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Dell OptiPlex GX260 Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Kevin Schapansky (and 10 other contributors)
  • Comments: 10
  • Favorites: 13
  • Completions: 13

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

10

Time Required

30 minutes

Sections

4

Flags

0

Tools

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Parts

No parts required.

  1. Lay the Dell Optiplex GX260 down on a clean flat surface with the rear towards you. Push the oval shaped buttons located on the top and bottom of the PC simultaneously and lift the case straight up.

    • Lay the Dell Optiplex GX260 down on a clean flat surface with the rear towards you.

    • Push the oval shaped buttons located on the top and bottom of the PC simultaneously and lift the case straight up.

    • Note: Some force may be required to push in the oval buttons open the PC case.

    Edit

  2. Disconnect the fan cable from the motherboard. Disconnect the fan cable from the motherboard.

    • Disconnect the fan cable from the motherboard.

    Edit

  3. On the rear of the desktop, push the two circled black buttons straight in with a small pointed object while pulling up on the fan. Once the fan is released, lift it straight up and out of the case. Once the fan is released, lift it straight up and out of the case.

    • On the rear of the desktop, push the two circled black buttons straight in with a small pointed object while pulling up on the fan.

    • Once the fan is released, lift it straight up and out of the case.

    Edit

  4. Push out on the cream colored tabs on each side of each RAM module until it pops up and out of its slot and remove the RAM. Push out on the cream colored tabs on each side of each RAM module until it pops up and out of its slot and remove the RAM.

    • Push out on the cream colored tabs on each side of each RAM module until it pops up and out of its slot and remove the RAM.

    Edit

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  6. Disconnect the ATX power cable to the motherboard. Disconnect the P4 12V(4x2) power cable from the motherboard.

    • Disconnect the ATX power cable to the motherboard.

    • Disconnect the P4 12V(4x2) power cable from the motherboard.

    Edit

  7. Disconnect the front panel ribbon cable by gently pulling it straight up. Disconnect the hard drive ribbon cable by gently pulling the blue tab away from the motherboard. Disconnect the optical drive ribbon cable by gently pulling the orange tab away from the motherboard.

    • Disconnect the front panel ribbon cable by gently pulling it straight up.

    • Disconnect the hard drive ribbon cable by gently pulling the blue tab away from the motherboard.

    • Disconnect the optical drive ribbon cable by gently pulling the orange tab away from the motherboard.

    Edit

  8. Disconnect the floppy drive drive ribbon cable by gently pulling the black tab away from the motherboard. Disconnect the optical drive audio cable connector from the motherboard.

    • Disconnect the floppy drive drive ribbon cable by gently pulling the black tab away from the motherboard.

    • Disconnect the optical drive audio cable connector from the motherboard.

    • Disconnect the audio input/output cable from the motherboard.

    Edit

  9. Lift the metal tab near the right corner of the motherboard. Pull the green tab toward the front of the PC to release the motherboard.

    • Lift the metal tab near the right corner of the motherboard.

    • Pull the green tab toward the front of the PC to release the motherboard.

    • From the rear of the PC, push the ports in while lifting the motherboard up and flipping it away from you.

    Edit

  10. Stand the motherboard up as shown. Insert the flat end of a spudger into the slot in the motherboard mounting plate and press the release tab while pushing the extension plate to the right with your thumbs until it comes off.. Insert the flat end of a spudger into the slot in the motherboard mounting plate and press the release tab while pushing the extension plate to the right with your thumbs until it comes off..

    • Stand the motherboard up as shown.

    • Insert the flat end of a spudger into the slot in the motherboard mounting plate and press the release tab while pushing the extension plate to the right with your thumbs until it comes off..

    Edit

  11. Remove the screw at the rear of the motherboard. Grasp the heat sink with your left hand and the I/O port panel with your right hand and pull to separate motherboard from the metal base. If you are replacing the motherboard refer to the great iFixit guide for removing the CPU.

    • Remove the screw at the rear of the motherboard.

    • Grasp the heat sink with your left hand and the I/O port panel with your right hand and pull to separate motherboard from the metal base.

    • If you are replacing the motherboard refer to the great iFixit guide for removing the CPU.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

13 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 10 other contributors

Kevin Schapansky

Member since: 10/05/2010

1,199 Reputation

9 Guides authored

Badges: 15

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Team

Cal Poly, Team 4-48, Amido Fall 2010 Member of Cal Poly, Team 4-48, Amido Fall 2010

CPSU-AMIDO-F10S4G48

4 Members

18 Guides authored

2 Comments

Add a comment

Mines stuck for some reason I almost bent the frame from pushing the ports in while lifting and pulling the tray tab away

james dee - Reply

make sure you doing it the correct side!

Robert Stokes-Barnett -

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