Updated: USB 3 on motherboard / Hack on No Go/ HP Stream 7 Teardown Photos  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Mikek400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2015, 05:25:15 am
content: Sorry if this is off-topic,I don't really know where to post this.I have a windows tablet pc (HP Stream 7) which only has a single micro-usb port (USB 2.0) on the outside.It shows in device manager as well as in USBview.exe (from SysInternals) that it has 7 ports on the xHCI USB 3.0 Root Hub. (See Attachment below) The only port connected to anything is port 2 (which I have an external USB hub attached to)The rest of the ports are not wired to anything. Assuming there are pins on the chip but no traces going anywhere.It uses a Intel Bay Trail processor / SOC. The datasheet from intel also says the chipset supports USB 3.0I was wondering if anyone had any advice on tracking down the USB 3.0 on the motherboard. If possible I would like to hack a USB 3.0 connector into the motherboard.Will post motherboard pictures / and chip numbers later.Thanks in Advance.Mike

author: technix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2015, 11:30:50 am
content: Difficult.The USB 3.0 pins are probably deep buried within the BGA, and if HP decided against exporting it you may not even find a solderable track.Best case scenario, swap out the USB 2.0 socket with a 3.0 one if they decided to export the pins but decided against populating it with a USB 3.0 socket.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2015, 12:57:21 pm
content: Not sure if this will give you full USB 3.0 but here is what someone did:http://targusblog.com/2014/11/25/how-to-turn-a-99-tablet-into-a-workstation/He used a bundle that had the keyboard/mouse but they have others:http://targus.com/us/docking-stationsThe author mentions that he preferred the ACP71USZAlso, and I have not tested it or look for reviews in detail, there are other USB Docking Stations like this one:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OVDE0GCThere might be many others.I have a Dell Venue 8 Pro, so I've been thinking about this, but haven't done it yet and I don't think I will anytime soon.

author: Mikek400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2015, 02:07:16 pm
content: Thanks for the replies.>technixIt seems that there are no USB 3 traces and it was designed with only USB 2.0 in mind.Not only that but the traces for the USB 2 run on an inner layer of the motherboard until they get near the port.Too bad-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->miguelvpI have actually built my own USB hub that can charge the unit and give me some usb ports to use at the same time.All you need to do is connect the +/- 5V lines to a 5VDC supply and then put a switch in to short the data lines so when you plug it into the tablet it goes into charge mode. Then flip the switch, it unshorts the data lines and re-connects them to the hub. Really simple. Figured it out messing around with my tablet.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Well I tore it down and here are the photos and chip part numbers.It does have some interesting test points on the back side of the motherboard.There isn't really much to the thing.To the left it has an AXP288 which appears to be some charge controller.It has the ATOM CPU SR1UDA WINBOND 25064fw10Some samsung RAMa samsung Flash chipand A realtec ALC5640Wifi / Bluetooth must be under the soldered shielding.

author: Mikek400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2015, 02:08:00 pm
content: More PicsInteresting Test PointsUART3RX / UART3TXI2C_1SDAI2C_SOLMic_P *microphoneMic_NVolDown / VolUp / PWR *switchesLEDThere are no LEDS on this unitWakeup_OutVCCA_PWROKPLTRST_NXDP_H_TD0 / XDP_H_TD1Factory_Mode *Sounds interestingXUP_H_TCKXDP_H_TMSXDP_H_TRST_NPMC_CORE_PWROKPMU_SLP_SOIX_NXDP_H_PREQ_nSUSPWRDNACKXDP_H_PRDY_NXDP_HPREQ_NAB17AA17DRAM_PWROK

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 10, 2015, 02:13:45 pm
content: No way you will get usb 3.0 out of this thing.

author: Mikek400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2015, 02:22:15 pm
content: >WraperYeah I can see that now I have it apart on my desk.I was hoping that the charge controller was a southbridge or something before I checked the part number.Its fine pitch but not BGA so you could potentially solder some wires onto it.

author: Mikek400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2015, 03:56:58 pm
content: Any idea what this unpopulated connector might be?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2015, 08:40:53 am
content: Mini HDMI?

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2015, 05:55:03 pm
content: Is there anything on the other side? I own a Stream 7 too. I'd like to get a good keyboard+mouse solutio for it. Your USB hub sounds interesting, did you make a PCB for it?I want to mod a replaceable battery.

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2015, 06:22:52 pm
content: little further behind the usb connector there is 4 extra pads 2 has differential pairs going to it, whas that for a longer usb socket? or a strange usb 3 socket?

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2015, 07:14:25 pm
content: Quote from: M. András on July 11, 2015, 06:22:52 pm4G option with SIM card support.Link to Stream 8 teardown but they look very similar inside:http://goughlui.com/2015/01/28/review-teardown-hp-stream-8-tablet-intel-z3735gwindows-8-1-wbing/

author: Mikek400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2015, 11:07:57 am
content: Quote from: ivan747 on July 11, 2015, 05:55:03 pmI'm not sure if there is anything on the top side of the PCB. It is under a metal plate that is bonded to the PCB with some glue or something. Doesn't look like there is. You can see the bottom side in the second set of pictures.Removable battery should be really easy. The battery is just held down with double sided tape, and you can unplug it from the connector on the motherboard.I didn't make a board for the usb hub but it is pretty simple..Put the switch in charge mode first, plug the tablet in, then flip to data mode and it will be charging and allow you to use the USB port for data.Check out the diagram below.Pics below of the USB hub and the 3A charger. On the hub the standard USB A connector I cut the data lines so the only thing connected is power. Got a 3A power adapter at the junk store and cut the barrel connector off and put a female USB connector on. Now its like a mini Laptop adapter.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2015, 01:49:13 pm
content: I hate it when motherboard designers do this... would it really have costed much more to route the traces to as many ports as the chipset supports?It really has seven ports and only one is usable?

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2015, 01:56:07 pm
content: It's designed to be a cheap tablet that has to fit a small form factor, why would they route the full chip when it's not going to be used?That would entail debugging functionality that wont be present anyways.As for the USB 3.0 is the differential engine (Phy) built into the SoC?

author: Mikek400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2015, 02:43:31 pm
content: Quote from: miguelvp on July 12, 2015, 01:56:07 pmI'm not sure, but I think it is, due to the lack of other chips. Im not really sure how it all works.Here is a block diagram *see picture in attachment*and a link to the data sheet *Block Diagram is on Pg 18*https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/atom/atom-z36xxx-z37xxx-datasheet-vol-1.html

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2015, 03:10:28 pm
content: After looking at the datasheet, I'll say that your SoC doesn't even support it. See page 30. You have a Z3735G which has no USB 3 controller and only 2 USB 2.0 host controllers. The package physically doesn't have the pins for it.The fact that 7 ports show up in software is misleading and probably a bug.It reminds me of some of the things mentioned here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/microcontrollers/abysmal-microchip-experience/

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2015, 06:10:55 pm
content: We should try to fix the headphone noise problem. When you connect headphones you can actually hear some EMI coming, which changes tone when you touch the screen. I believe it is a grounding issue. I'd like to fix it.

author: Mikek400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2015, 02:45:33 am
content: Quote from: ivan747 on July 15, 2015, 06:10:55 pmI was thinking about this the other day.Looking at the stream 8 pics, it seems they put some copper tape over chip on the PCB flex going to the touch panel. Seems likely the source of the interference since the Realtec Audio chip is near there on the motherboard.Will try when I get some time.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2015, 03:27:50 pm
content: Quote from: Mikek400 on July 17, 2015, 02:45:33 amAnd did they do this with the Stream 7? I haven't had the time to take it apart.

author: Mikek400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2015, 01:09:24 pm
content: No there isn't any shielding on the Stream 7, or at least mine doesn't have any.I have also wondered if the CPU would benefit from a bit more of a heat sink. It uses a very very thin piece of steel for a heat sink.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2015, 09:51:06 pm
content: Quote from: Mikek400 on July 21, 2015, 01:09:24 pmIt gets a bit hot but I don't think it's reaching it's thermal limit. The thermal limit can be measured with programs easily. I'll look into it.

author: videogame57
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 14, 2015, 04:58:13 pm
content: Quote from: Mikek400 on July 10, 2015, 03:56:58 pmIt looks like SATA, but SATA has 7 pins not 6.Definitely not HDMI though.Edit: It's entirely possible it is SATA since 2 of the 7 pins are redundant grounds. Don't see any reference to a SATA controller on the Stream though.Edit 2: Might also be related to the COM port...