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September 5th, 2024 10:04
XPS 8960, removal and reinstall of Advanced Air Cooling unit, what is the correct order?
Hello,
I am trying to retrieve a m2X3 screw from underneath the system board.
Now, I have read the service manual for the XPS 8960 (My new PC) and I am confused about the steps. It looks like you must move the huge air cooler unit and then the rear fan. Please confirm to me that I will need to remove the rear fan anyway to take out the system board. But if I were to say replace the thermal grease only I wouldn’t need to remove the rear fan.
On top of this, the service manual says to remove the VRM before removing the air cooling unit “if applicable” but there seems to be one under the air cooling unit. So do I have to remove the VRM after the air cooling unit, and how do I confirm that it is VRM that needs to be removed?
Thanks in advance!
Chino de Oro
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September 6th, 2024 12:37
Re: It did not work. The board wouldn’t lift at all.
You should not be able to feel or lift the board. Loosening the screws should allow the motherboard to flex around the edges about 1mm to 2mm, enough for the M.2 screw to free and falling out.
Chino de Oro
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September 5th, 2024 10:27
Are you certain that it was underneath the motherboard? Have you check behind the power supply and side panel?
The M2 screw is very small. If it was able to get stuck underneath the motherboard, you can just loosen all the motherboard screws just a couple turn, then gently pull the bottom edge of the board outward while the system is in standing vertical position. The only component would be removed if you have a large graphics card.
To answer your question, to access CPU to replace thermal paste, you just need to remove the air cooler, not the rear fan. But, why? The minimal of components removal is the better.
redxps630
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September 5th, 2024 15:10
Re: I am trying to retrieve a m2X3 screw from underneath the system board.
is this a M.2 screw that got dropped accidentally and went hide and seek?
redxps630
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September 5th, 2024 15:25
this 8950 video may help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGmYbrJ6cTE
8960 service is essentially same as 8950
when you have the advanced aka tower cooler it does hide the VRM cooler at top and left side of cpu. VRM screw are fasten to the board itself not the chassis. no need to remove VRM.
see empty 8950 case pic.
the cpu cooler is mounted on chassis tray. so need to remove cooler before uninstall mobo.
you do not have to remove rear fan to uninstall mobo. you just need long stem screw driver that can be tilted a bit to access the screws on left side of mobo
(edited)
Tom_XPS_owner
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September 5th, 2024 21:07
Thank You @Chino de Oro I think that’s worth a shot. I am pretty sure it IS under the system board. When I shake it there’s like this muffled sound as if it can’t travel farther than say a half centimeter.
@redxps630 Yes, I did post earlier on my first thread. But I have a question, If I don’t have to remove the VRM because it is on the system board then why pull out the ssd, wireless card, etc … all those listed in the 8960 service manual to do first before unscrewing the motherboard from the chassis. And thank you for that link.
Tom_XPS_owner
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September 5th, 2024 21:19
I just tried unloosening the screws holding down the system board to the chassis. It did not work. The board wouldn’t lift at all.
redxps630
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September 5th, 2024 21:23
Re: why pull out the ssd, wireless card, etc … all those listed in the 8960 service manual to do first before unscrewing the motherboard from the chassis.
the manual is incorrect. follow your intuitive sense which is correct. no need to remove those to retrieve a screw, although you may need to be careful pulling the wireless antenna wires.
redxps630
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September 5th, 2024 21:25
Re: It did not work. The board wouldn’t lift at all.
of course it would not lift. the cpu cooler is mounted on chassis wall which provides additional fastening of board. the board is sandwiched tightly between cooler and chassis wall. this is designed for optimal cooler interface with cpu on board.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/305615109272
this shows the board has clear mounting holes and no built in back plate.
some Dell desktop have a built in back plate at back of mobo, for which you can pull the board together with cooler. but that is not for 8960
(edited)