How to open Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 (Intel) – disassembly and upgrade options
Opening the Laptop
- Undo the 7 captive Phillips-head screws on the bottom panel of the laptop.
- Use a plastic pry tool to gently separate the bottom panel from the chassis, starting from one of the top corners.
Caution: Be gentle to avoid damaging the internal components or the clips that hold the bottom panel in place.
Removing the Battery
- Disconnect the battery connector from the motherboard by gently pulling it out with a plastic tool.
- Undo the three Phillips-head screws that secure the battery to the base.
- Lift the battery out of its compartment.
More info: The laptop comes with two battery options: a default model with a 47Wh capacity, and an optional 57Wh variant. The 57Wh model offers up to 16 hours and 40 minutes of web browsing or 7 hours and 9 minutes of video playback.
Upgrading the RAM
- Locate the RAM section under the metal shroud on the motherboard.
- If upgrading, remove the existing SODIMM by gently pushing the clips on each side of the RAM stick outward. The RAM will pop up and can be pulled out.
- Insert the new DDR4-3200MHz RAM module into the slot at an angle, then push down until the clips lock it in place.
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More info: The laptop supports up to 48GB of DDR4-3200MHz memory in dual-channel mode, with 8GB or 16GB soldered and one SODIMM slot available for expansion.
Upgrading the SSD
- Identify the two M.2 slots on the motherboard. Note the right slot is for Gen 4 NVMe SSDs and the left slot is for Gen 3 SSDs.
- To upgrade, remove the screw securing the preinstalled SSD and gently pull it out.
- Insert the new SSD into the slot and secure it with the screw. Ensure the cooling pad is properly aligned for optimal heat dissipation.
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More info: The laptop features two M.2 slots for storage expansion, supporting one Gen 4 and one Gen 3 NVMe SSD.
Maintenance of the Cooling System
- Locate the cooling system components – a single fan, two heat pipes, one heat sink, and a heat spreader.
- Remove the screws securing the fan and heat sink to the motherboard.
- Clean the fan and heat sink with compressed air. If replacing the thermal paste, clean the old paste off the CPU and the heat sink, then apply a new thin layer.
- Reattach the fan and heat sink, ensuring that the screws are tightened securely.
Caution: Ensure the thermal paste is applied thinly and evenly to prevent overheating.
More info: Although the cooling system is modest, it is designed to effectively manage the thermal output of the laptop’s components, ensuring stable performance under normal use.