Hardware

Dell Inspiron Duo teardown

By // January 10, 2011, 11:47 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • Cracking open the Dell Inspiron Duo

    In December 2010, Dell upped the ante in the tablet game with the Inspiron Duo. Unlike other convertible tablets, which have rotating screens, the Duo's screen flips 180 degrees. It also has a touch-sensitive display which eliminates the need for a stylus. Follow along as we crack open the Duo and see the hardware hidden inside.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Opening the box

    As of this writing, the Inspiron Duo is available from Dell for $549.99 (US). Unlike most Dell machines, the Duo is available in only one hardware configuration. Your only choice is between a case that's either "Foggy Night Black" or "Marlin Blue".

    Our cracking open unit, which was purchased directly from Dell, was came in a plain cardboard box. This is definitely no-frills packaging.

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Box contents

    Inside the box are the Inspiron Duo, power adapter and cable, and product documentation.

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  • AC adapter and cable

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  • Top - Screen in standard position

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  • Lid open

    With the lid open and the screen in the standard position, the Inspiron Duo looks like any other small notebook or netbook.

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  • Flipping the screen

    Gently pushing on the top of the screen you can flip it into tablet mode.

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  • Top - Screen in tablet position

    In the tablet position the screen is flipped to face outward and the lid is closed.

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  • Bottom

    On the underside of the Inspiron Duo are two speaker grills (bottom right and left corners), several cooling vents, removable label door (top center), and the docking connector for the Inspiron Duo Audio Station.

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  • Left side

    Along the left side are the AC adapter connector, audio-out/headphone connector, and USB ports.

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  • Right side

    Along the right side are the power/battery status light, hard drive activity light, and power button.

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  • Front

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  • Audio-out/headphone connector and USB ports

    The audio-out/headphone jack and USB ports are hidden behind plastic covers.

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  • Removing the external case screws

    Six regular Phillips screws are located on the bottom of the Inspiron Duo's case. I'll start our teardown by removing these screws.

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  • Remove the label panel

    The removable "label panel" hides the Windows product key sticker, SIM card slot, and three more case screws. You'll need to remove these screws next.

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  • Removing the keyboard

    After removing the six exposed case screws and those hidden under the label panel, you'll need to remove the keyboard. Underneath it are the last for case screws and several ribbon cables that must also be disconnected before opening the case.

    To remove the keyboard, gently pry up from the top using a thin metal blade or plastic spudger.

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  • Keyboard ribbon cable

    Take care when removing the keyboard. You'll need to disconnect the keyboard's ribbon cable before lifting it away from the Inspiron Duo.

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  • Keyboard removed

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  • keyboard - Back

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  • Top cover ribbon cables

    Three ribbon cables connect components mounted on the upper case panel to the mother board. You'll need to disconnect these ribbon cables before continuing.

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  • Removing the last case screws

    The last four case screws are located under the keyboard.

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  • Popping loose the top half of the case

    With all the case screws removed, you can pop loose the upper case panel with a thin plastic spudger. Start at one corner and work your way around the entire case.

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  • Lifting the upper case panel off

    As we lift up the upper case panel, we get our first look inside the Dell Inspiron Duo.

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  • Internal hardware

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  • Upper case panel - Internal

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  • Unknown PCBs

    I'm not sure what the two small PCBs on the underside of the upper case panel are. They are connected to the metal frame under the keyboard, so they could be sensors to determine when the keyboard is in place.

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  • Touch pad - Internal

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  • Internal hardware

    With the upper case panel removed, we can see the key hardware inside the Inspiron Duo (battery, mothetboard, HDD, cooling fan, RAM, wireless card, and speakers.

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Removing the batter

    Next we'll remove the battery. First, we'll disconnect the battery cable and then remove the three Phillips screws that hold the battery assembly to the case.

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  • Battery

    The Inspiron Duo has a 14.8V 29Wh Li-ion battery.

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  • Removing the RAM

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  • Hynix 2GB DDR3 SDRAM

    Hynix 2GB DDR3 SDRAM

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  • Removing the hard drive bracket

    The hard drive is held within a metal bracket, which is attached to the plastic case with Phillips screws.

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  • Hard drive and bracket

    Four Phillips screws hold the drive to the bracket.

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  • Hitachi 320GB 7200RPM SATA hard drive

    Hitachi 320GB 7200RPM SATA hard drive

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  • Removing the wireless card

    The Inspiron Duo's wireless card is held in place with a single Phillips screw. We'll need to remove it and the two antenna wire connectors before lighting the card away from the motherboard.

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  • AzureWare AW-NB048H 802.11 b/g/n + BlueTooth card

    AzureWare AW-NB048H 802.11 b/g/n + BlueTooth card

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  • Disconnecting the display cables and lid hinges

    Next, we'll remove the Inspiron Duo's lid. Disconnect all the cables that connect the lid components to the motherboard. Then remove the Phillips screw holding each lid hinge to the case.

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  • Lid and display removed

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  • With lid removed

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  • Disconnecting the speaker, cooling fan, and AC power jack cables

    Before removing the motherboard, you'll need to disconnect the cables for the speakers and AC power connector. You might as well disconnect the cooling fan's cable as well. We'll remove the cooling fan and heatsink assembly in a few minutes.

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  • Removing the motherboard screws

    Next, remove the remaining Phillips screws the hold the motherboard to the case.

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  • Motherboard removed

    With all the screws removed and cables disconnected, you can lift the motherboard away from the case.

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  • Near empty case

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  • Speakers and AC power connector

    Only the speakers (bottom right) and AC power connector (top right) remain attached to the case.

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motherboard and cooling assembly - Top

    We'll need to remove the heatsink/cooling fan assembly and black stickers before we get a good look at the chips on the motherboard.

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  • Motherboard and cooling assembly - Bottom

    More black stickers cover chips on the underside of the motherboard.

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  • Removing the heatsink and cooling fan assembly

    Three screws hold the heatsink and cooling fan assembly to the motherboard.

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  • Heatsink and cooling fan assembly removed

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  • Heatsink and cooling fan assembly

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  • Motherboard - Top

    With the heatsink/cooling fan assembly removed and stickers removed we get a better look at the Inspiron duo's chips.

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Samsung K4W1G1646E-HC12 graphics DRAM

    Samsung K4W1G1646E-HC12 graphics DRAM (1Gb 64Mx16)

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  • Braodcom BCM70015 - HD advanced media processor

    ?a href="http://www.broadcom.com/products/Consumer-Electronics/Netbook-and-Nettop-Solutions/BCM70015"Broadcom BCM70015 - Single-Chip High Definition Advanced Media Processor

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  • On Semiconductor ADP3211A

    On Semiconductor ADP3211: IMVP6.5, 7-Bit, Programmable, Single-Phase, Synchronous Buck Controller

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  • 4XGK HM55 043 MLT

    Chip with markings 4XGK HM55 043 MLT

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  • Intel Atom N550 CPU

    Intel Atom Dual Core Processor N550 (1.5GHz, 512K L2 Cache)

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  • Motherboard - Bottom

    Now let's look at the main chips on the underside of the motherboard.

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Intel CG82NM10 southbridge chip

    The Dell Inspiron Duo uses the Intel NM10 Express chipset, which consists of an Atom N550 CPU and a southbridge chip (shown here). The Intel CG82NM10 southbridge chip handles support for things like the HDD and external ports.

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • ENE Technology KB926QF E0 keyboard controller IC

    ENE Technology KB926QF E0 keyboard controller IC

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  • Realtek RTM890N-397 Clock Generator

    This chip is likely a Realtek RTM890N-397 Single-Chip Clock Generator for Intel Chipsets

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Macronix MX25L160 8E 16MB Serial Flash

    Macronix MX25L160 8E 16MB Serial Flash

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Intersil ISL6251 battery charger controller

    ISL6251 Low Cost Multi-Chemistry Battery Charger Controller

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  • Removing the display panel screws

    Eight screws hold the cover to the display assembly (four on each side). You can access the screws by flipping the display perpendicular to the display housing.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Popping off the display panel

    With all eight screws removed, you can use a plastic spudger or thin metal blade to pop loose the display panel.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Display panel removed

    With the panel removed, you can see the back of the display.

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Display

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • EETI EXC7200 capacitive touch controller

    EETI EXC7200 capacitive touch controller for the touchscreen

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • EETI EX5404

    The EETI EX5404 works with the EETI EXC7200 to provide the Inspiron Duo's touchscreen functionality.

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • LG Display SW0633A LCD controller

    LG Display SW0633A LCD controller

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    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Completely disassembled

    The Dell Inspiron Duo was extremely easy to disassemble. It has standard Phillips screws and a replaceable hard drive and RAM.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking open the Dell Inspiron Duo

In December 2010, Dell upped the ante in the tablet game with the Inspiron Duo. Unlike other convertible tablets, which have rotating screens, the Duo's screen flips 180 degrees. It also has a touch-sensitive display which eliminates the need for a stylus. Follow along as we crack open the Duo and see the hardware hidden inside.

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...