You should never touch the motherboard without first grounding yourself.
Replacing the Dell XPS 710 motherboard with a Dell XPS 720 motherboard is possible since the two motherboards share the same type of processor slot. However, acquiring the XPS 720 motherboard may not be easy since Dell typically sells them only with new XPS 720 computers. If you purchase a Dell XPS 720 motherboard on the used market, use care when replacing the old motherboard in order to protect your computer.
Instructions
1. Touch a metal part of the computer case with both of your hands to ground yourself before you open up your computer. It is also a good idea to periodically touch the case again while you are working on the inside of the computer. This will help you to protect your computer from static electricity which may cause damage.
2. Open the case of the Dell XPS 710 by pulling back on the release latch. Then, carefully turn the cover and lift it up and off of the case.
3. Unscrew any expansion cards from the computer. These will be located on the back of the computer's motherboard. They include things like graphics cards or TV tuner cards. Remove them and carefully put them aside.
4. Unplug all wires connecting to the motherboard. This includes SATA cables, USB connectors, power supply, CPU fan and other peripheral cables that may be attached. When you are finished, there should be no cables of any kind attached to the motherboard.
5. Release the latch holding the CPU fan in place and carefully lift it out of the case. Set it aside. Gently lift the CPU from its slot by pulling it straight up. Be careful not to pull from side to side as this may damage some of the pins on the CPU causing it to be inoperable. Set it aside.
6. Unscrew the screws holding the motherboard in place. These should be located primarily along the edges of the motherboard. Make sure that the support posts underneath them remain in place. Support posts are typically gold in color and have a screw thread on the bottom. If they do come up together with the screws, you can unscrew them after you finish unscrewing the rest of the motherboard. Once the motherboard has been fully unscrewed, lift it up out of the case and set it aside (or discard it if you have no further use for it).
7. Place the Dell XPS 720 motherboard on the supports that were left behind in the case. The holes should line up with the supports. Take the screws you removed in step 6 and screw them back in.
8. Put the CPU onto the motherboard by pressing down firmly but gently. Make sure to align the pins exactly with the motherboard. Put some CPU grease on top of the CPU. You should put on enough to cover the CPU, but not so much that it will spill over once you put the fan back on. A few drops should do the job. You can rub it onto the CPU gently with your finger. Once you have finished, put the fan back on it exactly as it was when you removed it from the XPS 710 motherboard. Carefully put the lever for the fan back in place and then plug it into the new motherboard.
9. Plug in all the plugs you unplugged in step 4. The layout should be similar to that of the Dell XPS 710. When you have finished, replace the expansion cards that were removed in step 3 and screw them back in. Put the cover back on and snap the release latch into place.
Tags: Dell motherboard, lift case, your computer, case aside, expansion cards