After Hours

Amazon Kindle DX (Graphite) Teardown

By · July 26, 2010, 2:13 PM PST · billdetwiler

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  • Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle DX (Graphite)

    In 2010, Amazon released an updated Kindle DX reading device. Hoping to keep the device relevant in a post-iPad world, Amazon dropped the Kindle DX's price to $379 (US), added an improved display, and included a few software enhancements.

    Follow along as Bill Detwiler cracks open the Kindle DX (Graphite).

    Checkout Bill's teardown gallery of the original Amazon Kindle and see how far the electronic reader has come.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Opening the box

    The Kindle DX (Graphite) is shipped in a brown cardboard box. There's no inner box, so opening the box reveals the reader.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Documents and power cord

    Under the Kindle DX, you'll find the product documentation and power cable.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Power cable

    The power cable on the Kindle DX (Graphite) appears to be identical to the one used on the previous Kindle DX.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Front

    From the front, the updated Kindle DX (Graphite) looks nearly identical to the original Kindle DX, except for the dark gray plastic case.

    The only real difference between the two devices seems to be a new E-Ink display, which Amazon touts as having "50% better contrast for the clearest text and sharpest images."

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Back

    With the exception of the darker plastic, the back of the Kindle DX (Graphite) is the same as the original version.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Top

    On the top of the Kindle DX (Graphite) are the power switch and headphone jack.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Bottom

    Along the bottom of the Kindle Dx (Graphite) are the speakers and the Micro USB connector.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Left side

    Along the Left side of the Kindle DX (Graphite) are the two slots used to attach a case or cover for the Kindle DX.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Kindle DX (Graphite) - Right side

    Along the right side of the Kindle DX (Graphite) are the Volume up/down, Home, Menu, Back, Next Page, and Previous Page buttons. The 5-way controller is also located on the right side.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Keypad

    The keypad on the Kindle DX and new Kindle DX (Graphite) are identical.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Control buttons

    The new Kindle's control buttons are the same as the ones on the original device.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Back

    Our first step in disassembling the Kindle DX (Graphite) is to remove the plastic RF window that's located above the metal back panel.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Remove the RF window

    Using a thin metal spludger, you can release the two tabs that snap the plastic window to the rest of the Kindle DX (Grpahite).

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Lifting away the RF window

    Once you depress the two plastic tabs (shown here), you should be able to slide the plastic panel forward.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • RF window removed

    Behind the RF window is the antenna for the Kindle DX's 3G wireless card.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • RD window - Back

    The external portion of the Kindle DX's power switch is attached to the plastic RF window.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Metal panel held in place with two screws

    There are two small Phillips screws that hold the back metal panel in place--one on each side. You'll need to remove both before the metal panel will come free.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Removing the metal panel

    Lifting away the metal panel from the back of the Kindle DX (Graphite), we can see the 3G wireless card and a little of the main logic board.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Back metal panel - External

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Back metal panel - Internal

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Large plastic support structure

    With the metal removed from the back of the Kindle DX (Graphite), we get our first look inside Amazon's wireless reader. Unfortunately, a large plastic support structure, covers most of the main logic board. At this point, all we can really see are the battery, 3G wireless card, and SIM card.

    To remove support structure, you'll need to remove 20 Phillips screws that hold it to the front case panel and logic board. You can leave the two screws holding the battery in place. We'll remove those later. You will also need to disconnect the two molex connectors that connect the speakers to the main logic board.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Support structure removed - Front

    The battery will come away with the support structure.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Support structure removed - Back

    The back of the large, plastic support structure. You can now remove the two screws holding the battery in place.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Battery - Front

    The Kindle DX (Graphite) uses a 3.7V Lithium-ion battery.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Battery - Back

    There are no wires connecting the Kindle DX's battery to the main logic board. Instead, the battery is connected via two, bent metal tabs that press against the battery contacts when it's in place.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Main logic board

    The main logic board on Kindle DX (Graphite) is very similar to the original version. There are two large metal shields covering the CPU and other chips.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Lab126 markings on the main logic board

    As with the original Kindle DX's main logic board, the Graphite version's board has marking for Lab126--the company that designed and developed the Kindle for Amazon.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • 5-way controller - Internal

    The 5-way controller is connected to the Kindle DX's main logic board by a thin ribbon cable. The connector is marked with "JOYSTICK ASSY". Below the ribbon cable is one of the DX's two molex speaker connectors.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Display cable and main chips

    Clustered together are the main chips for the Kindle DX--some still hidden behind metal shields. The display's thin ribbon cable is also located here.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Epson E-Ink controller, Freescale PMIC, and Hynix CMOS

    Several chips are visible within this cluster, including:

    Freescale Semiconductor MC13783 Power Management and Audio Circuit

    Hynix H55S1222EFP-60M 128M (4Mx32bit) Mobile SDRAM

    EPSON E-Ink controller (D135211B3)

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Freescale Semiconductor MC13783 PMIC

    Freescale Semiconductor MC13783 Power Management and Audio Circuit

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Hynix SDRAM (CMOS) and EPSON E-Ink controller

    Hynix H55S1222EFP-60M 128M (4Mx32bit) Mobile SDRAM

    EPSON E-Ink controller (D135211B3)

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • AnyData DTP-600W wireless card

    The Kindle DX (Graphite) uses an AnyDATA DTP-600W HSPA mini PCI-E module for wireless connectivity. According to AnyDATA documentation the DTP-600W "operates globally on tri-band UMTS 850/1900/2100 wireless networks as well as quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 networks."

    Below the wireless module is a SIM card, which was not present on the original Kindle DX.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Removing the SIM card

    You can remove the SIM card on the Kindle DX (Graphite) by sliding the metal cover to the unlock position and lifting it up.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Headphone jack and wireless antenna

    Along the top edge of the main logic board, we find the headphone jack, the 3G antenna, and an unused ribbon cable connector.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Next Page and Previous Page buttons

    The Next Page and Previous Page buttons are held in place with small metal hinge pins.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Removing the page navigation buttons

    To remove the page navigation buttons you simply pull out the hinge pins. There are no wires to disconnect.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Page navigation buttons removed



    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Removing the metal shields

    Using a metal spludger you can gently pry loose the thin metal shields that cover the CPU and other main chips.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • CPU, memory, and other chips

    Beneath the metal shields are the heart of the Kindle DX (Graphite), including:

    Freescale MCIMX31L Series 400 MHz SMT Multimedia Applications Processor

    Samsung K4X1G323PE-8GC6 DRAM

    Intel 640W18BE wireless FLASH memory

    Samsung KMBLG0000M-B998 moviNAND

    These chips are

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Kindle DX (Graphite) completely disassembled

    The Kindle DX (Graphite) was rather easy to disassemble. The hardest step was removing the RF window without damaging the plastic window or metal panel.

    Mounted under the main logic board is the E-Ink display. But as there's not much to see on the back of the display and the logic board appears to be held in place by either glue or sticky tape, I'm going to refrain from pulling the board away from the front plastic case.

    The new Kindle DX (Graphite) is nearly identical to the original version.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Cracking Open the Amazon Kindle DX (Graphite)

In 2010, Amazon released an updated Kindle DX reading device. Hoping to keep the device relevant in a post-iPad world, Amazon dropped the Kindle DX's price to $379 (US), added an improved display, and included a few software enhancements.

Follow along as Bill Detwiler cracks open the Kindle DX (Graphite).

Checkout Bill's teardown gallery of the original Amazon Kindle and see how far the electronic reader has come.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the ...

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