Toshiba Satellite L305-S5946 Motherboard Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to remove or install a motherboard on your Toshiba Satellite L305-S5946. It will be necessary to remove the motherboard to replace the GPU. This guide also acts as a prerequisite for the processor and cooling fan installation guides.

Tools Required:

• iFixit Opening Tool (1)
• Phillips #00 Screwdriver (1)
• Phillips #1 Screwdriver (1)

Step 1: Battery Removal

Action: Place the laptop upside-down with the display hinges facing away from you.

Description of visual: The image shows the bottom view of a Toshiba Satellite laptop, indicating its orientation for the next steps.

Step 2: Battery Latch (Left)

Action: Slide the latch for the left battery bay to the left.

Description of visual: A hand is shown sliding a latch on the side of the laptop, near the battery compartment.

Step 3: Battery Latch (Right) and Cover Removal

Action: Slide the latch for the right battery bay to the right and hold. Continue to hold the latch while using a plastic opening tool to lift and remove the battery bay cover. Remove the battery.

Description of visual: This step involves manipulating another latch, using a plastic tool to pry open the battery cover, and finally removing the battery pack.

Step 4: Hard Drive Screw Removal

Action: Loosen the two captive screws on the bottom left corner of the hard drive using a Phillips #1 screwdriver until you hear a click.

Description of visual: A Phillips #1 screwdriver is shown loosening two screws located on the bottom panel of the laptop, near the area where the hard drive is housed.

Step 5: Hard Drive Cover Removal

Action: Lift the hard drive cover using a non-marring iFixit opening tool. This will expose the hard drive.

Description of visual: A plastic opening tool is used to carefully lift a small panel on the laptop's underside, revealing the hard drive beneath.

Step 6: Hard Drive Removal

Action: Slide the hard drive to the left using your fingers. Remove the hard drive by inserting an iFixit opening tool under the right side of the hard drive and carefully lifting it out.

Description of visual: The hard drive is first slid horizontally, then gently pried upwards from its bay using a plastic tool.

Step 7: RAM Cover Screw Removal

Action: Using a Phillips #1 screwdriver, turn the screw on the RAM cover until you hear a click. This is a captive panel screw and remains with the cover.

Description of visual: A Phillips #1 screwdriver is used to remove a single screw securing the RAM access panel on the laptop's underside.

Step 8: RAM Cover Removal

Action: Remove the RAM cover by inserting the plastic opening tool into the indent and lifting.

Description of visual: A plastic opening tool is inserted into a notch on the RAM cover and used to lift it off.

Step 9: RAM Module Release

Action: Push the white and silver retaining clips away from each side of the RAM card using your fingernails. The RAM card should pop up at an angle.

Description of visual: Fingers are shown pushing outward on the retaining clips on either side of a RAM module, causing it to tilt upwards.

Step 10: RAM Module Removal

Action: Pull the RAM card away from the computer. Repeat Steps 6 and 7 to remove the other RAM card that may be installed.

Description of visual: A RAM module is being gently pulled out of its slot after the retaining clips were released.

Step 11: Keyboard Orientation

Action: Place the laptop right-side-up so the screen faces you.

Description of visual: The laptop is shown in its normal operating orientation, screen facing the user, ready for keyboard removal.

Step 12: Keyboard Strip Removal

Action: Remove the strip of plastic at the right furthermost edge of the keyboard using a plastic opening tool. Insert the plastic opening tool at either end of the strip. Lift upwards and proceed to the other end while repeating this lifting process every one to two inches.

Description of visual: A plastic opening tool is being used to carefully pry up a decorative plastic strip located above the keyboard.

Step 13: Keyboard Screw Removal

⚠️ CAUTION: do not allow hardware or debris into the CPU fan and duct.

Action: Remove the two 3-mm screws at the top edge of the keyboard using a Phillips #00 screwdriver. These are not captive panel screws and, once loosened, will be free to move about the assembly.

Description of visual: A Phillips #00 screwdriver is shown removing two small screws located at the top edge of the keyboard area.

Step 14: Keyboard Prying

Action: Pry the top of the keyboard loose from its casing using a plastic opening tool.

Description of visual: A plastic opening tool is being inserted along the edge of the keyboard to gently dislodge it from the laptop chassis.

Step 15: Keyboard Lifting

Action: Gently grasp the top of the keyboard and pull it up and toward the screen.

⚠️ CAUTION: Pulling too hard could damage the black ribbon cable under the keyboard.

Description of visual: The keyboard is being lifted upwards and towards the screen, revealing the ribbon cable connecting it to the motherboard.

Step 16: Keyboard Ribbon Cable Disconnection

Action: Gently push the two tabs locking the black ribbon cable. To remove the black ribbon cable from the motherboard, slide the keyboard toward the screen. You may now safely separate the keyboard from the laptop.

Description of visual: This step shows how to release the keyboard's ribbon cable by pushing tabs and then sliding the keyboard away from the connector.

Step 17: Base Housing Orientation

Action: Place the laptop upside-down with the display hinges facing away from you.

Description of visual: The laptop is shown upside down, similar to Step 1, preparing for the removal of the base housing.

Step 18: Base Housing Screw Removal

Action: For the following steps, use a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

• Remove the twelve 6-mm screws that border the bottom of the laptop.
• Remove the 6-mm screw located in the lower middle of the device.
• Remove the three 3-mm screws located in the battery bay.
• Remove the one 4-mm screw located near the RAM.

Description of visual: The underside of the laptop is shown with various screws highlighted in different colors (red, orange, yellow, green) indicating their size and location for removal.

Step 19: Laptop Orientation After Base Removal

Action: Place the laptop right-side-up so the screen faces you.

Description of visual: The laptop is shown right-side-up after the base housing has been removed, exposing the internal components.

Step 20: Keyboard Slot Screw Removal

⚠️ CAUTION: do not allow hardware or debris into the CPU fan and duct.

Action: Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove the five 6-mm screws in the keyboard slot. These are not captive panel screws and, once loosened, will be free to move about the assembly.

Description of visual: A Phillips #1 screwdriver is shown removing five screws located within the keyboard slot area.

Step 21: Connector Disconnection

Action: Lock the white ribbon cable into place by gently pulling on the two black tabs. Remove the white ribbon cable by pulling it towards you. Remove the connector that has the blue, red, black, and white wires using tweezers.

Description of visual: This step shows the disconnection of several ribbon cables and a multi-wire connector from the motherboard using fingers and tweezers.

Step 22: Casing Separation

Action: Separate the laptop upper casing from the lower casing by using an opening tool around the sides of the case to pry it apart.

Description of visual: A plastic opening tool is used to carefully pry apart the upper and lower halves of the laptop's chassis.

Step 23: Motherboard Hinge Screw Removal

Action: Remove the four 6-mm screws from the two hinge pads using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Description of visual: A Phillips #1 screwdriver is shown removing four screws located near the laptop hinges, which secure the motherboard.

Step 24: Motherboard Connector Disconnection

Action: For the following steps, use tweezers:

• Remove the connector equipped with the black and white wire.
• Remove the connector equipped with the black, green, red, yellow, and white wires.
• Using your fingers, remove the large connector located at the top right corner of the motherboard, as shown.

Description of visual: This step illustrates the disconnection of multiple cables and connectors from the motherboard using tweezers and fingers.

Step 25: Card Removal

⚠️ CAUTION: do not allow hardware or debris into the CPU fan and duct.

Action: Remove the two 3-mm screws from the card equipped with black and white wires by using a Phillips #00 or Phillips #1 screwdriver. These are not captive panel screws and once loosened will be free to move about the assembly. Gently remove the card with your fingers.

Description of visual: Two screws are removed from a small card connected by wires, and then the card is lifted out.

Step 26: Display Assembly Removal

Action: Remove the display assembly and put it aside.

Description of visual: The entire display assembly is being lifted away from the main laptop body.

Step 27: DVD Drive Removal

Action: Slide the DVD out of the opening on the right using your fingers.

Description of visual: The optical drive (DVD writer) is shown being slid out from its bay on the side of the laptop.

Step 28: Power Jack and Connector Disconnection

Action: Remove the power jack connector. Remove the connector equipped with one red wire and one black wire. This connector may be hidden beneath a cooling fan wire. Remove the connector equipped with red, yellow, green, white, and black wires. Remove the large connector near the fan. Remove the power jack cable and socket from its housing by pulling gently.

Description of visual: Multiple connectors and the power jack are being disconnected from the motherboard, some requiring gentle pulling or manipulation of tabs.

Step 29: Ribbon Cable Disconnection

Action: Gently push the two black tabs until they stop moving. Remove the silver ribbon cable from the connectors by pulling gently.

Description of visual: Tabs on a connector are pushed, and a silver ribbon cable is then gently pulled free.

Step 30: Motherboard Screw Near HDD

⚠️ CAUTION: do not allow hardware or debris into the CPU fan and duct.

Action: Remove the 6-mm screw near the hard drive using a Phillips #1 screwdriver. This is not a captive screw and, once loosened, will be free to move about the assembly.

Description of visual: A Phillips #1 screwdriver is removing a screw located on the motherboard, close to where the hard drive was previously situated.

Step 31: Motherboard Card Screw Removal

Action: Remove the two 3-mm screws from the card connected to the black wire using a Phillips #00 screwdriver. These are not captive screws and, once loosened, will be free to move about the assembly.

Description of visual: A Phillips #00 screwdriver is used to remove two screws from a small component attached to the motherboard via a black wire.

Step 32: Motherboard Removal

Action: Gently lift the top right side of the motherboard. Pull it upwards to the right and away from you.

Description of visual: The motherboard is being carefully lifted and tilted away from the laptop chassis to be fully removed.

Reassembly

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