Framework Laptop 16 Mainboard Replacement

Escrito Por: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comentários: 0

Framework Laptop 16 Mainboard Replacement

Dificuldade

Moderate

Passos

Tempo necessário

30 - 45 minutes

Introdução

Use this guide to replace or upgrade the Mainboard in your Framework 16 Laptop.

The Mainboard (aka motherboard) is responsible for the primary functions for your laptop. If you want to upgrade your processor, you'll need to replace the Mainboard.

Replacement Mainboards come with a pre-installed heatsink but don't come with pre-installed storage, memory, or Wi-Fi modules. This guide will show how to transfer them to your new Mainboard.

If you're running Windows:

Make sure you back up your data.
If you’re running a Pro version of Windows, follow these directions to suspend BitLocker.
If you're running a Home version of Windows and have enabled Windows Device Encryption, you'll want to disable it. To disable it, press Win + I to open Settings and select Privacy & Security. Then, click on Device Encryption on the right panel and toggle the setting to Off.
Find your product key or link your Windows license to a Microsoft account to make sure you can re‑activate Windows after the change.

If you're upgrading from AMD Ryzen™ 7040 Series to AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series, you'll need to update your Input Module firmware before swapping the Mainboard.

Some photos in this guide may contain slight visual discrepancies, but they won't affect the procedure.

Ferramentas

Framework Screwdriver

Peças

Passo 1

Unplug all cables and fully shut down your laptop.

Passo 2

Close the laptop and flip it over.

Passo 3

Use your finger to flip the Expansion Card latches into the unlocked position.
The latch displays a red bar when it's unlocked.

Passo 4

Grip the lip of the Expansion Card with your fingers.
Pull the Expansion Card out of its slot and remove it.
This might take some initial force. If you're having trouble, make sure the locking tab is properly unlocked.
Repeat for all remaining Expansion Cards.

Passo 5

Flip your laptop over and open it.
Use your fingernail to pull out the two Input Module latches and unlock them.
The latch will show red if it's unlocked.

Passo 6

Use your fingers to slide the Touchpad Spacer toward the bottom edge of the laptop and unclip it.
If you're having trouble, check if the corresponding Input Module latch is properly unlocked.
Lift the Touchpad Spacer off the laptop and remove it.

Passo 7

Repeat the same procedure for the other touchpad spacer.

Passo 8

Use your fingers to slide the Touchpad Module toward the bottom edge of the laptop and disconnect it.
If you're having trouble, check if the Input Module latches are properly unlocked.
Lift the Touchpad Module and remove it.

Passo 9

The keyboard is held in place with strong magnets. Apply gradually increasing force to avoid having the keyboard violently eject.
Grip the two pull tabs along the bottom of the keyboard and lift until its magnets release.
Remove the keyboard.

Passo 10

Your Input Module(s) might be different, but the procedure to remove them is the same.
Grip the pull tab at the bottom of the Input Module and lift until its magnets release.
Remove the Input Module.
Repeat for any remaining Input Modules.

Passo 11

Grip the black pull tab on the Mid Plate cable press connector.
Lift up to disconnect the Mid Plate cable.

Passo 12

The Mid Plate screws are ordered from 2–17 (number 1 is the press connector). You don't have to follow the order, but you can use it to help keep track of the screws you've loosened.
Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the 16 captive T5 Torx screws securing the Mid Plate.

Passo 13

Use your fingers to lift the Mid Plate off the laptop and remove it.

Passo 14

Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the three captive T5 Torx screws securing the battery.

Passo 15

Grip the black pull tab at the top of the battery and lift to disconnect the battery connector.
Remove the battery.

Passo 16

Use your Framework Screwdriver to remove the 2 mm‑long T5 Torx screw securing the SSD.
The SSD might pop up at a shallow angle when you remove the screw.

Passo 17

Grip the end of the SSD with the screw hole and slide it out of its socket.
Remove the SSD.

Passo 18

If you have a secondary SSD installed, follow the next two steps. Otherwise, skip here.
Use your Framework Screwdriver to remove the 2 mm‑long T5 Torx screw securing the secondary SSD.

Passo 19

While pulling up on the black tab underneath the SSD, use your finger to slide the SSD out of its socket.
Avoid touching the gold contacts. Only press on the top label or the edges of the SSD.
The thermal pad under the SSD can vary in color—yours may be gray, orange, or pink.

Passo 20

Push the two metal arms on each side of the RAM stick outward until they disengage and the stick pops up at a shallow angle.
Repeat for the other RAM stick.

Passo 21

Slide the RAM stick out of its socket and remove it.
Repeat for the other RAM stick.

Passo 22

Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the captive T5 Torx screw securing Wi-Fi module.
The module might pop up at a shallow angle when you loosen the screw.

Passo 23

Grip the end of the Wi-Fi module with the screw hole and slide it out of its socket.
Don't pull the module too far from its socket, as it's still connected by two cables.

Passo 24

Rotate the Wi-Fi module towards the top of the laptop to keep it out of the way of the Mainboard.
If the antenna cables disconnect, follow these steps to reconnect them.

Passo 25

Lift the interposer door by its black pull tab and let it rest upright.

Passo 26

If you have the Graphics Module installed, your interposer will have four screws. If you have the Expansion Bay Shell installed, you'll have three screws instead.
If you have the Graphics Module, use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the four captive T5 Torx screws securing the interposer.
If you have the Expansion Bay Shell, use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the three captive T5 Torx screws securing the interposer.

Passo 27

Lift the interposer by its pull tab and remove it.

Passo 28

Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the two captive T5 Torx screws securing the module in the Expansion Bay.
Close the interposer door before continuing.

Passo 29

Close your laptop and flip it over.
Slide the Expansion Bay Module out of the laptop and remove it.
The module should slide out easily. If you feel any resistance, check if the screws holding it in place are fully loosened.
Flip your laptop and reopen it.

Passo 30

Use the flat end of your Framework Screwdriver, or a clean fingernail, to lift up the locking tab on the fingerprint reader ZIF connector next to the memory.

Passo 31

Use your fingers to grip the blue pull tab and slide the fingerprint reader cable straight out of its socket.

Passo 32

The fingerprint reader cable is lightly adhered to the laptop's frame.
Use your fingers to peel the fingerprint reader cable away from the frame and separate the adhesive.

Passo 33

The ventilation plate is held in place with magnets.
Lift the bottom of the ventilation plate and pull it away from the laptop until the magnets release.
Remove the ventilation plate.

Passo 34

Lift the speaker cable connector by its black pull tab and disconnect it.

Passo 35

Grip the webcam cable connector to the right of the Wi-Fi module slot by its pull tab and lift up to disconnect it.
Repeat for the display cable connector next to it.

Passo 36

Lift the display, webcam, and Wi-Fi module cables out of their slot in the frame enough to give room for the Mainboard to lift straight up.
Optionally, you can tuck the cables underneath the frame.

Passo 37

Lift up the interposer door to reveal the screw underneath.
The Mainboard screws are ordered from 1–6. You don't have to follow the order, but you can use it to help keep track of the screws you've removed.
Use your Framework Screwdriver to remove the six 2.0 mm‑long T5 Torx screws securing the Mainboard.

Passo 38

Use your fingers to lift the bottom edge of the Mainboard enough to grip its edges.
Lift the Mainboard off its alignment pegs and remove it.

Passo 39

Congratulations on completing disassembly! The remaining steps will show how to reassemble your Framework Laptop.

Passo 40

Grab the Mainboard by the curving pipes of its heatsink.
Place the Mainboard into the laptop and onto its alignment pegs.
Make sure all of the cables are above the Mainboard before continuing.

Passo 41

Use your Framework Screwdriver to install the six 2.0 mm‑long T5 Torx screws securing the Mainboard.

Passo 42

Route the display, webcam, and Wi-Fi module cables into their slots in the frame.

Passo 43

Press the two display connectors straight down into their sockets to connect them.

Passo 44

Press the speaker cable connector straight down into its socket to connect it.

Passo 45

Lay the ventilation plate along the top edge of the laptop and let its magnets pull into place.

Passo 46

Use your fingers to grip the blue pull tab and slide the fingerprint reader cable straight into its socket.

Passo 47

Use the flat end of your Framework Screwdriver, or a clean fingernail, to press down the locking tab on the fingerprint reader ZIF connector.

Passo 48

Press the fingerprint reader cable to the frame to re-adhere it.

Passo 49

Close the interposer door.

Passo 50

If you have the Graphics Module installed, your interposer will have four screws. If you have the Expansion Bay Shell installed, you'll have three screws instead.
If you have the Graphics Module, use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the four captive T5 Torx screws securing the interposer.
If you have the Expansion Bay Shell, use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the three captive T5 Torx screws securing the interposer.
Close the interposer door.

Passo 51

Place the interposer over its spot between the Mainboard and the module.
Depending on if you're installing a Graphics Module or the Expansion Bay Shell, the interposer should be oriented so either rubber grommets or metal tabs cover the Expansion Bay screws.

Passo 52

Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the two captive T5 Torx screws securing the Expansion Bay Module.

Passo 53

Close your laptop and flip it over.
Align the Expansion Bay Module with its slot in the laptop.
Check that the module sits evenly with the rail on the outside edges of the slot.
Check that the two center rails are threaded between the fans.

Passo 54

Rotate the Wi-Fi Module back into place, making sure the antenna cables wrap around their silver peg on the Mainboard and tuck underneath the heat sink.

Passo 55

Hold the Wi-Fi module by its edges. Don't touch the gold contacts with your fingers. If you do, wipe the contacts with a clean, lint-free cloth to remove any finger oils.
Align the Wi-Fi module's gold contacts and notch with the socket on the Mainboard.
Insert the Wi-Fi module into the socket at a shallow angle. The gold contacts should mostly be covered by the socket.
The Wi-Fi module fits into the socket in one orientation. If it doesn't fit, try flipping the module.

Passo 56

Slide the clear Wi-Fi module cover on the module and align its screw with the screw hole cutout.

Passo 57

Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the captive T5 Torx screw securing Wi-Fi module.

Passo 58

Hold the memory module by its edges. Don't touch the gold contacts with your fingers. If you do, wipe the contacts with a clean, lint-free cloth to remove any finger oils.
Orient the module with its label facing down and align the gold contacts with the left socket labeled DDR5 Channel 0.
Insert the contact edge into the socket at a shallow angle. The gold contacts should mostly be covered by the socket.
Press the edges of the memory module down until the side clips lock it in place.

Passo 59

Repeat the previous step for the other socket labeled DDR5 Channel 1, except orient the module so its label is facing upward.

Passo 60

Hold the SSD by its edges. Don't touch the gold contacts with your fingers. If you do, wipe the contacts with a clean, lint-free cloth to remove any finger oils.
Align the SSD's gold contacts with its socket.
Insert the SSD partially into the socket at a shallow angle. You should still be able to see most of the gold contacts.
Press the SSD flat to the Mainboard.

Passo 61

While keeping the SSD flat to the Mainboard, push it into its socket until its golden contacts are completely covered.

Passo 62

Use your Framework Screwdriver to install the 2 mm‑long T5 Torx screw securing the SSD.

Passo 63

Hold the SSD by its edges. Don't touch the gold contacts with your fingers. If you do, wipe the contacts with a clean, lint-free cloth to remove any finger oils.
Insert the SSD into the socket at a shallow angle. The gold contacts should mostly be covered by the socket.
The SSD fits into the socket in one orientation. If it doesn't feel like it fits, try flipping the module.

Passo 64

While holding the SSD flat to the Mainboard, use your Framework Screwdriver to install the 2 mm‑long T5 Torx screw securing the SSD.

Passo 65

Align the battery connector over its socket and lay the battery into its well.
Lightly press the battery down to connect it.

Passo 66

Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the three captive T5 Torx screws securing the battery.

Passo 67

Place the Mid Plate on the laptop, making sure it sits evenly on its alignment pegs.

Passo 68

Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the 16 captive T5 Torx screws in order (starting with 2) to secure the Mid Plate evenly.

Passo 69

Align the Mid Plate cable press connector over its socket and press down to connect it.

Passo 70

Your Input Module(s) might be different, but the procedure to remove them is the same.
Align the top edge of the Input Module with the top edge of the laptop.
Lay the Input Module on the laptop and let the magnets pull the keyboard into place
Make sure the Input Module is seated properly on its alignment pegs and sits flush with the edges of the laptop.
Repeat for any remaining Input Modules.

Passo 71

Align the top edge of the keyboard with the top edge of the laptop.
Lay the keyboard on the laptop and let the magnets pull the keyboard into place
Make sure the keyboard is seated properly on its alignment pegs and sits flush with the edges of the laptop.

Passo 72

Place the Touchpad Module flat on its cutout so its clips are properly aligned.
Press the Touchpad Module down and slide it into place so it lines up evenly with the bottom edge of the laptop.

Passo 73

Place the Touchpad Spacer over its spot on the laptop with the bottom edge overhanging slightly.
Slide the Touchpad Spacer towards the top of the laptop to secure it.
Repeat the same procedure for the other Touchpad Spacer.

Passo 74

Push the Input Module latches back into place to lock them.

Passo 75

Close the laptop and flip it over.

Passo 76

Slide an Expansion Card into an Expansion Card slot.
You don't need to unlock the latch to install the Expansion Cards—only when you want to remove them.
The Expansion Cards should click into place, and the front edge should be flush with the laptop.
Repeat for all remaining Expansion Cards.