Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21 ultrabook

Asus Zenbook UX21 teardown

\n\tIn late 2011, Asus launched their Zenbook series of Ultrabooks. These super-thin notebooks, offer more processing power than netbooks, but weigh less than traditional laptops.

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\n\tThey are designed to be a Windows alternative to Apple’s MacBook Air. Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Acer, Asus, and Toshiba are all jumping on the Ultrabook bandwagon (thanks in part to a significant push from Intel).
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\n\tAs of this writing, the Zenbook is available in 11-inch (UX21) and 13-inch (UX31) models and a variety of hardware configurations. Follow along as I crack open the 11-inch Asus Zenbook UX21.
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\n\tFor a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Zenbook teardown: Blatant copy of MacBook Air.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Hardware specifications

\n\tOur Asus Zenbook UX21E-DH71 cost $1,149.99 (US). It has a 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-2677M processor, 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM, 128GB solid state drive, 11.6″ HD LED LCD (1366 x 768), 802.11 b/g/n WLAN and BT support, and 0.3MP HD webcam.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Dimensions

\n\tOur Zenbook has a Silver Aluminum case and measures 7.7″ (H) x 11.7″ (W) x 0.7″ (D). The ultrabook weighs 2.4 pounds.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: miniVGA port, USB port, and headphone jack

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: microHDMI port, USB port, and power connector

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Side-by-side with Apple MacBook Air

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Compared to the MacBook Air - Thickness

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Bottom

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the bottom cover screws

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the bottom cover

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Internal hardware

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the battery screws

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the battery

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: 7.4V 4,800mAh, 35Wh Li-Polymer Battery Pack (C23-UX21)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the SSD screw

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the SSD

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: 128GB ADATA XM11 SSD

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the WLAN and BT card screw

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the WLAN and BT card

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: AzureWave AW-NB086 WLAN/BT card

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the cooling assembly screws

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Disconnecting the motherboard and IO board connector cable

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Disconnecting the fan cable

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the cooling assembly

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Cooling assembly - Front

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Cooling assembly - Back

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Disconnecting the left speaker wire

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the IO board screw

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the IO board

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: IO Board

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Realtek ALC269 High Definition Audio Codec with Embedded Class D Speaker Amplifier

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Detaching the motherboard connectors

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the motherboard screws

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Removing the lid hinge screws

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Separating the lid from the case

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Lid/LCD assembly

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Case with attached speakers, keyboard, and touchpad

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Touchpad

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: ELAN touchpad controller (33200V-3600 1139 BW118V1)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: One of two speakers

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Motherbaord - Top

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Motherboard - Bottom

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-2677M processor (E89391 01 IC2 / V137A416 / 2V130164A1260 SR0D2)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Intel Platform Controller Hub (E78296 01PP15 / E135B084 SLJ4K)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: 4GB Elpida 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM (J4216BASE-DJ-F x 8)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Richtek RT8166B (RT8166B ZQW DGJ10)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Fairchild FDMC7696 and FDMC0310AS

Fairchild FDMC7696 30V N-Channel PowerTrench MOSFET (FBKFJ FDMC 7696) and FDMC0310AS (PBKAF FDMC 0310AS)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Texas Instruments BQ24740 Multi-Cell Synchronous Switch-mode Battery Charger (BQ 24740 TI 171 A3NR G4)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Macronix MX25L3206E 32M-BIT CMOS serial flash (MXIC IC MX25L3206E M2I-12G 7A470000 L113498)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Fresco Logic FL1000 single port PCI Express to USB 3.0 host controller chip (FL1009-2Q0 KYTG9-000 1122B15A)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: ITE Tech IT8572G 1137-AXS DCEKSB (likely and embedded controller)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Richtek RT8206A High-Efficiency, Main Power Supply Controller for Notebook Computers (RT8206A GQW DHV08)

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: RAM chips on underside of motherboard

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Motherboard markings

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Complete teardown