Skip to main content

Madman cuts open Surface 3 Pro to install new 1TB solid state drive

We’ve heard of customized computing before, but this is getting a little out of hand.

Back in February, the world caught wind of a new method to upgrade the solid-state hard drive included in the Microsoft Surface 3 Pro that allowed users to push beyond the company’s self-imposed limit of 512GB. The technique, pioneered by Mexico City’s Jorge Malagon, doesn’t involve going through official channels on Microsoft’s side. Instead he used a drill to crack open the tablet/laptop hybrid by cutting straight through its metal body.

Recommended Videos

The reason for the forced entry, as opposed to a more elegant solution, is because the Surface 3’s screen is notorious for cracking at even the slightest attempt to unscrew the backplate. When both iFixit and CNet attempted traditional teardowns upon the Surface 3’s initial release, they found that the adhesive between the screen and the shell was so strong that it was nearly impossible to get the two separated without destroying either the shell or display in the process.

Malagon found a way around this problem by simply checking the schematics of his Surface 3, and then carefully drilling out the space where the SSD was kept inside through the back. From there it was just a matter of installing a replacement, which in this case took the form of Samsung’s 840 EVO 1TB mSATA solid state drive.

The tech-saavy Malagon even went to the trouble of cloning his old hard drive, rather than trying to re-install Windows from scratch. That was probably a wise move, because it means he didn’t have to hassle with trying to re-install the Surface Pro 3’s drivers.

We can’t recommend going this route unless you’re absolutely confident in your abilities with a Dremel, but it’s nice to know it’s an option — if you have a drill, a compatible SSD, and you’re a bit batty.

Chris Stobing
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Self-proclaimed geek and nerd extraordinaire, Chris Stobing is a writer and blogger from the heart of Silicon Valley. Raised…
This Lenovo all-in-one computer is 30% off even though Prime Day has ended
The Lenovo V100 All-in-One Desktop Computer on a white background.

Even though Prime Day is already finished, there are still some excellent desktop computer deals on Amazon. If you don't have much space, or you just want to avoid clutter, you should take a look at the Lenovo V100 All-in-One PC. From its original price of $800, it's all the way down to just $560 following a 30% discount. The offer for this machine will only be available for a limited time though, so you need to act fast and proceed with the transaction immediately to secure the savings of $240.

Buy Now

Read more
The new Reachy Mini robot can let kids turn play into innovation
The Reachy Mini robot.

The Reachy Mini is an exciting new desktop robot aimed primarily at developers, educators, students, and enthusiasts, or basically anyone interested in creative coding.

There are actually two of them -- Reachy Mini Lite ($299) and Reachy Mini Wireless ($449) -- and both were developed by the prominent AI platform Hugging Face following its recent acquisition of Pollen Robotics. 

Read more
If you’re itching for an HP OMEN MAX gaming laptop, this deal will save you $500
The HP Omen Max gaming laptop with Valorant on the screen.

We've recently published a stunningly positive review of the HP OMEN Max 16. It's got a list of "Pros" a mile long. The single, obligatory con is "Thick and heavy." Considering that it's a gaming laptop, that's practically the equivalent of saying a flashlight is too bright to look at. Thick, and a bit heavy, just comes with the territory. All of this is to say that the review was great and we're fans of the HP OMEN Max 16. As a deal hunter it made me want to go and see if I could find a deal on the HP OMEN Max 16 and I did, sort of. Right now you can get a customizable HP OMEN Max 16t — a laptop that, if it didn't have a separate store page, I would think is identical to the one we reviewed — with a $500 discount, no matter what settings you choose. With the base settings of the laptop, that discount brings it from $2,100 to just $1,600, but you're free to upgrade to your heart's content. Tap the button below to start customizing to your whimsy or keep reading for some advice on how to do so and what to expect from the 16t.

Buy Now

Read more