Antenna Module

Before you begin repairs, shut down your Desktop from the operating system and unplug it.

Make sure your Framework Desktop Screwdriver has the T5 Torx bit (labeled as T5) facing outwards. If it's not, pull the bit out and flip it.

If you installed the Handle on your Desktop, follow this step. Otherwise, skip it.

Rotate the Handle's screw threads counterclockwise on both sides until it comes free.

Remove the Handle.

Use your finger to lift up the two D-rings on the Top Panel screws.

Use your fingers to twist the screw counter-clockwise and loosen it.

Remove the Top Panel screw.

Repeat the same procedure for the other Top Panel screw.

Slide the Top Panel towards the rear of the computer to release the clips securing it to the chassis.

If you're having a hard time gripping the Top Panel, use the screw holes to get a better handhold.

Lift the Top Panel off the chassis and remove it.

Use your fingers to grip the top of the Left Panel and slide it upward to release its clips.

Remove the Left Panel.

Lay down the Desktop on its side so the fan is facing upward.

Use your fingers to lift the APU fan cable connector off its four‑pronged socket on the Mainboard.

If you aren't using an RGB fan, then skip this step.

Use your fingers to lift the fan RGB cable connector off its three‑pronged socket on the Mainboard.

Use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to remove the four 27.3 mm‑long Phillips screws securing the CPU fan and fan duct.

Lift the fan duct off the fan and remove it.

Lift the fan out of the chassis, making sure the cables thread through the side of the heatsink.

Pull the top Expansion Card connector straight out of its socket in the Mainboard to disconnect it.

While squeezing the clip on the main power cable, pull it straight up and out of its socket to disconnect it.

While squeezing the clip on the CPU power cable, pull it straight up and out of its socket to disconnect it.

Pull the bottom Expansion Card connector straight out of its socket in the Mainboard to disconnect it.

Lift the Desktop so it stands upright on your work surface.

Use your fingers to grip the top of the Right Panel and slide it upward to release its clips.

Remove the Right Panel.

While holding the Desktop steady, use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to remove the eight 4.0 mm‑long Phillips screws securing the top plate.

Lift the top plate off the Desktop and remove it.

Lay the left side of the Desktop on your work surface so the underside of the Mainboard is facing upward.

Use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to remove the 7.0 mm‑long Phillips screw securing the Wi-Fi module.

Use your fingers to slide the Wi-Fi module cover straight off the bottom of the module.

Remove the cover.

The Wi-Fi module has two delicate coaxial cable connectors. Follow this step carefully to avoid damaging them.

Press and hold the Wi-Fi module down with your fingers.

Use your fingers to grip the white antenna cable, as close to the metal head as possible.

If you have angled tweezers, slide one arm of a pair of tweezers under the antenna connector, as close to the metal head as possible.

Gently lift the connector straight up to disconnect the white antenna cable.

Repeat the procedure with the black antenna cable.

Grip the Wi-Fi module by its edges and pull it straight out of its socket.

Remove the Wi-Fi module.

Rotate the Desktop onto its right side so the Mainboard is facing upward.

Use your fingers to lift the power button cable connector off its nine‑pronged socket on the Mainboard.

Use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to remove the four 8.2 mm‑long Phillips screws securing the Mainboard.

Grab the Mainboard by its heatsink and pull it towards the front of the Desktop to slide it out of the rear port cutout.

When handling the Heatsink, grab from the left and right sides (sides facing Front Panel & Back IO) as shown in the image to prevent bent fins and possible damage to the Heatsink.

Slide the Mainboard towards the top of the Desktop to remove it from the chassis.

Pull the power button cable out of its rubber clips on the chassis.

Push the antenna cables out of the metal hook in the chassis.

Pull the black antenna cable out of the plastic clip in the chassis.

Use your fingers to peel the left antenna's copper film off the chassis.

Use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to remove the two 4.0 mm‑long Phillips screws securing the left antenna.

Lift the left antenna out of the chassis and remove it.

Use your fingers to peel the right antenna's copper film off the chassis.

Use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to remove the two 4.0 mm‑long Phillips screws securing the right antenna.

Lift the right antenna out of the chassis, making sure to thread the cable through the slot.

Remove the antenna.

Congratulations on completing disassembly! The remaining steps will show how to reassemble your Framework Desktop.

The replacement antennas look similar. The right antenna has a short, black antenna cable.

Place the replacement right antenna into its slot on the chassis, making sure to thread the cable through the slot.

Use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to install the two 4.0 mm‑long Phillips screws securing the right antenna.

Remove the liner from the back of your replacement right antenna.

Press the right antenna's copper film onto the chassis and adhere it.

The left antenna has a long, black antenna cable with a white tip.

Place the replacement left antenna into its slot on the chassis.

Use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to install the two 4.0 mm‑long Phillips screws securing the left antenna.

Remove the liner from the back of your replacement left antenna.

Press the left antenna's copper film onto the chassis and adhere it.

Press the black antenna cable into the plastic clip in the chassis.

Pull the antenna cables into their metal hook in the chassis.

Push the power button cable into its rubber clips on the chassis.

Grab the Mainboard by its heatsink and slide it into the chassis.

When handling the Heatsink, grab from the left and right sides (sides facing Front Panel & Back IO) as shown in the image to prevent bent fins and possible damage to the Heatsink.

Align the rear ports with its cutout and the screw posts with the screw holes on the Mainboard.

You'll feel the Mainboard rest onto the screw posts when it's aligned properly.

Make sure no cables are trapped underneath the Mainboard before continuing.

Use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to install the four 8.2 mm‑long Phillips screws securing the Mainboard.

Slide the power button cable over the nine-pronged connector on the Mainboard.

Rotate the Desktop onto its left side so the underside of the Mainboard is facing upward.

Hold the Wi-Fi module by its edges. Don't touch the gold contacts with your fingers. If you do, wipe the contacts with a clean, lint-free cloth to remove any finger oils.

Align the Wi-Fi module's gold contacts and notch with the socket on the Mainboard.

Insert the Wi-Fi module into the socket at a shallow angle. The gold contacts should mostly be covered by the socket.

The Wi-Fi module fits into the socket in one orientation. If it doesn't fit, try flipping the module.

Hold the Wi-Fi module down with your fingers.

Position the black antenna cable connector over the left Wi-Fi module's coaxial socket.

Tweezers can help position the connector.

Use your finger to press the connector into place. You should feel a faint click, and the cable will stay attached to the socket by itself.

These connectors are very delicate! If the connector doesn't feel like it's clicking in place, reposition the connector and try again.

Repeat the procedure with the white antenna cable.

Hook the Wi-Fi bracket over the corner of the Wi-Fi module opposite the antenna cables.

Rotate the bracket over the Wi-Fi module, making sure the screw hole isn't being obstructed by the antenna cables.

Use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to install the 7.0 mm‑long Phillips screw securing the Wi-Fi module.

Rotate the Desktop so it sits upright on your work surface.

Place the top plate on top of the Desktop, making sure it slots into the chassis so the orange circles are visible.

Make sure the matching screw hole on the top plate labeled "5/8" is slotted on the inside of the Chassis so that the orange circle is visible.

While holding the Desktop steady, use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to install the eight 4.0 mm‑long Phillips screws securing the top plate.

Slide the Right Panel onto the right edge of the chassis, from top to bottom, and press it flat to ensure its clips are slotted into place.

There should be a small gap between the bottom of the Right Panel and the silver base.

Push the Right Panel towards the base of the computer to engage the clips.

Lay the right side of the Desktop on your work surface so the Mainboard is facing upward.

Slide the bottom Expansion Card cable into its socket on the Mainboard.

Orient the CPU power supply cable so its clip is facing the heatsink.

Slide the cable into its socket on the Mainboard until you feel it click into place.

Orient the main power supply cable so its clip is facing away from the heatsink.

Slide the cable into its socket on the Mainboard until you feel it click into place.

Slide the top Expansion Card cable into its socket on the Mainboard.

Orient the fan so its label is facing downward and the cable(s) is pointing towards the top of the computer.

If your fan has an arrow indicating airflow direction, make sure it's pointed towards the heatsink.

If you're using a different fan, orient it such that the fan is blowing towards the heatsink, not away.

Lay the fan on top of the heatsink, making sure the cables are routed so they poke out of the hole on the top of the computer.

If the cables aren't routed properly, lift the fan up slightly and use your fingers to reposition the cables over the side of the heatsink.

If you're installing an RGB fan, make sure the "male" end of the RGB cable is covered and set aside in the corner of the chassis.

Lay the fan duct on top of the fan with the lip facing upward.

Align the screw holes on the fan duct with the ones on the fan.

(if new) Remove the fan screws from their packaging and make sure there are four screws total.

Use your Framework Desktop Screwdriver to install the four 27.3 mm‑long Phillips screws securing the CPU fan and fan duct.

Orient the main fan cable so its two vertical lines are facing you.

Slide the main fan cable over the four-pronged connector labeled "APU Fan," making sure the orange label slots between the vertical lines.

If you aren't using an RGB fan, then skip this step.

Orient the RGB cable so the arrow is facing you.

Use your fingers to slide the RGB cable over the three pronged connector located to the right of the "APU Fan" connector.

Slide the Left Panel onto the left edge of the chassis and press it flat to ensure its clips are slotted into place.

There should be a small gap between the bottom of the Left Panel and the silver base.

Push the Left Panel towards the base of the computer to close the gap and engage the clips.

Orient the Top Panel so its arrow is pointing towards the rear of the computer.

While holding the Top Panel at a slight downward angle, slide it across the top of the chassis (from rear to front) until you feel its clips catch.

There should be a small gap between the Top Panel and the front of the Desktop.

Lay the Top Panel flat on the chassis to align the remaining clips.

While securing the computer with one hand, use the other hand to slide the Top Panel towards the front of the computer to close the gap and engage the clips.

If you're installing the Handle on your Desktop, follow this step. Otherwise, skip it.

Place the Handle over the Top Panel screw holes.

While holding the Handle in place, twist the screw threads on both sides clockwise until they're snug on the Top Panel.

Insert the top panel screw into its hole and twist clockwise until it feels snug.

Repeat the same procedure for the other top panel screw.

Use your finger to close the two D-rings on the top panel screws.