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    Surface Pro 3, should I risk screen to upgrade mSATA SSD or stay with microSD expansion?

    Discussion in 'Microsoft' started by SJLPHI, Dec 30, 2021.

  1. SJLPHI

    SJLPHI Notebook Evangelist

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    Hello,

    Let me start with that I am quite comfortable reparing most computers and cellphones and I am somewhat quite well equipped for it and I work on electronics as a hobby.

    Recently I got myself a used Surface Pro 3 with i5-4th gen 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD. I invested also in a docking bay, case, 512GB microSD (boxing day sale) and etc. at this point I am quite committed. I am currently at my parents' house.

    Now, back at my home, I have a spare Kingston 480GB SSD with decent amount of life left in it, worked well on my Lenovo W530 before upgrading to 1 TB, and the temperatures are far below 90C [with undervolting] on SP3 but I think it can do better. Battery is at ~75% design capacity.

    Now, I have been watching and reading a lot about the disassembly on this and it looks scary that even the professional technicians are cracking up and chipping off the screen! This discourages me quite a bit.

    I am wondering if you think it's worth the risk to replace the SSD, Thermal paste (I will probably give it TG Hydronaut since Kryonaut needs more frequent replacement) and the battery, or just stick with installing non-system essentials on the microSD card?

    I have had many microSD cards fail in the past (to be fair, lower end no name brands) but I really don't like the idea of running things off (like Autodesk Inventor) off of the microSD card.

    Do you think it's worth the risk to open up the SP3 or should I just settle with what I get?
     
    SJLPHI, Dec 30, 2021
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  2. SJLPHI

    SJLPHI Notebook Evangelist

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    Honestly, with the 4GB RAM soldered, part of me says that it's totallly not worth the trouble and just wait for it until I get a 8GB RAM one at another opportunity then consider it, I just really don't like the idea of using microSD as part of the "regular" mounted drive, even though we do it all the time in our android tablets.
     
    SJLPHI, Dec 30, 2021
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  3. SJLPHI

    SJLPHI Notebook Evangelist

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    Well, my first attempt went bust... I literally cannot get the screen to move even with the whole screen heated up to 70C according to my FLIR thermal camera. I don't feel comfortable going higher, there is simply no give whatsoever and I am afraid of breaking the glass if I pull the plunger harder.
     
    SJLPHI, Jan 9, 2022
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