Cracking Open the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook

Cracking Open the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Box

\n\tThe Samsung Series 5 is available in two flavors–a Wi-Fi + 3G model for $499.99 (US) and a Wi-Fi-only model for $429.99 (US). You can purchase the Series 5 from Amazon.com and BestBuy.com.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Box contents

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Front

\n\tThe Samsung Series 5 has the following hardware specifications:

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• \n\t\tProcessor: 1.66 GHz Intel Atom dual-core N570

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• \n\t\tGraphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150

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• \n\t\tStorage: 16GB mSATA SSD

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• \n\t\tRAM: 2 GB

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• \n\t\tCommunications: Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and optional 3G (requires Verizon Wireless subscription)

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• \n\t\tDisplay: 12.1″ LED (WXGA, 1280×800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio)

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• \n\t\tVideo out: VGA (via optional dongle)

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• \n\t\tBattery: 6-cell Li-ion battery (up to 8.5 hours of life)

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• \n\t\tPorts: Two USB 2.0 ports, 4-in-1 memory card reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC)

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• \n\t\tCamera: 1Mp HD Webcam

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• \n\t\tAudio: Built-in digital microphone and stereo speakers

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• \n\t\tKeyboard: Full-size Chrome keyboard

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• \n\t\tInput device: Oversized multi-touch trackpad

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Top

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Bottom

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: USIM card slot and USB port

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: SD card reader

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Power connector, fan vent, Mini-VGA and USB ports, and headphone/microphone jack

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Keyboard and touchpad

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the back cover screws

\n\tThree Phillips #1 screws are visible on the Samsung Series 5’s back cover. Four more Phillips screws are hidden under the computer’s four rubber feet.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the rubber feet to reveal hidden screws

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the hidden back cover screws

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Popping off the back cover

\n\tUsing a plastic spudger, I was able to separate the back cover from the rest of the Samsung Series 5’s case.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Lifting off the back cover

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Back cover

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: First look inside

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the battery screws

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Disconnecting the battery from the motherboard

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: 7.4V 61Wh 8100mAh battery

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: With the battery removed

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Disconnecting the Qualcom Gobi2000 WWAN board antenna wires

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the Qualcom Gobi2000 WWAN board screw

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the Qualcom Gobi2000 WWAN board

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Qualcomm Gobi2000 WWAN board - Top

\n\tThe Samsung Series 5 has the same Qualcomm Gobi2000 WWAN board as the earlier Google CR-48 Chromebook.

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\n\tThe main chips on the top of this card are the Qualcomm MDM2000, Samsung K4X56323PI 32 MB Mobile DRAM, and TQS 7M5012.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Qualcomm Gobi2000 WWAN board - Bottom

\n\tOn the back of the Qualcomm Gobi2000 WWAN board are the Qualcomm RFR6500 receiver and Qualcomm RTR6285 UMTS/GSM/EDGE cellular transceiver with GPS.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the SanDisk SSD screw

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the SanDisk SSD

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: SanDisk 16GB SDSA4DH-016G SSD - Top

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: SanDisk 16GB SDSA4DH-016G SSD - Bottom

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Disconnecting the Wi-Fi board antenna wires

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi card screw

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi card

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Qualcomm Atheros AR5BHB116 802.11n Wi-Fi card with Atheros AR9382 chip

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: With battery, SSD, and wireless boards removed

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Prying the right speaker away from the case

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Disconnecting the right speaker wire

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Prying the left speaker away from the case

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Disconnecting the left speaker wire

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Speakers - Top

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Speakers - Bottom

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the right-side PCB screw

\n\tThe small right-side PCB contains a speaker connector, USIM card slot, USB port, and connectors for the two wireless PCBs.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Disconnecting the right-side PCB ribbong cable

\n\tA large ribbon cable connects the smaller right-side PCB to the Samsung Series 5’s motherboard.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the right-side PCB

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Right-side PCB - Top

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Right-side PCB bottom

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Remvoing the SD card reader PCB screws

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Disconnecting the SD card reader PCB ribbon cables

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the SD card reader PCB

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Realtek RTS5138 SD card reader IC

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: SD card reader PCB slot

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Disconnecting the right-side PCB ribbon cable from the motherboard

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the touchpad PCB cover screws

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Disconnecting the touchpad PCB ribbon cable

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the touchpad PCB cover

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Touchpad PCB and cover

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Synaptics T1320A Capacitive Touchpad Controller

\n\tThe Samsung Series 5 uses the same Synaptics T1320A Capacitive Touchpad Controller found in the earlier Google CR-48 Chromebook.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: The keyboard and touchpad are permanently attached to the upper case

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the heatsink and cooling fan screws

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the heatsink and cooling fan

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Heatsink and cooling fan - Top

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Heatsink and cooling fan - Bottom

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Disconnecting the displaly connector from the motherboard

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the motherboard screws

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the motherboard

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Motherboard (with battery and thermal paste) - Top

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Motherboard (with battery and thermal paste) - Bottom

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Near empty upper case

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the lid and display screws

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing the lid and display

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Empty upper case

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Lid and 12.1" LED display (WXGA, 1280x800)

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: System battery

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Removing black plastic shielding from the back of the motherboard

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Internal sticky label

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Motherboard - Top

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Motherboard - Bottom

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: 1.66 GHz Intel Atom dual-core N570 processor

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Intel CG82NM10SLGXX Platform Hub Controller

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Realtek ALC272 4-Channel High Definition Audio Codec

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Macronix MX25L1005C 1Mb Serial Flash

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Texas Instruments BQ24725 2-4 Cell Li+ Battery SMBus Charge Controller (markings BQ725)

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Texas Instruments TPS51117 1.8V to 28V Input Sync. Step Down Controller and TPS54319 2.95V to 6V Input, 3A Synchronous Step-Down Converter

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Samsung K4B2G0846 HCH9 2 Gb DD3 SDRAM

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor AON6912A 30V Dual Asymmetric N-Channel MOSFET

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Silego Technology SLG8SP513V CK505 Clock Generator

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: SMSC EMC2112 Fan controller

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: SMSC MEC1300-NU I/O controller

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Infineon SLB9635TT1.2 Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Texas Instruments TPA6017A2 stereo audio power amplifier

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Motherboard markings - Model: Alex12

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Cracking Open: Completely disassembled

\n\tLike the CR-48, Google’s original Chromebook, the Samsung Series 5 was easy to crack open and dissect. Samsung used standard Phillips screws both outside and inside the case. The wireless cards, SSD, and battery are all easily removed, but you must remove the computer’s back cover to do so.

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\n\tUnlike the CR-48, but like the Apple MacBook Air, the Series 5’s RAM is soldered to the motherboard, making a RAM upgrade impossible.

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\n\tThe keyboard and touchpad are also permanently attached to the upper case. If either component fails, you’ll need to replace the entire upper case unit.

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\n\tOverall the Series 5 isn’t a difficult machine to work on or repair, but I doubt many businesses will bother. With Google’s Chromebook Business & Education subscription plan, Google provides replacement hardware.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler