Hardware

Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21 ultrabook

By // February 15, 2012, 5:49 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • Asus Zenbook UX21 teardown

    In 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.

    They 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).

    As 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.

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Zenbook teardown: Blatant copy of MacBook Air.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Hardware specifications

    Our 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open the Asus Zenbook UX21: Dimensions

    Our 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption 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

Asus Zenbook UX21 teardown

In 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.

They 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).

As 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.

For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Zenbook teardown: Blatant copy of MacBook Air.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research 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 supp...