ASUS VivoBook 17 (M712U) Teardown Guide

Hello, I’m Simon. In this video, I’ll guide you through a teardown of the ASUS VivoBook 17 (Model M712U). This is especially useful if you’re planning to add RAM or upgrade the hard drive.

Starting the Teardown

• Model Overview: This is an ASUS VivoBook 17, a 17-inch laptop.
• Initial Steps: Begin by removing all the Phillips screws from the back of the laptop. The screws on the top and middle are longer than the ones at the bottom.

Opening the Laptop

• Use a prying tool to gently lift and remove the back cover.
• Once open, you will see the internal components, including the battery, CPU fan, and more.

Battery Removal

• The first step is to disconnect the battery. Push up the metal clip holding the battery connector and lift the connector straight up.
• Remove the screws holding the battery and take out the battery. Check for any signs of swelling or damage.

CPU Fan and Components

• CPU Fan: Disconnect and unscrew the CPU fan. If your laptop is overheating, consider cleaning the fan and reapplying thermal paste.
• RAM: There’s a single accessible RAM slot. The laptop has 16 GB of RAM, with additional RAM likely soldered onto the motherboard.
• Wi-Fi Card: Remove the screw and slide out the card.
• M.2 NVMe SSD Upgrade: You can upgrade your SSD, for instance, with a Samsung 980 Pro.

Motherboard Removal

• Carefully remove the screws from the motherboard. Note that some screws are also attached to the heat sink.
• Carefully lift and remove the motherboard.

Points to Note

• RAM Slots: This laptop only has one visible RAM slot; additional RAM is integrated into the motherboard.
• Keyboard Design: The keyboard is built into the palm rest, and can’t be replaced separately.
• No CMOS Battery: To reset the BIOS, disconnect the main battery and wait for a few hours.
• Storage Upgrade: There’s potential for a 2.5-inch hard drive upgrade, but the laptop lacks a connector for it.

Conclusion

This teardown provides insight into the internals of the ASUS VivoBook 17 and potential upgrade paths. If you have questions or need more information, feel free to leave a comment below.

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