The motherboard is the central component in your Gateway GT5220 desktop computer. Every other device in the computer, from the processor to the hard drive, connects directly to the motherboard. When the motherboard goes out the computer will not work properly and may not power on at all. Instead of buying a new computer, you can get a replacement motherboard and swap out the defective component.
Instructions
1. Shut down the Gateway GT5220 desktop computer. Disconnect the power cable and any other cords connected to the back of the computer case.
2. Place the computer on its side. Twist off the two thumbscrews at the back end of the case. Lift the side access panel upward and set it aside.
3. Unplug each of the cables connected to the motherboard from the power supply, hard drive and DVD drive. Find the two RAM module ports located below the processor fan.
4. Pull back the white plastic tabs on the left and right sides of both RAM modules. Lift both RAM modules straight upward and set them aside.
5. Locate the NVIDIA GeForce PCI-Express graphics card at the lower-left end of the motherboard. Lift the card upward off the PCI-Express slot and set it aside.
6. Unplug the black cable running from the processor fan to the motherboard. Push down on the plastic clamp holding the fan to the heat sink. Remove the processor fan and then pull the heat sink off the processor.
7. Lift up the plastic bar next to the processor to unlock it from the motherboard socket. Pull the processor off the socket and set it aside. Use the Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the screws at the top and bottom of the motherboard.
8. Pull the motherboard out of the Gateway GT5220 computer case. Set the new motherboard inside the case. Line up the ports on the motherboard with the holes in the back side of the case.
9. Reconnect the motherboard screws. Reassemble the processor, heat sink, processor fan, RAM modules and PCI-Express graphics card. Plug in the cables for the power supply, DVD drive and hard drive.
10. Place the side panel back onto the case and twist back on the thumbscrews. Reconnect the cables to the back of the case. Turn on the Gateway GT5220 computer to ensure the new motherboard is working.
Tags: Gateway GT5220, hard drive, heat sink, aside Unplug, back case