Hardware

Cracking Open the HP Envy 14 Spectre

By // March 8, 2012, 5:38 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • HP Envy 14 Spectre Teardown

    Follow along as we crack open the HP Envy 14 Spectre ultrabook.

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, HP Spectre Teardown: Eye-catching, but overpriced ultrabook.

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

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Price

     

    An entry-level Spectre (with a Core i5 CPU, 4 gigs of RAM, and 128GB SSD) retails for $1,399. Upgrading to a Core i7 with a 256GB SSD raises the price to $1,899.

    Our HP Envy 14 Spectre cost $1,599.99 (plus tax).

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

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Box

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Opening the box

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Box contents

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Dimensions and weight

    Our HP Envy 14 Spectre test machine had a 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-2677M processor, integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000, 4GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 128GB SSD, and a 14.0" Radiance HD+ LED-backlit display (1600 x900). It measures 12.88" (W) x8.7" (D) x 0.79" (H) and weighs 3.97 pounds.

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

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Mute button, volume wheel, Beats audio button, and power jack

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Mini DisplayPort, HDMI port, Ethernet jack, USB ports, headphone jack, SD card slot

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Compared to MacBook Pro

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Bottom

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Unlocking the battery compartment cover

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the battery cover

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Inside the battery compartment

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the battery screws

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the battery

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: HP (SL04XL)14.8V, 58Wh Li-Ion battery

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Empty battery compartment

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Disconnecting the HDD board/motherboard connector

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Disconnecting the SD card/headphone jack board to motherboard connector

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the external case screws

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Locating the hidden case screws

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the hidden case screw

  • Removing the NFC module screw

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the NFC module

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: NFC module - Bottom

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: NFC module - Top

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: NXP PN533 NFC controller (533 70 CT7812 02 02 TSD1422)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Separating the upper and lower case halves

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Lifting the upper case away from the lower case

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Upper and lower case halves separated

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Upper case hardware

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the SD card and headphone jack circuit board screw

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the SD card and headphone jack circuit board

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: SD card and headphone jack circuit board

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Realtek RTS5209 Card Reader Controller

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: IDT 92HD91B Single Chip PC Audio System (92HD91B2X5 NLG YA11391 U28394M)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Unknown chip (BSG TI 1AW ZE0P)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the SSD screw

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the SSD

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: 128GB SSD (HP P/N: 653509-001) - Top

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: 128GB SSD (HP P/N: 653509-001) - Bottom

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Samsung S3C29MAX01 SSD controller

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Samsung DDR2-800 256MB cache (K4T2G314QF-MCF7)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: 32GB Samsung K9PFGD8U7M NAND Flash (x2) - Front of SSD

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: 32GB Samsung K9PFGD8U7M NAND Flash (x2) - Back of SSD

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the SSD interface and volume control wheel circuit board screw

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the SSD interface and volume control wheel circuit board

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: SSD interface and volume control wheel circuit board - Front

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: SSD interface and volume control wheel circuit board - Back

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Popping loose the touchpad

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the touchpad

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Touchpad

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Synaptics T1320A Touchpad controller (T1320A 1133 AWOW127)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Power button

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Keyboard - Quanta P/N: AESPSU00010

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Lower case hardware

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Disconnecting the display, lid lighting, and antenna cables

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the lid hinge screws

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: 14.0 Radiance HD+ Infinity LED-backlit display (1600 x 900)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Lower case with lid/display removed

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the wireless card

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth card

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Disconnecting the cooling fan wires

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the cooling fan screws

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the cooling fans

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Twin cooling fans

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the motherboard screws

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the power connector screws

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the motherboard and power connector

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Lower case

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Motherboard, power connector, RAM, and cooling assembly

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the RAM

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: 4GB Samsung 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Disconnecting the power connector

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the cooling assembly screws

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Removing the cooling assembly

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Motherboard - Top

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Motherboard - Bottom

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre:

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Intel BD82HM65 PCH (platform controller hub)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: SWAP net 10/100/1000Base-T Single Port Transformer Module

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: AMIC A25LQ32A 32Mb Serial Flash Memory (A25LQ32AM-F 1142WD CC7E02)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Volterra VT1317SF (VT1317SF AP1104 1838528)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Volterra VT1316MAF5 (VT1316MAF5 AG1133 1843016)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Texas Instruments TPS51461 3.3V to 5V Input, 6A, D-CAP+ Mode Synchronous Step-Down Converter with 2-Bit VID

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Fairchild FDMC7672S N-Channel Power Trench SyncFET

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: ENE Technology KB3930 keyboard controller (KB3930QF A2 HH-N6GA9 AC-114321)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Parade Technologies 6414A GV1312 (likely a DisplayPort IC)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Realtek RTL8111 Gigabit Ethernet controller (RTL8111E B7H07G2 GB31L)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: NEC D720202 USB controller (D720202 701 1146KV012G CHINA)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Texas instruments BQ738 TI 191 A3K0 (likely a battery-related IC)

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Misc. ICs

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Unknown IC ME7835 A129

  • Cracking Open HP Envy 14 Spectre: Completely disassembled

HP Envy 14 Spectre Teardown

Follow along as we crack open the HP Envy 14 Spectre ultrabook.

For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, HP Spectre Teardown: Eye-catching, but overpriced ultrabook.

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

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By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief 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...