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Nintendo GameCube Motherboard Replacement

Device	Nintendo GameCube
Difficulty	Moderate
Time	20 - 30 minutes
Steps	12

This guide is by mwbisson on iFixit and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0. ByteRot mirrors it for non-commercial preservation: formatting changed and photos resized for old browsers; full-size photos and the text are on the FTP in /DOCS/REPAIR. Original guide >>

This guide will teach you how to remove the existing GameCube motherboard and replace it with a new one.

Tools: Gamebit 4.5mm; Phillips #1 Screwdriver; Phillips #2 Screwdriver

Step 1

• Turn over the Gamecube so that the bottom side is facing up.
• Use the 4.5 mm Gamebit screwdriver to remove all four screws.

Step 2

• With the bottom side of the GameCube facing upward and the screws removed, carefully pull the outer shell of the unit away from the top half.
• Move the GameCube so that the inside is facing upwards.

Step 3 :: Removing the back panel

• Gently press down on the clips located on either side of the back panel.
• Carefully remove the back panel from the GameCube.

Step 4

• Unclip the controller ports at the front of the unit.
• CAUTION: A ribbon cable (outlined in orange) is still attached to the unit. Do not disconnect this cable.
• REMINDER: Controller ports are where the controllers plug into the game console, and are a half circular shape.

Step 5 :: Separate the casing

• NOTE: This step may not be necessary depending on your end goal
• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to remove the two screws on the back of the control port.
• Carefully separate the gray outer casing of the control port and the circuit board.

Step 6

• The left side of the unit contains the cooling fan and its housing.
• Carefully remove the two screws attaching the cooling fan housing to the unit.
• CAUTION: Do not detach the red and black cooling fan wire from the main unit. Boxed in orange.

Step 7

• Remove the four Phillips #1 screws retaining the ground springs.
• Carefully remove the ground springs from the main unit.

Step 8

• The optical drive is secured to a metal plate.
• Using a Phillips #2 screwdriver, unscrew the twelve screws that are around the outer edge of the optical drive.

Step 9 :: Remove the assembly

• Carefully separate the optical drive assembly from the rest of the GameCube unit.
• The optical drive assembly is secured to the motherboard underneath by a slot; some force may be required to carefully free the assembly.
• The metal plate and the actual optical drive will remain attached.

Step 10

• With the Optical Drive Assembly removed, your GameCube should now look like this.
• Remove the 6 screws (circled in orange) on the heat sink using a #1 Phillips screwdriver.

Step 11

• Gently lift the motherboard from base (as shown in second picture).

Step 12

• Carefully disconnect the ribbon cable connecting the motherboard with the front panel.
• NOTE: At this point you can replace the old motherboard with a new one and enjoy your now-functional GameCube!

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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