Mobility

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

By · February 21, 2013, 10:28 AM PST · billdetwiler

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  • Microsoft Surface Pro Teardown

    When Microsoft built the Surface Pro, they packed the power of an ultrabook in the body of a tablet. Unfortunately, they also made the device nearly impossible for an end-user or even an in-house tech to service and repair.

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Difficult-to-repair Surface Pro built more like an ultrabook than a tablet.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Hardware specifications and pricing

    The Surface Pro has a 10.6-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 by 1080. It has stereo speakers, a microSD card slot, a full-size USB 3.0 port, a mini DisplayPort, and two 720p cameras. On the inside, the Pro has a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 CPU with HD 4000 graphics, 4GB of 1,600MHz DDR3 RAM, and a 42 Wh battery. It comes in 64GB ($899) and 128GB ($999) models.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Box contents (tablet not shown)

    Along with the tablet, the Surface Pro comes with the charger, digital pen, and product documentation.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Dimensions and weight

    The Surface Pro measures 10.8" (W) x 6.8" (H) x 0.53" (D) and weighs 2 pounds--significantly more than other 10-inch tablets.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Back

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Kickstand

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: USB 3.0 port, volume buttons, and headphone jack

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: microSD card slot, power connector, Mini DisplayPort

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Keyboard connector

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Microphone

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: 720p rear-facing camera

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: 10.6" ClearType Full HD Display (1920x1080 pixels)

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: 720p front-facing camera and front panel sensors

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the kickstand screws

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the kickstand

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Kickstand removed

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Heating the front panel adhesive

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Prying loose the front panel

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the front panel

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Front panel connectors

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Front panel and LCD assembly

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Internal hardware

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the internal bezel screws

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the internal bezel

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Internal bezel with front-facing camera attached

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Front-facing camera sitting within internal bezel

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Front-facing camera removed

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: 720p front-facing camera

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the side metal place screws

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the side metal plats

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Side metal plates

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Tablet with internal bezel and side plates removed

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the volume button/headphone jack assembly screws

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the volume button/headphone jack assembly

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Volume button/headphone jack assembly

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the motherboard

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Back cover/case with battery and components attached

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro:

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro:

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro:

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro:

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro:

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro:

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro:

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro:

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard with cooling assembly - Front

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard with cooling assembly - Back

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling fan screws

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling assembly shield

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling assembly screws

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling assembly

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Cooling assembly with fans

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Delta Electronics KDB04105HB DC Brushless fan (x2)

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Cooling assembly

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the SSD screws

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the SSD

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: 64GB Micron RealSSD C400 mSATA

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the motherboard EMI/RFI shields

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard - Front

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard - Back

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U Processor

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Intel Mobile HM77 Express Chipset

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Marvell Avastar 88W8797 MIMO Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/FM wireless chip

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Winbond 25X05CL Serial Flash

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Winbond 25Q64FV Serial Flash

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Novatek NT96132QG46

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Fairchild Semiconductor FDMS7608S 30V Dual N-Channel PowerTrench MOSFET

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Micron 1,600MHz DDR3 (4Gb 3AEI2 D9PXV x8 - 4GB total)

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Infineon SLB 9635 TT 1.2 Trusted Mobile Platform (TPM) Security Chip

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: ITE Tech IT8519G

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Winbond 25X40CL Serial Flash

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Miscellaneous ICs

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Atmel touchscreen controllers

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro:

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Realtek ALC3230 Audio Codec

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: X852699-003 REV-A PCB marking

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Microsoft 2012 PCB marking

  • Cracking Open Surface Pro: Completely disassembled

Microsoft Surface Pro Teardown

When Microsoft built the Surface Pro, they packed the power of an ultrabook in the body of a tablet. Unfortunately, they also made the device nearly impossible for an end-user or even an in-house tech to service and repair.

For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Difficult-to-repair Surface Pro built more like an ultrabook than a tablet.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Related Topics:
Mobility Security Hardware Software Apple Android Google

By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the ...

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