Acer TravelMate 8472-6012 Notebook Computer Teardown

Overview / Main Features

The Acer TravelMate 8472-6012 is a business oriented, 14-inch display notebook computer powered by an Intel Core i5 520M processor and HM55 Express Chipset. This Acer laptop under analysis is configured with 4GB of DDR3-1333 of memory [on two SO-DIMM modules], a 320GB hard-disk drive [running at 7200rpm], Broadcom 802.11n-capable WLAN module, as well as a lithium ion 6-cell battery. Also, the TravelMate 5740-5896 comes with a CD/DVD RW optical drive, a Bluetooth module and an integrated 1MP webcam.

Acer TravelMate 8472-6012 Notebook Computer Main Image

Medium to Small Business Mobile Computing

Released

Per press releases, first release in early 2010.

Acer TravelMate 8472-6012 Notebook Computer - Motherboard Top

Pricing - The Acer TravelMate 8472-6012 is listed for as low as $899 USD on various online outlets (as of Sept. 2010).

Availability - Assumed global

Volume Estimations

For the purposes of this teardown analysis, we have assumed a lifetime production volume of 1.5M 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 are different by an order of magnitude, minor changes in volume (say 1 million vs. 2) rarely have a large net effect on our final analysis because of this.

Acer TravelMate 8472-6012 Notebook Computer - Motherboard Bottom

Acer, according to iSuppli's PC Market Share Q1 2010 database, is ranked as the number 3 notebook PC maker with approximately 10.2 million units shipped worldwide. This gives the Asian PC maker a 13.3 percent market share and a quarter to quarter decline in volume of 6.2%.

Acer TravelMate 8472-6012 Notebook Computer Cost Analysis

Acer TravelMate 8472-6012 Notebook Computer Cost Analysis

Main Cost Drivers Representing ~80% of total materials cost

Intel - CP80617004119AE - CPU - Intel Core i5-520M, Dual Core, 2.4GHz, 3MB L3 Cache, 32nm Process

Nanya - NT2GC64B8HC0NS-CG - SO-DIMM DDR3-1333 - 2GB, 256Mx64, 1.5V (Qty:2)

AU Optronics - B140XW03 V.1 - Display Module Value Line Item - 14.0' TFT LCD, 1366 x 768 Pixels, 16.7 Million Colors, LED Backlight

Hitachi Global Storage - HTS723232L9A360 - Hard Drive - 320GB, 2.5', SATA 3.0Gb/s, 7200RPM, 16MB Buffer

Panasonic Energy Taiwan Co.ltd - AS10D5E - Battery Pack - Li-Ion, 6-Cell, 11.1V, 6000mAh, 66Wh

Hitachi-LG Data Storage - GT31N - CD/DVD RW Drive - Slim Internal Type, Tray Load, SATA

Intel - BD82HM55SLGZS - Platform Controller Hub - HM55 Express Chipset, 65nm

Kunshan Yuanmao Electronics Technology - 8-Layer - FR4, Lead-Free

Delta Electronics - ADP-65VH B - AC Adapter - 19V, 3.42A, 65W, w/ 6ft Cord & Velcro Strap

Broadcom - BCM943225HM - WLAN Half Mini PCIe Module Value Line Item - IEEE802.11b/g/n, 2x2 MIMO, Contains Broadcom BCM43225 Single Chip Solution

Materials and Manufacturing $531.69

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

Acer's Mobile PC manufacturing profile, , according to iSuppli's Global OEM Manufacturing and Design Analysis - GOMDA), is a completed outsourced model with Wistron, Quanta, Compal making up 35%, 26% and 25% respectively of their total output capacity.

Country of Origin / Volume Assumptions

Based on markings, the unit was likely 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 display module), 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 Acer TravelMate 8472-6012 has an overall component count of 1831 (excluding box contents), of which 1194 resides on the motherboard. This level of complexity is typical of notebook computer at this specification.

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.

Design Notes

Here is a summary of the major components used in the Acer TravelMate 8472-6012 design:

Display

• Display Module - AU Optronics - B140XW03 V.1, 14.0' TFT LCD, 1366 x 768 Pixels, 16.7 Million Colors, LED Backlight

Motherboard

Chipset

• Platform Controller Hub - Intel - BD82HM55SLGZS, HM55 Express Chipset

CPU

• CPU - Intel - CP80617004119AE - Intel Core i5-520M, Dual Core, 2.4GHz, 3MB L3 Cache, 32nm Process

I/O & Interface

• Embedded Controller - Nuvoton - NPCE781LA0DX, LPC Interface
• Ethernet Controller - Broadcom - BCM57760A1KMLG, 10/100/1000 Mbps, PCI Express Interface
• Multiplexer / Demultiplexer - Texas Instruments - TS3L500AERHUR, Gigabit LAN Switch, 16-Bit To 8-Bit SPDT, w/ LED Switch & Enhanced ESD Protection
• Memory Card Reader Controller - Alcor Micro, Corp. - AU6437, SD/MMC/xD/MS/MS Pro
• DisplayPort to TMDS Translator - Texas Instruments - SN75DP139RGZ
• Audio Codec - Conexant - CX20672-11Z

Memory Module

• SO-DIMM - Nanya - NT2GC64B8HC0NS-CG, DDR3-1333 - 2GB, 256Mx64, 1.5V, Qty. 2

Communication Modules

• WLAN Half Mini PCIe Module - Broadcom - BCM943225HM, IEEE802.11b/g/n, 2x2 MIMO, Contains Broadcom BCM43225 Single Chip Solution
• Bluetooth Module - V2.1+EDR
• Modem Module - Conexant - RD02-D330

Storage Devices

• Hard Drive - Hitachi Global Storage - HTS723232L9A360, 320GB, 2.5', SATA 3.0Gb/s, 7200RPM, 16MB Buffer
• CD/DVD RW Drive - Hitachi-LG Data Storage - GT31N, Slim Internal Type, Tray Load, SATA

Battery

• Battery Pack - Panasonic Energy Taiwan Co.ltd - AS10D5E, Li-Ion, 6-Cell, 11.1V, 6000mAh, 66Wh

Acer TravelMate 8472-6012 Notebook Computer - Box Contents