Laptop/Prebuild Syllabus

Session 1 Schedule

Wednesday, June 26th

Welcome!

• Introductions
  • Name, why you're excited about the class, favorite board game
• Present schedule for the day
• Overview Laptop Build Program
  • Laptop build room, SDA, recycling
  • 2013: Received 2800+, given away about 250, sold 350+, recycled 1850+
  • 2012: Received 5800+, gave away 500, sold 710, recycled 310
• Overview different kinds of mobile technologies
  • iPod
  • Palm Pilot
  • Macbook Air
  • Laptop teardown as segway into hardware ID

Hardware ID

• Begin with questions:
  • What are the core components of a computer (laptop, desktop, whatever)
    • CPU, GPU, RAM, HDD, firmware/ROM chips
    • Peripherals: keyboard, mouse, screen, speakers, etc
  • How do these components work together?
  • What are the functions of each of the core components?
  • What makes working on laptops different from working on desktops?
    • Integrated peripherals (screen, keyboard, trackpad, speakers, etc)
    • Proprietary parts
    • Lots of variation between brand and model
    • Some require very specific RAM or HDDs
    • Less space, small parts, more likely to run into heating issues
    • Easy to loose or break small components
• Understanding specifications:
  • CPU Specs: processors are made by companies, specs are non-standard
    • Open build binder to apppendix specifications section
    • Intel vs. AMD (Others like Motorolla, Samsung, IBM, NVIDIA, etc)
      • 2012: x86 CPUs Intel 80%, AMD 20%, all CPUs, Intel 60%, AMD 25%, NVIDIA ~16%
    • Number of Cores
    • Clockspeed
    • Cache space
    • Integrated graphics vs. non-integrated
    • Special/additional features that sound like science fiction (turbo boost, hyperthreading, virtualization, etc)
  • The important part: CPU specifications are confusing, non-standard, and not something to worry about too much at the moment. A lot of time in Laptop Build is spent working on identifying and understanding CPU specifications. It helps us decide which machines to refurbish, and which machines to recycle, how much a laptop will cost in the store, and how much RAM and HDD space to install.
  • RAM Specs (with physical examples)
    • Type: DIMM vs SODIMM
    • Type: SD RAM, DDR 1, DDR 2, DDR 3 (GDDR5 is already being used in graphics cards)
    • Speed: PC2-6400 vs 800MHz
    • Capacity: 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024 etc
      • SIDE NOTE ON BASE 8
  • HDD types and specs (with physical/visual examples)
    • SATA, IDE, other
    • Capacity: measured in MB, GB, and TB
    • Other storage devices
  • Take apart labeled tear down machines and discuss parts

Assembly/Disassembly Introduction

• Introduce tool kits
  • Notes on good tool use (how to avoid stripping screws, magnetization)
• How it all fits together, how to think strategically about disassembly
• What to do if you break something, or need parts or resources (at Free Geek and in the "real world")
• Recycling practice to end of class!

Feedback

To improve

• Too much hardware ID time, took about 2 hours. The comprehensive stuff is good but probably could be whittled down somewhat.
• Three hours might even really be enough time, especially when there is lecture time, people were pretty ready to wrap up by around 5 (luckily there was cake)
• didn't actually look at FG specs, just talked about how to evaluate specs. Might work better to start with the spec sheet and use that as an example.

What worked well

• Application process seemed to generate the right kinds of expectations and preparedness for the class
• Students stuck through the long lecture part and seemed to enjoy the hands on stuff
• Comprehension from 2 perspectives (how the hardware works together, and what you'll want to know when buying a computer)

Additional resources to prepare

• Feedback survey for the end of class
• Ideally, finish the tools and teardown written guide
• Give students the option of a printed handout for more technical specifications, a glossary would be great (printed or available on the wiki)
• Prepare more labeled physical examples ahead of time to be on the desk to be passed around at the beginning.

Wednesday July 3rd

Review last week

• Welcome, any questions from last week? How did last week go? One interesting thing you learned or applied this week, something you would like to learn this week?
• Review Hardware ID
  • Introduce peripherals and chassis parts not covered
• Introduce toolkits formally
  • Introduce tools, how kits are organized

Organization for Repair and Upgrades

• What laptop parts can be upgraded?
  • RAM, HDD/SSD/(mini)PCIe?
• What parts can be repaired? What can't?
  • Brainstorm
• How to organize a repair at Free Geek or on your own
  • What tools are needed? How much space/time?
• Resources for when/if you get stuck:
  • www.ifixit.com and other sites with full teardown guides
  • Manufacturer schematics and troubleshooting guides
  • Forums, Google, etc

Starting a repair

• Strategies/examples for:
  • Access HDD
  • Access RAM
  • Remove keyboard
  • Remove optical drive
  • Remove screen

POST Troubleshooting Guide

• If time allows, introduce:
  • AC Adapter matching
  • RAM troubleshooting