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XPS 8940 Service Manual

PDF

Installing the system board

Prerequisites

If you are replacing a component, remove the existing component before performing the installation procedure.

About this task

Figure 1. System-board components
Image: System-board components
  1. processor power-cable connector (ATX CPU1)
  2. processor power-cable connector (ATX CPU)
  3. processor
  4. processor-fan cable connector (FAN CPU)
  5. memory-module slot (DIMM3)
  6. memory-module slot (DIMM1)
  7. memory-module slot (DIMM4)
  8. memory-module slot (DIMM2)
  9. power-button cable
  10. hard-drive data-cable connector (SATA0)
  11. hard-drive data-cable connector (SATA1)
  12. hard-drive data-cable connector (SATA2)
  13. optical-drive data-cable connector (SATA3)
  14. hard-drive power cable connector (SATA PWR)
  15. solid-state drive connector (m.2 PCIe SSD)
  16. coin-cell battery
  17. wireless-card slot
  18. system-board power-cable connector (ATX SYS)
  19. PCIe x4 slot
  20. PCIe x16 slot
  21. PCIe x1 slot
  22. chassis-fan cable connector (FAN SYS)

The following images indicate the location of the system board and provide a visual representation of the installation procedure.

Image: Installing the system board

Image: Installing the system board

Image: Installing the system board

Image: Installing the system board

Steps

  1. Slide the back I/O-ports on the system board into the front I/O-slots on the chassis and align the screw holes on the system board with the screw holes on the chassis.
  2. Replace the screw (#6-32x3.8) that secures the system board to the chassis.
  3. Install the voltage regulator heat sink.
    NOTE: The voltage regulator heat sink is shipped as a separate unit and it does not ship along with the system board. If reusing the voltage regulator heat sink, remove it from the old system board and transfer it to the new system board.
  4. Replace the eight screws (#6-32) that secure the system board to the chassis.
  5. Route and connect all the cables that you disconnected from the system board.
  6. Align the front I/O-bracket with the slots on the chassis.
  7. Replace the screw (#6-32) that secures the front I/O-bracket to the chassis.

Next steps

  1. Install the processor.
  2. Install the processor fan and heat-sink assembly.
  3. Install the coin-cell battery.
  4. Install the graphics card.
  5. Install the solid-state drive/Intel Optane.
  6. Install the wireless card.
  7. Install the memory modules.
  8. Install the 3.5-inch hard drive, if applicable.
  9. Install the front cover.
  10. Install the left-side cover.
  11. Follow the procedure in After working inside your computer.
    NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag is stored in the system board. You must enter the Service Tag in the BIOS setup program after you replace the system board.
    NOTE: Replacing the system board removes any changes that you have made to the BIOS using the BIOS setup program. You must make the appropriate changes again after you replace the system board.

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