Cracking open the iZ3D 22-inch LCD monitor
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iZ3D LCD monitor teardown
iZ3D LCD monitor teardown
ntTechRepublic has been testing and reviewing the iZ3D monitor for about a month now. After creating a First Look gallery and then publishing a review on how well the 3D technology translates to real game play, we felt it was time to crack it open to see what was inside. The folks at iZ3D were very gracious and brave to allow us to do this and we appreciate the gesture.
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ntThe iZ3D Web site said we would find two LCD panels inside, but we were not sure how they would be configured. We envisioned elaborate optical trickery was needed to get the 3D effect, but we found the engineering to be rather straightforward. Scroll through the images and see for yourself.
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How it's put together
How it's put together
To get the iZ3D monitor open we have to remove four screws.
The stand
The stand
The stand slides right out.
Sturdy
Sturdy
This single piece, the part that holds the iZ3D monitor up in the air for us to look at, is the heaviest single piece we remove.
Front grill
Front grill
The front grill snaps off. You have to be careful with the tabs because they are just plastic and can easily break.
This is a pre-production model so there are some hand written markings inside the case. I’m not sure what Sample A means exactly.
Tab A
Tab A
A closer look at the tab/slot connection for the housing.
Slot B
Slot B
Another angle of the tab/slot connection.
The front grill
The front grill
Here is the front grill fully separated from the back piece of the monitor housing.
Out of the case
Out of the case
Now that all of the monitor housing is removed we can begin to see how the iZ3D monitor is engineered.
How hazardous could it be?
How hazardous could it be?
First, we have to observe the obligatory warning of danger. We disconnected the plug so we have nothing to worry about — right?
Some ID
Some ID
I don’t know what the serial numbers represent, but I do notice a couple of dollar signs.
Two LCDs
Two LCDs
Our first indication that there are indeed to LCD panels under all this other stuff are these two ribbons.
Power connections
Power connections
The power connections are pink and white, but I think power wire should be red.
Slide it open
Slide it open
We remove two screws and slide the circuitry housing off to reveal two circuit boards.
Circuit boards 1
Circuit boards 1
After getting some help from Bill Detwiller on the ribbon connectors we are able to get our first look some electronic insides of the monitor.
Circuit boards 2
Circuit boards 2
A closer look at the two circuit boards. I see lots of exposed power electronics — good thing we unplugged the monitor.
Inputs
Inputs
There are three video-in ports; 2 DVIs and 1 VGA. Besides needing to be an NVIDIA card, your video will need to have two outputs to power the iZ3D monitor.
RealTek
RealTek
I’ve been seeing a lot of RealTek chips lately.
We got the power
We got the power
There is some serious power control going on here. One suspects that with two LCDs more electronic circuitry is required.
LCDs at last
LCDs at last
There they are — two TFT LCD panels.
Taking a closer look
Taking a closer look
I asked Bill Detwiler to help me show off one of the LCD panels.
I can see myself
I can see myself
You can see the reflective surface of the LCD panel.
Wafer thin
Wafer thin
Well, I guess you can say it is a flat panel after all.
