The Gateway 510X H is a desktop computer designed for home users. Due to the age of the system--Gateway released the system in 2004--the computer's capabilities are rather dated. The chipsets on the motherboard dictate what features and devices the system can support. Modern motherboards can support devices such as eSATA, DDR3 memory and SATA 6Gb/s. Upgrading the motherboard on your Gateway 510X H will allow you to improve your system's performance and capabilities.
Instructions
1. Launch your Web browser and go to Gateway Support (see Resources). Click "Desktops" from the product menu.
2. Click "Find my serial#." Enter the results into the "Serial Number" field and click "Submit." Choose "My Support Docs" from the tabs.
3. Scroll to "Motherboards." Click "Support Docs." Click "Specifications" to find out the type of motherboard installed to your Gateway 510X H.
4. Return to "My Support Docs." Review the hardware currently installed to your computer (particularly the hard drive, memory, optical drive, processor power supply and video card).
5. Locate a compatible motherboard that supports all of the devices installed to your computer currently and also has the same form factor of your old system board.
6. Power down the 510X H. Remove the power cable, monitor, keyboard, mouse and any other peripheral devices from the back of the computer.
7. Press the power button to drain any residual electricity contained on the system board. Remove the thumbscrews securing the cover to the 510X H.
8. Wrap a grounding strap around your wrist to protect the components against electrostatic discharge. Slide the cover toward the rear of the system and pull the cover away. Set the cover panel aside.
9. Place your hand underneath the bottom edge of the bezel and pull the bezel up and away from the case.
10. Gently lay the Gateway computer on its side. Unscrew any expansion cards secured to the back panel. Lift the cards directly up to remove them from their slots.
11. Release the tabs securing the memory modules to the motherboard. Lift the memory modules directly up by the edges to remove them.
12. Disconnect any cables connected to the Gateway 510X H's motherboard. Loosen the seven screws lining the edge of the board. Loosen the screw next to the memory slots.
13. Lift the board out of the case. Extract the CPU fan, heat sink and processor from the board.
14. Reinstall the processor, CPU fan and heat sink into the new board. Reinsert the upgraded motherboard into the case. Line up the motherboard with the standoffs inside the case. Screw the motherboard into place.
15. Reconnect any disconnected cables to the appropriate slots on the motherboard and reinstall the memory modules and expansion cards to the motherboard.
16. Align the cover with the case notches and slide the cover toward the front of the computer. Tighten the thumbscrews on the back of the case. Reconnect any cables to the back of the computer.
Tags: Gateway 510X, installed your, memory modules, Support Docs, back computer, cover toward, expansion cards