MSI Wind Desktop Motherboard Teardown

Form: micro-ATX

ODM: MSI

Mobo Model: MS-7418

CPU/Chipset: Intel Atom Processor N230, 1.6GHz, 512KB L2 Cache, 533MHz,

45nm Process

Intel 945GC Northbridge - Graphics and Memory Controller Hub

Intel ICH7 Southbridge - I/O Controller Hub 7

Overview / Main Features

This does not represent a teardown of an entire finished product (desktop PC system in this case), but rather a 'motherboard-only' analysis of the MSI Wind Desktop PC motherboard. The micro-ATX MSI motherboard features an Intel 945GC Northbridge/Southbridge solution with an Intel Atom N230 processor.

This is a custom analysis which also applies custom functional areas for a very detailed technical slice of the data. These functional areas are exceptional in their detail and do not represent standard iSuppli functional areas, but are much more detailed and offer much greater resolution in cost analysis.

MSI Wind Desktop Motherboard Main Image

Net-Top/low cost Media-centric PC, mainstream consumers

Released

May 2008 (assumed)

MSI Wind Desktop Motherboard - Motherboard Top

Pricing - price for the entire MSI Wind barebones system is around $140 to $150.

Availability - globally (assumed)

Volume Estimations

For the purposes of this teardown analysis, we have assumed a lifetime production volume of 2M units over 2 years.

As a reminder, teardown volume production assumptions are primarily used for our cost analysis in terms of amortized NRE and tooling costs, especially for custom components specific to the model being analyzed (mechanical components especially). Unless assumed, volumes increment by an order of magnitude. Minor changes in volume (say 1 million vs. 2) rarely have a large net effect on our final analysis.

MSI Wind Desktop Motherboard Cost Analysis

Main Cost Drivers Representing 87% of Total Direct materials Costs

AU80586RE025D - Intel - CPU - Intel Atom Processor 230, 1.6GHz, 512KB L2 Cache, 533MHz, 45nm Process

QG82945GCSLB86 - Intel - Northbridge - Graphics and Memory Controller Hub

NH82801GBSL8FX - Intel - Southbridge - I/O Controller Hub 7 (ICH7)

Global Brands Manufacture Ltd - 4-Layer - FR4, Lead-Free

Ceramic Multilayer - X5R/X7R (Qty:363)

RTL8111C-GR - Realtek - Ethernet Controller - Gigabit LAN, PCI Express

ALC888-GR - Realtek - Codec - HD Audio, 7.1+2 Channel

ADT7467ARQZ - Analog Devices - Thermal Monitor & Multiple PWM Fan Controller - 2 Temerature Sensors, Up To 4 Fans

TPS51125RGE - Texas Instruments - Regulator - DC-DC Controller, Dual, Step-Down, Synchrounous Buck, LDO, for Notebook System Power

RTS5158E - Realtek - Card Reader Controller

Materials and Manufacturing $88.82

What Is Not Included in our Cost Analysis

The total materials and manufacturing costs reported in this analysis reflect ONLY the direct materials cost (from component vendors and assorted EMS providers), AND manufacturing with basic test. Not included in this analysis are costs above and beyond the material manufacture of the core device itself - cost of intellectual property, royalties and licensing fees (those not already included into the per component price), software, software loading and test, shipping, logistics marketing and other channel costs including not only EMS provider and the OEM's margin, but that of other resellers. Our cost analysis is meant to focus on those costs incurred in the manufacture of the core device and exceptionally in some circumstances the packaging and literature as well.

Manufacturing Notes

Country of Origin / Volume Assumptions

Based on markings, the unit was assembled in China. Furthermore, we have assumed that custom mechanicals (plastics, metals, etc.) were also sourced in China.

Country of origin assumptions relate directly to the associated cost of manufacturing, where calculated by iSuppli. In the cases of 'finished' sub-assemblies (such as heat sink), we do not calculate internal manufacturing costs, but rather assess the market price of the finished product in which case country of origin assumptions may or may not have a direct effect on pricing.

Remember also that labor rates are applied directly only to hand inserted components and systems in our bill of materials, and although regional assumptions do, these new rates do not have a direct effect on our modeled calculations of placement costs for automated SMD assembly lines. "Auto inserted components (such as SMT components) placement costs are calculated by an iSuppli algorithm which allocates a cost per component based on the size and pincount of the device. This calculation is affected by country or region of origin as well.

Design for Manufacturing / Device Complexity

The MSI Wind motherboard features a total of 981 components (7 of which are mechanical in nature). This component count is on par with the other 'nettop' motherboards analyzed as part of this analysis.

Component counts have a direct bearing on the overall manufacturing cycle times and costs, and also can increase or decrease overall yields and re-work. Our calculations of manufacturing costs factor counts and more qualitative complexities in the design. The cost of manufacturing is also, to some extent, decreased in this case because of assumed labor rate applied for China.

Note that manual labor has a much smaller effect on auto-insertion assembly lines (for the Main PCB, for example), where manufacturing costs are much more capital equipment intensive and driven by these investment costs.

MSI Wind Desktop Motherboard - Motherboard Bottom

Design Notes

Here is a summary of the major components used in the MSI Wind desktop Motherboard design:

Chipset

• Intel - QG82945GCSLB86 Northbridge - Graphics and Memory Controller Hub
• Intel - NH82801GBSL8FX Southbridge - I/O Controller Hub 7 (ICH7)

CPU

• Intel - AU80586RE025D - CPU - Intel Atom Processor 230, 1.6GHz, 512KB L2 Cache, 533MHz, 45nm Process

I/O Interface

• Realtek - RTL8111C-GR - Ethernet Controller - Gigabit LAN, PCI Express
• Realtek - ALC888-GR - Codec - HD Audio, 7.1+2 Channel
• Realtek - RTS5158E - Card Reader Controller

Clock

• IDT - ICS954119DFLF - Clock Generator