Apple Thunderbolt Display Teardown Reveals Plethora of Hardware Inside

MacRumors · 03:10 PM

iFixit has managed to get its hands on one of Apple's new Thunderbolt displays, subjecting it to one of the firm's usual thorough teardowns. iFixit was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to disassemble the new display, and upon opening found a considerable amount of hardware inside to support the display and the docking station functions included in the package.

Quote:

Both sides of the logic board are packed with enough chips that it's hard to believe there's no computer inside this display. Standouts include:

- Pericom PI7C9X440SL PCIe-to-USB 2.0 host controller
- L129NB11 EFL, which looks to be the Thunderbolt port controller
- Analog Devices ADAV4601 audio processor
- NXP LPC2144 USB 2.0 microcontroller
- Delta LFE9249 10/100/1000 Base-T LAN filter
- SMSC USB2517-JZX USB 2.0 hub controller
- Maxim MAX9736B Mono/Stereo high-power Class D amplifier
- LSI L-FW643E-2 open host controller interface
- Broadcom BCM57761 Gigabit ethernet controller
- Supertex HV9982 3-channel switch-mode LED driver IC

The display also includes an integrated 49-watt, 2.1-speaker sound system with a small 1-inch subwoofer, as well as a 720p FaceTime camera and integrated microphone.

Thunderbolt port on logic board for accepting incoming connection

As for the display itself, iFixit discovered an LG LM270WQ1 panel inside, the same as that used in Apple's Late 2009 27-inch iMac. Interestingly, the Thunderbolt cable carrying signal to the display is connected to an actual Thunderbolt port mounted on the logic board rather than hardwiring the cable directly to the logic board. The Thunderbolt cable is secured to the logic board port with a cover screwed down on top of the connector.

We chatted with iFixit's Miro Djuric about the curious observation that Mini DisplayPort displays can not be daisy chained off of an Apple Thunderbolt Display unless another Thunderbolt device is placed between the two displays in the chain, but the teardown unfortunately does not reveal the source of this limitation.

Some speculation has centered around the possibility that a single Thunderbolt controller chip may not have the ability to output the display signal required for both the included display panel and a connected Mini DisplayPort display panel. A separate Thunderbolt chip, such as one found in an intermediary peripheral device, may be required to generate the signal for the Mini DisplayPort panel at the end of the chain.

Article Link: Apple Thunderbolt Display Teardown Reveals Plethora of Hardware Inside

DeaconGTG · Sep 28, 2011, 03:02 PM

What is a plethora?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mTUmczVdik

BillyBobBongo · Sep 28, 2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeaconGTG

What is a plethora?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mTUmczVdik

Man, I love that bit!

koruki · Sep 28, 2011, 03:06 PM

People still calling it overpriced compared to the dell should think again.

BTW I have the dell 27"

Metal Dice · Sep 28, 2011, 03:06 PM

Well, you get what you pay for.

Torrijos · Sep 28, 2011, 03:07 PM

Really a bummer that Apple wouldn't put a third party USB 3 controller in this, it would have been just perfect.

applefan289 · Sep 28, 2011, 03:09 PM

They say that this display is the same display used in the 27" '09 iMac. Does that mean the 2010 and 2011 27" iMacs use a different display?

adcx64 · Sep 28, 2011, 03:09 PM

I love these tear downs

Kilamite · Sep 28, 2011, 03:16 PM

A lot of electronics but I still can't justify the price!

I wish Apple would offer a lower-end display, 23" something that has Thunderbolt but no USB/Firewire hub.

Impressive construction though.

Deflorator · Sep 28, 2011, 03:20 PM

Sometimes iWhatever inside looks better than the ,,competitors',, outside and I think this is the case.

LimeiBook86 · Sep 28, 2011, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by applefan289

They say that this display is the same display used in the 27" '09 iMac. Does that mean the 2010 and 2011 27" iMacs use a different display?

I'm wondering the same thing. *looks at his 27" 2011 iMac*

Shivetya · Sep 28, 2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koruki

People still calling it overpriced compared to the dell should think again.

BTW I have the dell 27"

Well if your just wanting to compare a monitor to a monitor I would agree with those other people, but that is not just a monitor.

rosujin · Sep 28, 2011, 03:27 PM

That's the sexiest thing I've seen all day.

Shrink · Sep 28, 2011, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosujin

That's the sexiest thing I've seen all day.

Bad day!!!

applefan289 · Sep 28, 2011, 03:40 PM

I think we're all just waiting anxiously for the new iPhone.

ThisIsNotMe · Sep 28, 2011, 03:52 PM

Apple should really add MagSafe power connection to the Mini.

BornAgainMac · Sep 28, 2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptysell

Apple should really add MagSafe power connection to the Mini.

That is a good idea. At least as an option. Maybe the next revision with USB 3 and other goodies.

toolongdays · Sep 28, 2011, 04:11 PM

I'm curious as to the feasibility of having this display being sort of a chassis for future Apple products. If it were me I would use that internal display port as a link between the external I/O and whatever computing hardware you might use. Basically meaning that Apple could build a standardized set of motherboards for various products that they could reuse. I'm sure it wouldn't take too much work to find space for some MacBook Air or Mac Mini guts in there. Just an idea obviously.

jlluna · Sep 28, 2011, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeaconGTG

What is a plethora?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mTUmczVdik

I love the three amigos!

djrod · Sep 28, 2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toolongdays

I'm curious as to the feasibility of having this display being sort of a chassis for future Apple products. If it were me I would use that internal display port as a link between the external I/O and whatever computing hardware you might use. Basically meaning that Apple could build a standardized set of motherboards for various products that they could reuse. I'm sure it wouldn't take too much work to find space for some MacBook Air or Mac Mini guts in there. Just an idea obviously.

hfg · Sep 28, 2011, 04:21 PM

I'm waiting for the day when the display has a big slot on the side and you just slide in your Macbook Air computer when you are at home ... no cables at all!

toolongdays · Sep 28, 2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djrod

Sorry if I have a more expansive imagination than what Apple currently provides.

Marx55 · Sep 28, 2011, 04:21 PM

No matte display is a deal breaker. It is a health and productivity issue. No matte, no purchase. Full stop.

Sign the matte display petition at MacMatte as thousands have already done:
http://macmatte.wordpress.com

RobQuads · Sep 28, 2011, 04:24 PM

lol @ 1 inch subwoofer

Russell L · Sep 28, 2011, 04:26 PM

"...a small 1-inch subwoofer..."

Sep 28, 2011, 03:06 PM	#4
koruki macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Zealand	People still calling it overpriced compared to the dell should think again. BTW I have the dell 27" __________________ RIP Mr. Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011. I found out via my iPhone. Thanks for everything. Black 64gb 4S Nutty Bugs HD.
	0

Sep 28, 2011, 03:06 PM	#5
Metal Dice macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Denmark	Well, you get what you pay for. __________________ "There's that word again, heavy. Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the earth's gravitational pull?"
	1

Sep 28, 2011, 03:09 PM	#7
applefan289 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA	They say that this display is the same display used in the 27" '09 iMac. Does that mean the 2010 and 2011 27" iMacs use a different display? __________________ http://www.email-standards.org/
	3

Sep 28, 2011, 03:09 PM	#8
adcx64 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Moon	I love these tear downs __________________ Jailbroken iPhone 5 Black/Slate Verizon LTE PlayStation 3 320GB PowerMac G4 MDD Dual 1.25GHz 7455B-2GB RAM-1TB Storage-Radeon 9800 Pro-10.5.8
	4

Sep 28, 2011, 03:16 PM	#9
Kilamite macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland	A lot of electronics but I still can't justify the price! I wish Apple would offer a lower-end display, 23" something that has Thunderbolt but no USB/Firewire hub. Impressive construction though. __________________ 15" MacBook Pro 2GHz i7 4GB 750GB \| Mac mini 2.3GHz i7 16GB 1TB Fusion \| OS X 10.8.3 iPhone 5 64GB \| Apple TV 3 1080p \| iOS 6.1.4
	3

Sep 28, 2011, 03:02 PM	#2
DeaconGTG macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2011	What is a plethora? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mTUmczVdik
	7

Sep 28, 2011, 03:07 PM	#6
Torrijos macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2006	Really a bummer that Apple wouldn't put a third party USB 3 controller in this, it would have been just perfect.
	7

Sep 28, 2011, 03:20 PM	#10
Deflorator macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Prague, Czech Republic (Yes, its in the European Union)	inside x outside Sometimes iWhatever inside looks better than the ,,competitors',, outside and I think this is the case. __________________ I have 6 Apple-stickers...
	1

Sep 28, 2011, 03:27 PM	#13
rosujin macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2010	That's the sexiest thing I've seen all day.
	-3

Sep 28, 2011, 03:40 PM	#15
applefan289 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA	I think we're all just waiting anxiously for the new iPhone. __________________ http://www.email-standards.org/
	-4

Sep 28, 2011, 03:52 PM	#16
ThisIsNotMe macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2008	Apple should really add MagSafe power connection to the Mini.
	1

Sep 28, 2011, 04:11 PM	#18
toolongdays macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2008	I'm curious as to the feasibility of having this display being sort of a chassis for future Apple products. If it were me I would use that internal display port as a link between the external I/O and whatever computing hardware you might use. Basically meaning that Apple could build a standardized set of motherboards for various products that they could reuse. I'm sure it wouldn't take too much work to find space for some MacBook Air or Mac Mini guts in there. Just an idea obviously. __________________ Dual Core 3Ghz Intel e8400 Hackintosh in PowerMac G5 case Early 2009 Mac mini with Plex for HTPC 2.0GHz Core Duo 2006 MacBook 8gb 3G iPhone on T-Mobile.
	0

Sep 28, 2011, 04:21 PM	#21
hfg macrumors 68000 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA.	I'm waiting for the day when the display has a big slot on the side and you just slide in your Macbook Air computer when you are at home ... no cables at all!
	-1

Sep 28, 2011, 04:21 PM	#23
Marx55 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2005	No matte display is a deal breaker. It is a health and productivity issue. No matte, no purchase. Full stop. Sign the matte display petition at MacMatte as thousands have already done: http://macmatte.wordpress.com
	1

Sep 28, 2011, 04:24 PM	#24
RobQuads macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2010	lol @ 1 inch subwoofer
	3

Sep 28, 2011, 04:26 PM	#25
Russell L macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Francisco	"...a small 1-inch subwoofer..."
	1

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