Dell Inspiron Duo teardown
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Cracking open the Dell Inspiron Duo
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
AC adapter and cable
AC adapter and cable
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Top - Screen in standard position
Top - Screen in standard position
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Lid open
Lid open
With the lid open and the screen in the standard position, the Inspiron Duo looks like any other small notebook or netbook.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Flipping the screen
Flipping the screen
Gently pushing on the top of the screen you can flip it into tablet mode.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Top - Screen in tablet position
Top - Screen in tablet position
In the tablet position the screen is flipped to face outward and the lid is closed.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Audio-out/headphone connector and USB ports
Audio-out/headphone connector and USB ports
The audio-out/headphone jack and USB ports are hidden behind plastic covers.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Remove the label panel
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.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Removing the keyboard
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.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Keyboard ribbon cable
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.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Keyboard removed
Keyboard removed
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
keyboard - Back
keyboard - Back
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Top cover ribbon cables
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.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Removing the last case screws
Removing the last case screws
The last four case screws are located under the keyboard.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Popping loose the top half of the case
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.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Lifting the upper case panel off
Lifting the upper case panel off
As we lift up the upper case panel, we get our first look inside the Dell Inspiron Duo.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Upper case panel - Internal
Upper case panel - Internal
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Unknown PCBs
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.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Touch pad - Internal
Touch pad - Internal
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Internal hardware
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.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Removing the batter
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.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Removing the RAM
Removing the RAM
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Hynix 2GB DDR3 SDRAM
Hynix 2GB DDR3 SDRAM
Hynix 2GB DDR3 SDRAM
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Removing the hard drive bracket
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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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Hard drive and bracket
Hard drive and bracket
Four Phillips screws hold the drive to the bracket.
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Hitachi 320GB 7200RPM SATA hard drive
Hitachi 320GB 7200RPM SATA hard drive
Hitachi 320GB 7200RPM SATA hard drive
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Removing the wireless card
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.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
AzureWare AW-NB048H 802.11 b/g/n + BlueTooth card
AzureWare AW-NB048H 802.11 b/g/n + BlueTooth card
AzureWare AW-NB048H 802.11 b/g/n + BlueTooth card
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Disconnecting the display cables and lid hinges
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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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Lid and display removed
Lid and display removed
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
With lid removed
With lid removed
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Disconnecting the speaker, cooling fan, and AC power jack cables
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.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Removing the motherboard screws
Removing the motherboard screws
Next, remove the remaining Phillips screws the hold the motherboard to the case.
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Motherboard removed
Motherboard removed
With all the screws removed and cables disconnected, you can lift the motherboard away from the case.
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Near empty case
Near empty case
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Speakers and AC power connector
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
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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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Motherboard and cooling assembly - Bottom
Motherboard and cooling assembly - Bottom
More black stickers cover chips on the underside of the motherboard.
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Removing the heatsink and cooling fan assembly
Removing the heatsink and cooling fan assembly
Three screws hold the heatsink and cooling fan assembly to the motherboard.
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Heatsink and cooling fan assembly removed
Heatsink and cooling fan assembly removed
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Heatsink and cooling fan assembly
Heatsink and cooling fan assembly
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Motherboard - Top
Motherboard - Top
With the heatsink/cooling fan assembly removed and stickers removed we get a better look at the Inspiron duo’s chips.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Samsung K4W1G1646E-HC12 graphics DRAM
Samsung K4W1G1646E-HC12 graphics DRAM
Samsung K4W1G1646E-HC12 graphics DRAM (1Gb 64Mx16)
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Braodcom BCM70015 - HD advanced media processor
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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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
On Semiconductor ADP3211A
On Semiconductor ADP3211A
On Semiconductor ADP3211: IMVP6.5, 7-Bit, Programmable, Single-Phase, Synchronous Buck Controller
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
4XGK HM55 043 MLT
4XGK HM55 043 MLT
Chip with markings 4XGK HM55 043 MLT
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Intel Atom N550 CPU
Intel Atom N550 CPU
Intel Atom Dual Core Processor N550 (1.5GHz, 512K L2 Cache)
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Motherboard - Bottom
Motherboard - Bottom
Now let’s look at the main chips on the underside of the motherboard.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Intel CG82NM10 southbridge chip
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.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
ENE Technology KB926QF E0 keyboard controller IC
ENE Technology KB926QF E0 keyboard controller IC
ENE Technology KB926QF E0 keyboard controller IC
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Realtek RTM890N-397 Clock Generator
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
Macronix MX25L160 8E 16MB Serial Flash
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Intersil ISL6251 battery charger controller
Intersil ISL6251 battery charger controller
ISL6251 Low Cost Multi-Chemistry Battery Charger Controller
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Removing the display panel screws
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
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
Display panel removed
With the panel removed, you can see the back of the display.
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Caption by: Bill Detwiler
EETI EXC7200 capacitive touch controller
EETI EXC7200 capacitive touch controller
EETI EXC7200 capacitive touch controller for the touchscreen
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
EETI EX5404
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
LG Display SW0633A LCD controller
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
