Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
12
Time Required
20 - 30 minutes
Sections
4
- Top Case
- 2 steps
- Front and Back Panel
- 3 steps
- Remove Nintendo GameCube Optical Drive Assembly
- 4 steps
- Motherboard
- 3 steps
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BackNintendo GameCube
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Introduction
What you need
Step 1
Top Case
- Turn over the Gamecube so that the bottom side is facing up.
- Use the 4.5 mm Gamebit screwdriver to remove all four screws.
Turn over the Gamecube so that the bottom side is facing up.
Use the 4.5 mm Gamebit screwdriver to remove all four screws.
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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.
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.
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.
- A ribbon cable (outlined in orange) is still attached to the unit. Do Not Disconnect This Cable.
- Controller ports are where the controllers plug into the game console, and are a half circular shape.
Unclip the controller ports at the front of the unit.
A ribbon cable (outlined in orange) is still attached to the unit. Do Not Disconnect This Cable.
Controller ports are where the controllers plug into the game console, and are a half circular shape.
Step 5
Separate the casing
- Use a Phillips 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.
Use a Phillips 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
Remove Nintendo GameCube Optical Drive Assembly
- 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.
- Do not detach the red and black cooling fan wire from the main unit. Boxed in orange.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Motherboard
- 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.
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).
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.
- At this point you can replace the old motherboard with a new one and enjoy your now-functional GameCube!
Carefully disconnect the ribbon cable connecting the motherboard with the front panel.
At this point you can replace the old motherboard with a new one and enjoy your now-functional GameCube!
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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mwbisson
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Cal Poly, Team 6-2, Maness Fall 2009
Member of Cal Poly, Team 6-2, Maness Fall 2009
CPSU-MANESS-F09S6G2
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39 Guides authored
Santi12008 - Jan 24, 2017
Reply
What happens if you disconnect that cable (localizated on Step 4)?
Joseph Lalone - Sep 22, 2018
Its soldered to the front-board and the connector is on the main-board under the disc assembly, trying to remove it will break it.
farrell dann - Jul 17, 2018
Reply
I have been having trouble with my cube shorting out when I insert a memory card into slot A. What is the best way to get at it see if this is the case, and what should I be looking for?
Many thanks
