The board code is the identifier the board's designer gave the design. It is printed in the PCB silkscreen, usually in a larger font than part labels, and it is the single most useful piece of information for finding repair documents. The laptop model name is a marketing label; the board code identifies the actual design.
Common formats
| Format | Designer | Example |
|---|---|---|
LA-xxxxP | Compal | LA-D312P |
NM-xxxx | LCFC (Lenovo) | NM-A841 |
DAxxxxMBxxx | Quanta | DA0R63MB6F1 |
6050Axxxxxxx | Inventec | 6050A2412601 |
xxxxx-x, 448.xxxxx | Wistron | 15341-1, 448.0AB06.0011 |
820-xxxxx | Apple | 820-00244 |
BA41-xxxxxA | Samsung | BA41-01662A |
Model + REV | Asus, desktop brands | X540MB REV 2.0 |
Most laptops are designed by an ODM (original design manufacturer), so the code format tells you who designed the board. Each format is explained in Laptop Board Codes Explained: LA-, NM-, DA0, 6050A and 448 Numbers.
Why it matters more than the model
One laptop model can be built with several boards — integrated or discrete graphics, different processor generations, different ODMs. Each has its own code and its own schematic. Conversely, one board code can appear in several models, even from different brands. Searching by the code finds the right documents in both cases.
Board code versus other numbers
- Spare part numbers (Lenovo FRU, Dell DP/N, HP spare part number) are on stickers and identify a board variant for ordering. Useful, but indirect.
- Daughterboard codes — for example Compal
LS-xxxxP— identify small boards, not the motherboard. - PCB vendor numbers and date codes are manufacturing details unrelated to the design.
Where to find it
Remove the bottom cover and look along the board edges, near the memory slots, around the battery connector and under the fan area. On some boards it is on the bottom side. Note the board revision printed next to it — you will need both.
Searching by board code
Type the code exactly as printed; dashes and spaces do not matter in the catalog search. If nothing comes up, try the platform name printed nearby (such as AAU30 or R63), or for Quanta boards the platform part of the number alone. When the board page appears, check that the listed laptop models make sense for your machine before downloading anything.