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This teardown is not a repair guide. To repair your Chromecast, use our service manual.

  1. Chromecast Teardown, Chromecast Teardown: step 1, image 1 of 3 Chromecast Teardown, Chromecast Teardown: step 1, image 2 of 3 Chromecast Teardown, Chromecast Teardown: step 1, image 3 of 3
    • Upon eagerly ripping open the Chromecast's box, we are greeted with more than just a dongle.

    • The dongle's specs and features:

    • 1080p HDMI output

    • 2.4 GHz WiFi 802.11 b/g/n

    • 1080P maximum output video resolution

    • USB-powered

    • Compatible with a variety of devices, including both iOS and Android devices

  2. Chromecast Teardown: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • The Chromecast's sole port is the USB charging port. As if TVs don't have enough wires already, your favorite new dongle requires external power via USB.

    • When we hear "dongle," we don't usually think of external power. The Chromecast, however, requires external power via an available (non-service) USB port or via the USB charging cable and adapter.

    • At least Google sort of mentioned this…

  3. Chromecast Teardown: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Model Number: H2G2-42.

    • Wasn't "42" the answer to life, the universe, and everything in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?

    • And H2G2 is an abbreviation given to the book, as well as the name of a website dedicated to making a guide to life, the universe, and everything.

    • We see what you did there, Google. Your clever nerd humor will not be lost on us!

    • Call us speculative, but it appears Google thinks this device is the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

  4. Chromecast Teardown: step 4, image 1 of 2 Chromecast Teardown: step 4, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Heat Gun
    $24.99
    Buy
    • To our relief (and maybe a little disappointment), it seems as if we won't need to pull out the big guns to get this little guy open.

    • A plastic opening tool exploits the seam of our dongle, and just like that, we can start pulling out components.

    • Yes, we do enjoy typing the word "dongle."

  5. Chromecast Teardown: step 5, image 1 of 2 Chromecast Teardown: step 5, image 2 of 2
    • The first thing out is, well, everything. Pulling the motherboard assembly out of the Chromecast leaves us with an empty shell.

    • Almost empty, that is, except for some excessive thermal leftovers and a big hunk of aluminum heat sink.

  6. Chromecast Teardown: step 6, image 1 of 3 Chromecast Teardown: step 6, image 2 of 3 Chromecast Teardown: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • The central nervous system:

    • AzureWave AW-NH387 802.11 b/g/n WLAN, Bluetooth and FM Combo Module

    • Marvell DE3005-A1 System on Chip

    • Micron MT29F16G08MAA 16 Gb (2 GB) NAND Flash Memory

    • Micron D9PXV 512 MB DDR3L SDRAM

    • DDR3L SDRAM (1.35 V) is a low voltage version of the DDR3 SDRAM (1.5 V).

  7. Chromecast Teardown: step 7, image 1 of 2 Chromecast Teardown: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • With the motherboard out, only one component remains: a (relatively) ginormous heatsink. Made of solid aluminum and spanning the entire length of the device, it rests—lifeless hardware in a tiny coffin.

    • We can't say we're surprised, though, as the product information states "Chromecast may get hot to the touch; this is normal."

    • This is somewhat disconcerting, sort of like "melt in your hand, not in your mouth," or "side effects may include death."

  8. Chromecast Teardown: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • We’ve decided not to assign a repairability score to the Chromecast.

    • There’s just nothing in it to repair. The Chromecast is essentially a luxury item with a limited use.

    • Best hope for this little guy: after a long, fulfilling life of streaming kitten videos, the Chromecast is recycled responsibly.

Jake Devincenzi

Member since: 04/18/11

117,207 Reputation

57 Guides authored

27 Comments

HDMI 1.4 can power the device without USB power.

msgalicki - Reply

Thanks, that's great to know..

Harry Hawk -

This is incorrect, people have tested this and it doesn't work.

Charlie Skog -

Dongle, dongle, dongle... yes, it is a fun word to type.

Any warning which includes the phrase "this is normal", clearly indicates something which any normal person would realize is not normal.

Rylan Luke - Reply

Next teardown a Galaxy Minstrel .... or was that just a British thing? They don't melt in your hand (according to the advert anyhow) www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8ggWmC_Cpg‎

Bees -

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