My sister has a very small prebuilt computer—about the size of an Xbox—with 16 GB of RAM that she wants to reuse in a custom PC. We're trying to open the system without damaging anything, but the panel or internal backplate is held by round fasteners that don't look like normal screws. What's the safest way to take the computer apart, and are these parts likely to be removable or compatible with a standard build?
3 Answers
If the computer is unusually small, it may use proprietary parts or a laptop-style memory module rather than standard desktop components. The RAM could still be reusable, but check whether it’s DIMM or SO-DIMM and confirm the generation and speed match the new motherboard. A model number or interior photo would make it much easier to tell what can safely be transferred.
Those round fasteners are probably rivets rather than screws. They aren’t meant to be removed during normal maintenance, so don’t try to force a screwdriver into them. If the case is riveted together, opening it may require drilling the rivets, which risks metal shavings and damage. Look for another removable panel or service access point first, and identify the computer’s model before taking anything apart.
You usually don’t need to remove the motherboard just to take out the RAM. Check for a removable side panel or an access panel, and make sure you’re approaching the memory slots from the correct side of the board. Compact systems can have a different layout, though, so the exact model or a clear photo would help.
If the CPU cooler is blocking access to the memory, its mounting hardware is normally removed from the cooler side, not by taking apart the backplate. Avoid removing any permanent-looking fasteners until you know exactly what they hold.