How to Upgrade the Processor on a Toshiba Satellite A75-S211

Learn to upgrade your Toshiba Satellite's processor chip.

There are several ways to improve your laptop's performance. But upgrading your processor will have the most significant effect on your laptop's overall performance. If your processor's speed is not adequate to run your Toshiba Satellite's current software, it will start to run slow. The Toshiba Satellite A75-series laptop uses an Intel Pentium 4 3.2 GHz processor. It can run a processor as fast as 4 GHz. Replacing the processor requires that you dismantle your laptop completely.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Guitar pick
• Antistatic wrist strap

Instructions

1. Turn off your laptop and disconnect the power cable from its socket. Close the laptop's LCD panel until it clicks shut. Place the laptop face down and rotate the computer so the front is facing forward.

2. Locate the battery pack situated along the top edge of the laptop's bottom casing. Slide the battery release button to the right, and then remove the battery from its compartment.

3. Locate the memory compartment cover situated below the battery compartment. Remove the two Phillips-head screws securing it into place. Remove the cover and set it aside.

4. Remove the single Phillips-head screw securing the metal bracket over the wireless card inside the memory compartment. Disconnect the two antenna cables from the wireless card. Spread the white tabs on each side of the wireless card. Tilt the card upward, and then remove it from its compartment.

5. Spread the white tabs on each side of the RAM module inside the memory compartment. Tilt the module upward at a 45-degree angle, grasp the module, and remove it from its memory slot. Repeat this for each module removed.

6. Locate the CD/DVD drive in the bottom left corner of the bottom casing. Remove the Phillips-head screw securing the drive in place. Grasp the face of the drive and pull it out of its compartment. Remove all remaining screws from the bottom casing.

7. Flip the laptop over and open the LCD screen. Insert a small, flat-head screwdriver into the right side of the keyboard bezel. Pry the keyboard bezel from the laptop. The bezel is the thin strip of protective plastic positioned above the keyboard assembly.

8. Remove the two Phillips-head screws securing the keyboard in place. Disengage the locking tab above the F8 key with a small, flat-head screwdriver. Grasp the keyboard and tilt it upwards until the keyboard's ribbon cable is visible. Disconnect the cable from its connector on the motherboard. Remove the keyboard assembly from the laptop.

9. Close the LCD screen and place the laptop vertically with the back panel facing upward. Remove the two Phillips-head screws from the back panel. Place the laptop face up, and then reopen the LCD screen.

10. Locate and disconnect the LCD cable extending from the LCD's left side to the center of the motherboard through the top casing. Remove the single Phillips-head screw from each hinge. Carefully lift the LCD screen off of the laptop's base.

11. Remove the remaining six Phillips-head screws securing the top casing in place. Disconnect the speaker cables from the bottom right and left corners of the motherboard. Locate and disconnect the touchpad's ribbon cable. The cable is located above the touchpad device on the motherboard.

12. Insert a guitar pick into the gap along the outside edge of the laptop case. Begin prying the top cover from the laptop's base. Work your way around the laptop's perimeter until the top casing is completely separated from the laptop. Remove the top casing and set it aside.

13. Remove the PC card located in its compartment in the bottom left corner of the motherboard. Examine the back panel of the laptop where the data connectors and ports are located. Remove the two hex screws from the two serial data ports on the back panel.

14. Remove the two Phillips-head screws from the bottom of the motherboard. Grasp the top edge of the motherboard. Slide the entire motherboard forward, and then carefully lift the motherboard out of the laptop's base. Place the laptop face down on a clean, flat surface.

15. Locate the dual cooling fan system on the bottom side of the motherboard. Disconnect the fan's power cable from the motherboard. Remove the six Phillips-head screws securing the fan assembly in place. Remove the entire cooling system from the motherboard and set it aside. Removing the fan assembly will reveal the heat sink.

16. Remove the four Phillips-head screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard. Remove the heat sink device from the motherboard, revealing the processor chip. Turn the processor's locking screw in the counterclockwise direction until it is unlocked from its socket. Grasp the side edges of the processor and remove it from the laptop.

17. Repeat this entire procedure in reverse to install the new processor chip and reassemble your laptop.

Tips & Warnings

• Use an antistatic wrist strap to prevent electrical damage to your motherboard.

References

• Iris Vista: Toshiba Satellite A75-Series Disassembly

Resources

• Toshiba Laptops