MSI GS40 Disassembly
Compared with the MSI GT and GE series gaming laptop, the 14-inch body to make the GS40 look not so strong, MSI GS series has always been thin and light as a selling point.
Although GS40 is 14-inch laptop, but MSI GS40 configuration can be described as very strong, it is features an i7-6700HQ Intel processor, and comes with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M graphics card, also has 16GB DDR4 2133MHz memory, 128GB SSD and 1TB hard drive. Though not the strongest configuration, but it has been enough to cope with the current mainstream games on the market.
Specification:
OS: Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-6500U 2.5 GHz processor (4M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz)
Display: 14-inch FHD, (1920*1080) IPS, non-touch
Memory: 16GB (2 x 8GB) (max 32GB) DDR4-2133MHz
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX970M (3GB) GDDR5 + integrated Intel HD 530 HD
Storage: 1 x 128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB 7200RPM
Wireless: Killer N1525 wireless card, Qualcomm/Atheros Gigabit ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0
Ports: 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB Type-C HDMI v1.4b, mini display port 1.2, RJ45, earphone, SD card reader
Security: Kensington Lock
Battery: 4-Cell 61Wh Li-Polymer
Dimension: 345 x 245 x 21.8-22.8mm
Weight: 1.6kg (w/battery)
1. Remove the bottom case
There is no service cover on the bottom case, if you want to access common RAM and SSD, you should remove the whole bottom case.
Remove all screws securing the bottom case.
Pry up the bottom case with your fingers
2. Remove the hard drive
When the bottom case removed, you can get access to the internal components, including battery, hard drive, SSD, RAM, speakers, heat sink and cooling fan.
Remove one screw securing the hard drive module and disconnect the SATA cable from motherboard, you can remove the hard drive module.
The MSI GS40 features a HGST 1TB 7200 RPM hard drive.
3. Remove the battery
Remove two screws securing the battery and disconnect the battery connector from the motherboard, you can remove the battery.
The laptop comes with a 7.6v, 8060mah, 61.25wh Li-polymer battery, MSI P/N: BTY-M47.
4. Remove the SSD
Remove one screw securing the SSD and takes it out from M.2 NVMe slot.
The MSI GS40 features a Samsung 128GB SM951 M.2 NVMe 2280 SSD, Samsung model：MZ-VPV1280, MZVPV128HDGM-00000.
According to Samsung website’s information, the SSD use the latest in-house NAND flash and an advanced in-house controller, sequential read up to 2,000MB/s, sequential write up to 650MB/s, random read up to 300K IOPS, random write up to 83K IOPS.
5. Remove the RAM
Separate the clips and remove the RAM.
The MSI GS40 comes with two Samsung 8GB DDR4 2133MHz RAMs.
6. Remove the indicator light board
Disconnect the white cable. You can remove the indicator light board.
7. Remove the wireless card
Remove one screw securing the wireless card and unplug two antenna cables. You can remove the wireless card.
The laptop features a Killer N1525 wireless card with Bluetooth 4.0, Hon Har P/N: T77H558.00.
8. Remove the heat sink and cooling fan
Remove all screws securing the heat sink and cooling fan.
Disconnect two fan cables from the motherboard.
MSI GS40 cooling fan
MSI GS40 heat sink
9. Remove the motherboard
Remove all screws securing the motherboard and disconnect all cables connecting the motherboard. You can remove the motherboard.
10. Chips
Red: Intel® Core™ i7-6500U 2.5 GHz processor (4M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz) with Intel® HD Graphics 520
Green: NVIDIA GeForce GTX970M
Blue: Samsung 3GB GDDR5 video memory
Purple: South Bridge
Yellow: ENE KB90280 touch chip
Orange: network transformer
The back of the motherboard
