • While maintaining pressure, gently pull on the wire that is connected to it to remove it.

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    • Gently lift the motherboard out of the computer.

    The motherboard is still attached. There’s two more screws at the top corners of the central section between the fans, and the sides still seem to be attached somehow. I’m not sure to what exactly. The ports maybe? Either way, I can’t get it out.

    Martijn Vos -

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Brant Baugher

Member since: 10/02/20

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