HP M2N68-LA Desktop Motherboard Teardown

HP M2N68-LA Motherboard

Form: mircoATX

ODM: Pegatron (Asus)

Mobo Model: M2N68-LA

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e Processor

Chipset: Northbridge / Southbridge (Single Chip)

Nvidia GeForce6100 & nForce430

HP M2N68-LA Desktop Motherboard Main Image

The HP M2N68-LA is a Micro-ATX form factor motherboard which is, in essence, a re-branded Asustek model motherboard. This particular motherboard is populated with an AMD Athlon CPU, two 1GB Micron SO-DIMM memory modules, and a Nvidia integrated GPU/Northbridge/Southbridge.

As a reminder, this analysis does not represent a teardown of an entire finished product (desktop system in this case), but rather a 'motherboard-only' analysis of a desktop motherboard.

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.

Target Market

Mid-market PC consumer

HP M2N68-LA Desktop Motherboard - Motherboard Top

Exact release unknown - but given AMD CPU release in early H1 2008, one can conclude that this is a H1 2008 release.

Pricing and Availability

Pricing - Selling for prices as low as ~$79 USD at the time of writing (August 2009) for the motherboard alone which excludes CPU or Memory Modules.

Availability - As with most motherboards, this one does not appear to be a 'regional' offering and should be broadly available worldwide.

Volume Estimations

For the purposes of this teardown analysis, we have assumed a lifetime production volume of 1 million units.

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.

HP M2N68-LA Desktop Motherboard Cost Analysis

Major Cost Drivers (Representing ~87% of total materials costs)

AMD - ADH4850IAA5DO - CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e Processor, Dual Core, 2.5GHz, 256KB L1 Cache, 1MB L2 Cache, 65nm, 45W

Micron Technology - MT8HTF12864AY-800G1 - DIMM DDR2 - 1GB, 128M x 64, PC2-6400, 800MHz, 1.8V (Qty:2)

Nvidia - NF-6100-430-N-A3 - Northbridge / Southbridge - Single Chip, GeForce6100 & nForce430

BoardTek Electronics Corp. - 4-Layer - FR4, Lead-Free

Asia Vital Components - DS08025R12U-011 - Fan - 12VDC, 0.7A, w/ Integral 3 Discrete Wires & 3-Position Pin Socket Connector

LSI Logic - L-FW32207T100-DB - IEEE1394 Host Controller - Integrated 1394a-2000 OHCI PHY/Link-Layer

Foxconn - CPU Socket - PGA940, Thermo Plastic Housing, w/ Lever & Lock

Heatsink - Extruded / Machined Aluminum, Anodized, w/ Thermal Transfer Paste

Total BOM Cost $123.89

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

OEM/ODM/EMS Relationships / Manufacturing

ASUS or Asustek is the board manufacturer for this particular HP motherboard.

Country of Origin / Volume Assumptions

We have assumed that for this device, that not only final assembly, but also any custom mechanicals (PCBs, plastics, and metals, etc.) were all sourced or manufactured domestically in China. Most motherboard manufacturers, while based in Taiwan, are assumed to be producing the bulk of their boards in mainland 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 chargers), 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.

The issue of labor rates was revisited in 2006 as we began to apply some research by one the major worldwide EMS suppliers and are now applying some of their research on total loaded costs by country and region to arrive at these new rates which are pronouncedly higher on the low end in China. Remember 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.

Design for Manufacturing / Device Complexity

Motherboards from different manufacturers, even when base on identical core chipsets, tend to take varying design approaches (and implementation of various features) and therefore will vary in terms of complexity, cost and component count.

Using component counts and I/O counts, relative comparisons can be made between similar motherboards and other devices.

The HP M2N68-LA Motherboard has a total component count of 1249.

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

Here is a summary of the major components used in the HP M2N68-LA Motherboard design:

Northbridge / Southbridge

• Nvidia - NF-6100-430-N-A3

CPU

• 
  AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e Processor

Memory Modules (Quanity 2):

• Micron Technology - MT8HTF12864AY-800G1 - DIMM DDR2 (1GB, 128M x 64, PC2-6400, 800MHz, 1.8V)