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updated2026-10-04 22:30

 
Playstation 2 SCPH-500xx Motherboard Replacement
DevicePlaystation 2 SCPH-500xx
DifficultyModerate
TimeNo estimate
Steps40
This guide is by David Fear 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 >>

Tools: Phillips #0 Screwdriver; Tweezers; Angled Tweezers; Phillips #2 Screwdriver; Metal Spudger


Step 1 :: Top cover
[step 1 photo] [step 1 photo] [step 1 photo]
• Flip the PlayStation 2 over so it lays with the bottom of the device facing upwards.
• Use the flat edge of a metal spudger to pry the eight flat screw covers out.
    • These covers are made of soft rubber and act as feet.
    • These covers are made of hard plastic.

Step 2
[step 2 photo] [step 2 photo] [step 2 photo]
• Use a PH2 screw driver to remove the 8x screws.
    • 4x M2.5 x 53 mm black screws.
    • 3x M3 x 15 mm black screws.
    • 1x M3 x 26.5 mm silver screw.

Step 3
[step 3 photo] [step 3 photo]
• Flip over the PS2 and make sure the top is face up and the front of the console is nearest to you.

Step 4 :: Remove the top cover
[step 4 photo] [step 4 photo] [step 4 photo]
• Lift the rear of the top cover to an angle of about 40-45 degrees.
• Slide the cover forward and over the controller ports, dvd drive and the power/reset and eject buttons.

Step 5
[step 5 photo] [step 5 photo]
• Use a Phillips PH2 screwdriver to remove the screws holding the controller ports to the base cover.
    • 2x M3 x 11.4mm gold coloured screws.

Step 6
[step 6 photo] [step 6 photo]
• Flip over the PS2 so the baser cover is facing upwards.
    • CAUTION: The controller ports will be loose.
    • REMINDER: Hold the the left hand side of controller ports ( and the console) when you flip over the PS2.

Step 7
[step 7 photo] [step 7 photo]
• Lift the base cover straight up to remove it.

Step 8
[step 8 photo] [step 8 photo]
• Move the controller ports away from the console.

Step 9
[step 9 photo] [step 9 photo]
• Unclip the FPC connector on the controller ports pcb.

Step 10
[step 10 photo]
• Remove the flex cable from the controller ports pcb.

Step 11
[step 11 photo]
• Controller ports removed.

Step 12
[step 12 photo]
• Start here

Step 13
[step 13 photo] [step 13 photo]
• Press down on the white connector of the AC inlet assembly, then pull the connector towards the left edge of the console.

Step 14
[step 14 photo]
• Flip over the console. The optical drive will be face up and to the right.

Step 15
[step 15 photo] [step 15 photo] [step 15 photo]
• Slide the AC inlet up and out of the plastic rear bracket.

Step 16
[step 16 photo] [step 16 photo]
• Use a PH2 screwdriver to remove the 4 screws that secure the power supply to the metal bracket.
    • 4x M3 x 6mm gold coloured screws.

Step 17
[step 17 photo] [step 17 photo]
• Lift the power supply board from the metal bracket.
    • The power supply is connected to the main board via friction fit connector.

Step 18
[step 18 photo] [step 18 photo]
• Remove the plastic insulator sheet.
    • NOTE: If you are not proceeding further with disassembly, then there is no need to remove this sheet.
    • CAUTION: If you fail to replace this sheet on re-assembly, the power supply board could possibly short out on the metal bracket underneath.

Step 19
[step 19 photo] [step 19 photo]
• Lift off the expansion bay.

Step 20
[step 20 photo] [step 20 photo] [step 20 photo]
• Peel off the stickers using a pair of pointed tweerzers.

Step 21
[step 21 photo] [step 21 photo]
• Use tweezers (preferably blunt ended ones) or fingers to gently disconnect the fan cable from the socket on the motherboard.

Step 22
[step 22 photo]
• flip over the console so that the optical drive is on left and the rear fan is facing towards you (and is on the right)

Step 23
[step 23 photo] [step 23 photo]
• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to remove the two screws.
    • One screw is on the right-hand side of the fan and the other is one the right hand side of the rear bracket.
    • 2x M3 x 11mm gold screws.

Step 24
[step 24 photo] [step 24 photo]
• slide the fan up and out of the rear bracket.
• REMINDER: REASSEMBLY: Remember the orientation of the fan.
    • NOTE: There are arrows on the top of the fan to aid correct insertion. one pointing to the rear of the console and one point towards the optical drive.

Step 25
[step 25 photo] [step 25 photo] [step 25 photo]
• Remove the rear bracket.
    • Lift up the left edge first, then lift off the bracket.

Step 26
[step 26 photo] [step 26 photo]
• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to remove the single screw underneath the AC inlet.
    • 1x M3 x 11mm gold coloured screw.

Step 27
[step 27 photo] [step 27 photo]
• Flip over the console (motherboard sandwich and optical drive)

Step 28
[step 28 photo] [step 28 photo]
• Using a Phillips #0 screwdriver remove two screws from the upper metal plate.
    • 2x M2 x 6.3mm silver screws.

Step 29
[step 29 photo] [step 29 photo]
• Using a Phillips #0 screwdriver remove seven screws from the upper metal plate.
    • 7x M2 x 5mm silver screws.

Step 30
[step 30 photo] [step 30 photo]
• Loosen clip at the front of the optical drive using a spudger.
• CAUTION: The front of the optical drive is now loose.

Step 31
[step 31 photo] [step 31 photo] [step 31 photo]
• Loosen the right hand clip on the rear of the optical drive using a spudger.
• When you release the right hand clip, the left hand clip should release on it own (at the same time).

Step 32
[step 32 photo] [step 32 photo] [step 32 photo]
• Gently lift off the lower metal plate.

Step 33
[step 33 photo] [step 33 photo] [step 33 photo]
• disconnect the flex cables on the side of the motherboard. There are 4x flex cables on the side of the motherboard that connect to the optical drive,
    • Use blunt tweezers or fingers to pull the flex cables from the sockets.
    • NOTE: The sockets on the side of the motherboard are friction fit and don't have latches.
    • CAUTION: Flex cable are thin and fairly fragile, so handle them with care.
    • Disconnect this flex cable first.
    • Disconnect this flex cable 2nd.
    • Disconnect this flex cable 3rd.
    • Disconnect this flex cable 4th and last.

Step 34
[step 34 photo] [step 34 photo]
• Use two fingernails (or a spudger) to flip open the FPC connector for the orange flex cable (that connects to the optical drive laser).

Step 35
[step 35 photo]
• Hold down the motherboard as shown, as this will make the removal of the laser unit flex cable easier.

Step 36
[step 36 photo] [step 36 photo] [step 36 photo]
• Use a spudger to gently prise out the laser unit flex cable from the connector on the rear of the motherboard.

Step 37
[step 37 photo] [step 37 photo]
• Gently lift the motherboard and upper metal plate off the optical drive.
• The optical drive should now be fully separate from the rest of the console.

Step 38
[step 38 photo] [step 38 photo]
• LIft the motherboard off the upper metal plate, starting with the left hand side.
    • There is a locating "spike" where the the green arrow is pointing to.

Step 39
[step 39 photo] [step 39 photo] [step 39 photo]
• Use two fingernails (or a spudger) to flip open the FPC connector for the black flex cable (that connects to the controller ports).
• Gently remove the flex cable from the FPC connector.

Step 40
[step 40 photo]
• You can now repair or replace the motherboard.

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

Credit
This guide is by David Fear 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 >>
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