Your processor's speed determines the quality of your laptop's performance. Processors are among the most commonly replaced hardware components. Upgrading to a slightly faster processor will improve performance dramatically. The HP Pavilion dv9000 laptop comes built with an AMD Turion Core Duo CPU that runs at about 2 GHz. Replacing the processor requires that you disassemble the laptop. You may damage the laptop's hardware devices if you're not careful.
Instructions
1
Shut down your laptop and disconnect the power cable. Pull down the LCD panel lid and flip the laptop over so it is facing downward. Rotate the laptop so the front opening is facing forward.
2
Locate and remove the battery from the upper left corner of the laptop by pressing on the battery release button. Locate the hard drive compartment covers in the bottom left and right corners of the laptop. There are two hard drives in the dv9000. Remove the Phillips-head screws securing each compartment in place. Remove each cover from the laptop. Grasp each hard drive's plastic pull-tab and lift each drive out of its compartment.
3
Remove the four rubber feet from the laptop's four corners with a flat-head screwdriver. Locate and remove the memory module compartment and its retaining screws. The compartment is situated near the center of the bottom casing. Spread the retaining latches on either side of the RAM module inside the memory compartment. Tilt the module upward at an angle and remove it from the memory slot. Repeat this for each module removed.
4
Find the CD-ROM drive in the top left corner just below the battery compartment. Remove its retaining Phillips-head screws. Push the tip of a paper clip into the drive release hole in the face plate of the DVD drive. Push the paper clip inside the hole until the drive pops out of the compartment. Pull the drive from its compartment.
5
Remove the six Phillips-head screws from the empty battery compartment. Position the laptop face up and open the LCD screen. Remove the Phillips-head screws situated near the memory compartment's upper left corner. This screw is one of the keyboard's securing screws. Remove the two Phillips-head screws from the bottom casing's upper left and right corners. These screws help secure the LCD panel in place.
6
Grasp the keyboard bezel and place it face down over the laptop's surface. The keyboard bezel is the protective plastic strip located above the keyboard assembly. Disconnect the black ribbon cable from the bottom side of the keyboard bezel. Remove the bezel from the laptop.
7
Remove the three Phillips-head screws from behind the keyboard's top row of keys. Grasp the keyboard and place it facing downward on the laptop's surface. Disconnect the keyboard's large ribbon cable from the motherboard. Remove the keyboard.
8
Locate the speaker assembly attached to the power button board near the top of the upper casing. Unplug the speaker assembly's power cable from the button board. Remove the Phillips-head screws securing the speaker assembly in place, and remove it from the laptop.
9
Disconnect the LCD power cable extending from the screen's left side to the center of the motherboard. Disconnect the small microphone cable from the power button board near the top of the upper casing assembly. It is the only cable connected to the button board. Disconnect the camera cable extending from the right side of the screen to the motherboard assembly. Remove the Phillips-head screws from the LCD hinges. Remove the entire LCD screen assembly from the laptop's base.
10
Place the base of the laptop face down. Remove all remaining screws from the bottom casing. This includes any screws from inside any of the empty hardware compartments. Place the laptop face up and do the same to the top casing. Disconnect all visible cables from the motherboard.
11
Grasp the rear edge of the upper casing. Lift it straight up until the upper casing disengages from the laptop's base. Remove the upper casing from the base, so the laptop's inner contents are accessible Set the upper casing to the side.
12
Remove all remaining screws securing the motherboard to the bottom casing. Disconnect all remaining cables and connectors from the motherboard.
13
Grasp the left side of the motherboard, tilt it upward and lift the motherboard out of the bottom casing. Flip it over and place it on a clean, flat work surface.
14
Locate the large fan assembly on the bottom side of the motherboard. Disconnect its power cable from the motherboard. Remove its securing Phillips-head screws, and lift the fan out of the motherboard assembly. This will reveal the processor chip.
15
Turn the processor's flat-head locking screw in the counterclockwise direction until it is disengaged from its socket. Remove the old processor from the motherboard and set it aside.
16
Install the new processor chip and reassemble the laptop.
How to Upgrade a DV9000 Processor
