How to Install a Graphics Card Into an Inspiron 5150
- 1). Place the loop on the end of an antistatic wrist strap around your wrist. Attach the clip on the other end of the strap to a metallic surface by clipping it in place. The strap grounds you, preventing the discharge of static electricity into the computer components, which may cause damage.
- 2). Place the Inspiron 5150 onto a clean, flat work surface. Make sure that you’ve powered down the system by pressing the power button for four seconds. Remove the power adapter plug from the notebook. Close the screen, and turn the system onto the surface screen side down.
- 3). Press the battery latch release slider located to the right of the notebook battery upward to release the battery catch. Slide the battery to the right to remove it from the battery bay. Release the battery latch release slider. Wait 20 seconds and then disconnect any devices currently connected to the system such as monitor or network cables and PC cards in the PC card slots. Turn the notebook back over so that it sits screen side up and oriented as if ready for use.
- 4). Flip up the notebook screen. Place the edge of the flat-head screwdriver beneath the right edge of the blue hinge cover above the keyboard. There’s a small notch beneath this edge for the tip of the screwdriver to fit into. Apply slight pressure to the edge to pry up the hinge cover.
- 5). Remove the four screws along the top of the keyboard securing the keyboard in place. Tilt the keyboard forward carefully flipping it onto its face, resting the keyboard on the bottom lip of the system base. Disconnect the small flex ribbon cord connecting the keyboard to the system board. Lift the keyboard from the system.
- 6). Pull the tab connected to the end of the display-feed ribbon cable upward to disconnect the cable from the system board. The display cable is located along the top of the system cavity to the left of the large metal sheet serving as an EMI shield, covering the right hand side of the system cavity. Remove the hex nut securing the EMI shield to the system board located in the center of the system cavity beneath the pull tab. Lift the metal EMI shield from the system to reveal the graphics card.
- 7). Remove the two screws securing the graphics card to the system board. The graphics card is the metal component with the white plastic strap across the top for grasping, to pull it from the system. Hold the strap and gently pull the card from the system board.
- 8). Install the replacement graphics card to the system board by aligning the two posts on the bottom of the card with the screw holes located in the system board. Press the graphics card in place by applying pressure to the two areas on the card surface marked “PUSH” until you hear a slight clicking sound. Secure the card into place by replacing the two graphics card screws.
- 9). Replace the EMI shield, screwing it onto the system board, then reconnect the display feed cord. Plug in the keyboard ribbon cord and place the keyboard back into position atop the notebook cavity. Replace the four keyboard screws. Press the hinge bar back into place, and then plug in the battery, accessories and power cord.
- 10
Power up the computer and wait for your operating system to detect the new card and install card drivers. If drivers are undetected, install the drivers from the driver CD that came with your new graphics card.
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