Tesla hacker, ‘green’ (@greentheonly), has released the first teardown images of Tesla’s Model Y Hardware 4 (HW4). Until now, the inner workings of this latest hardware iteration have remained largely unseen from the Model Y, whereas similar hardware for Model S/X have already been shared (also by ‘green’).
‘Green’ confirmed earlier this week HW4 boasts several similarities to Tesla’s Model S/X hardware. However, he emphasized that it cannot be retrofitted to HW3 models due to differences in the computer form factor. Furthermore, the HW4 board layout, while similar in many respects, also shows several depopulated components, including the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and advanced sound system.
Interestingly, the HW4 uses non-ECC RAM, a more cost-effective memory option than what was previously utilized. Another intriguing discovery was the presence of two extra, albeit depopulated, display connectors located differently than in prior models.
Significant differences were also identified in the board’s ethernet ports and gateway chip. ‘Green’ pointed out that the broad reach ethernet orientation has been changed and an additional, depopulated ethernet port has been added. The gateway chip is now sourced from a different vendor, a change from previous versions. Initially exclusive to boards from Tesla’s Chinese factory, this new chip seems to be now standardized across all Model 3/Y HW4 boards.
The Model Y HW4 also shows alterations in the camera connectors, with extra SVC-* connectors now depopulated. ‘Green’ is currently working on further examining the Autopilot board to uncover additional nuances and modifications.
The release of these images raised questions about the blacked-out Integrated Circuit (IC) labels seen in the photos. ‘Green’ confirmed that these are Federal Communications Commission (FCC) submission photos, revealing Tesla’s protective stance over their hardware. A contentious “warranty void if removed” sticker, borderline illegal, is now affixed to the new computer.
Despite the revelations, it appears that Model 3/Y vehicles are not equipped with dedicated GPUs (dGPUs), a feature seen only in a few early Chinese units from 2021. Advanced sound systems also remain exclusive to the Model S/X versions.
‘Green’ also fielded questions about the potential for fitting the HW4 board’s components into the same form factor as the HW3 board. He believes this would require a new board in the older form factor. However, he suggested that the Model 3/Y should have sufficient cooling capacity to dissipate any extra heat if a dGPU was introduced, a claim contrasting the case with Model S/X.
