Dell Optiplex 755 Desktop Motherboard Teardown

Form: Custom Form Factor (USFF) (10.4 x 8.9" - 265 x 225mm)

ODM: Mitac (Assumed)

Mobo Name: Unknown

Chipset: Intel - LE82Q35SLAEX - Northbridge/Graphics - Intel 3 Series

Intel - NH82801IOSLAFD - Southbridge - I/O Controller Hub

Overview / Scope

This does not represent a teardown of an entire finished product (desktop system in this case), but rather a 'motherboard-only' analysis of the USFF (ultra-small form-factor) motherboard from a Dell OptiPlex 755 system. The board itself appears to be a custom form-factor features an Intel chipset in support of an Intel CPU solution. As part of our extended analysis, this unit is compared side-by-side with an ostensibly similar USFF motherboard from a Dell Optiplex 740 with competing AMD solution.

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.

Dell Optiplex 755 Desktop Motherboard Main Image

For the purposes of this analysis, we have made a volume assumption of 5 million units over the course of the product lifetime.

As a reminder, volume production assumptions are meant primarily to be 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), and not necessarily as a market accurate estimate for a specific model. Our estimations are based on iSuppli market research and we derive rational estimates based on overall market shares of the manufacturer in question, as well as the number of products in a given portfolio and the relative popularity of certain lines of products.

Dell Optiplex 755 Desktop Motherboard Cost Analysis

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.

Dell Optiplex 755 Desktop Motherboard - Motherboard Top

Country of Origin

This motherboard is assumed to be produced 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 power supplies, or Bluetooth modules), 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.

Design for Manufacturing / Device Complexity

A comparative analysis of both motherboards will be found in the spreadsheet analysis allowing for quick and easy side-by-side comparisons of the two motherboards, and can be examined based on several alternative breakdowns (by functional areas, component family, etc.).

This motherboard from the Dell OptiPlex 755 - features a total of 1320 components.

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.

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.

Design Notes

Major component summaries:

Southbridge / Northbridge

Northbridge - Nvidia - NF-6150LE-N-A2 - Memory Controller and Graphics Hub (GeForce 6150LE)

Southbridge - Nvidia - NF-430-N-A3 - I/O Controller Hub (nForce 430)

I/O & Interface

I/O Controller - SMSC - SCH5514E-NS - Super I/O Device

Ethernet Transceiver - Intel - RU82566DM - Gigabit LAN Connect

Codec - Analog Devices - AD1984JCPZ - HD Audio SoundMAX, 2 Stereo DAC Pairs & 3 Stereo ADC Pairs, 4-Channel Digital Microphone Interface, w/ S/PDIF Output

Power Supply

Regulator - Fairchild Semiconductor - FAN5033MPX - Switching, 8-Bit Programmable, Multi-Phase, Synchronous Buck