The laptop model on the sticker tells you which product you have. The board number printed on the PCB tells you which board is inside it — and that is what schematics and boardviews are published under. One model is often built with several different boards, and one board is often used in several models.
Where to look
- Silkscreen text on the top or bottom side of the mainboard, often near the RAM slots, under the battery connector or next to the CPU.
- A white label with a barcode, sometimes with the revision next to it.
- On some boards the number sits under the keyboard or a heatsink, so the board has to come out.
What the number looks like
Every manufacturer uses its own scheme. The ODM numbering guide lists the common ones; the ODM index shows real numbers for each.
Using the number
Search for the number without the revision first, then check the revision on the board page. If your exact revision is not listed, compare the schematic against your board before trusting it.