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Mobility

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

By Bill Detwiler February 20, 2013, 10:05 PM PST Bill Detwiler on Twitter billdetwiler

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Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Microsoft Surface Pro Teardown

Microsoft Surface Pro Teardown

ntWhen 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.

n

ntFor 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.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Hardware specifications and pricing

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Hardware specifications and pricing

ntThe 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.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

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

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Dimensions and weight

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Dimensions and weight

ntThe 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.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Back

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Back

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Kickstand

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Kickstand

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Keyboard connector

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Keyboard connector

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Microphone

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Microphone

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: 720p rear-facing camera

Cracking Open Surface Pro: 720p rear-facing camera

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the kickstand screws

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the kickstand screws

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the kickstand

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the kickstand

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Kickstand removed

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Kickstand removed

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Heating the front panel adhesive

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Heating the front panel adhesive

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Prying loose the front panel

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Prying loose the front panel

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the front panel

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the front panel

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Front panel connectors

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Front panel connectors

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Front panel and LCD assembly

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Front panel and LCD assembly

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Internal hardware

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Internal hardware

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the internal bezel screws

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the internal bezel screws

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the internal bezel

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the internal bezel

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Front-facing camera removed

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Front-facing camera removed

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: 720p front-facing camera

Cracking Open Surface Pro: 720p front-facing camera

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the side metal place screws

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the side metal place screws

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the side metal plats

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the side metal plats

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Side metal plates

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Side metal plates

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Volume button/headphone jack assembly

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Volume button/headphone jack assembly

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard with cooling assembly - Front

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard with cooling assembly - Front

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard with cooling assembly - Back

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard with cooling assembly - Back

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling fan screws

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling fan screws

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling assembly shield

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling assembly shield

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling assembly screws

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling assembly screws

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling assembly

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the cooling assembly

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Cooling assembly with fans

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Cooling assembly with fans

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Cooling assembly

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Cooling assembly

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the SSD screws

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the SSD screws

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the SSD

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Removing the SSD

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: 64GB Micron RealSSD C400 mSATA

Cracking Open Surface Pro: 64GB Micron RealSSD C400 mSATA

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard - Front

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard - Front

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard - Back

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Motherboard - Back

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Intel Mobile HM77 Express Chipset

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Intel Mobile HM77 Express Chipset

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Winbond 25X05CL Serial Flash

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Winbond 25X05CL Serial Flash

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Winbond 25Q64FV Serial Flash

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Winbond 25Q64FV Serial Flash

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Novatek NT96132QG46

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Novatek NT96132QG46

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: ITE Tech IT8519G

Cracking Open Surface Pro: ITE Tech IT8519G

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Winbond 25X40CL Serial Flash

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Winbond 25X40CL Serial Flash

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Miscellaneous ICs

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Miscellaneous ICs

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Atmel touchscreen controllers

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Atmel touchscreen controllers

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open Surface Pro:

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Realtek ALC3230 Audio Codec

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Realtek ALC3230 Audio Codec

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

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

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

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Microsoft 2012 PCB marking

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Microsoft 2012 PCB marking

Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Completely disassembled

Cracking Open Surface Pro: Completely disassembled

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By Bill Detwiler
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show.
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