Installing Nintendo DSi Motherboard

Tools used in this guide

Metal Spudger (1) Phillips #00 Screwdriver (1) Plastic Opening Tools (1) Spudger (1) Tweezers (1)
Parts relevant to this guide
Nintendo DSi Motherboard (1)
A guide on replacing your Nintendo DSi motherboard.

2011 iFixit CC BY-NC-SA

www.iFixit.com

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Step 1 - Battery
Loosen the two captive screws on the battery panel, and lift the panel up to remove it.

Step 2

Place a spudger (or fingernail) at the topside of the battery (near the L button) and lift up to remove the battery.

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Step 3 - Lower Case Assembly
Two screws are hidden underneath two rubber feet highlighted in red. Use the tip of a spudger to pry the rubber foot out of the lower case. In the same manner, remove the remaining foot off the lower case.

Step 4

Remove the following screws securing the lower case to the body of the DSi: Six 5.2 mm Phillips screws. One 2.7 mm Phillips screw.

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Step 5
Insert the flat end of a spudger in between the lower case and lower front panel near the top right corner of the DSi. Carefully run the spudger along the right edge of the DSi, creating an opening in the process. Continue running the spudger along the backside of the DSi until the majority of the lower case has been separated from the lower front panel.

Step 6

Cautiously lift the lower case from its bottom edge. The lower case is still attached to the motherboard by the volume and SD board cable highlighted in red. Do not try to completely remove the lower case of the DSi yet. Pry the volume and SD board cable up from its socket on the motherboard with the flat edge of a spudger. Remove the lower case assembly from the DSi.

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Step 7 - Wi-Fi Board
Pull the Wi-Fi board away from the motherboard by its edge closest to the headphone jack.

Step 8

Pry the Wi-Fi antenna connector straight up from its socket on the Wi-Fi board.
Step 9 - disassembly Battery Board
Flip up the black latch and disconnect the D-Pad/Power Button ribbon cable.

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Step 10
The power connector (with red and black wires) is difficult to remove without damaging it, unless you take a moment and understand how it works. Look at all of the photos for this step before continuing. The connector is two pieces -- a white "male" piece (connected to the wires), and a beige "female" part (soldered to the main board). There is a small "notch" in the female part, to give you a place to insert a small flat-head screwdriver. Put the corner of your screwdriver in there, and twist it gently to push the white part up (away from the main board). Do not try to pull it to the right (towards the battery board). If it does not lift easily, try again with a smaller screwdriver. You might be pulling the female connector off the board, which will be difficult to repair.
Step 11 - disassembly Motherboard cables
If you have not already done so, disconnect the two bottom-LCD ribbon cables from the main board by prying up the black latches and pulling the cable out to the side. The ribbon cable (marked in blue) for the touch screen is particularly thin and fragile; be careful to avoid bending it more than necessary. Flip up the latch and remove the touch screen cable. Flip up the latch and remove the top-screen ribbon cable. Pry up on the orange cable to disconnect it from the main board, much like the antenna cable on the Wi-Fi module. Do not pull on the orange cable that connects to the bottom of the motherboard.

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Step 12 - Motherboard
Remove 4 Phillips screws from the board. Lift the main board from the bottom end and flip it over to reveal the last connector. Keep the main board fairly close to the case, making sure not to damage the last ribbon cable holding it in place.

Step 13

Disconnect the ribbon cable by gently using a plastic opening tool to flip up the black connector latch. The cable should easily slide out from the connector. The motherboard should now be free from the rest of the device.

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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
This document was last generated on Feb 16, 2011.

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