Photo: @greentheonly via Twitter | Edited
After tearing down the HW4 computer in a Tesla Model X when it launched in February, hacker Green has done the same with the HW4 computer installed in newer Tesla Model Y cars. Although they are essentially the same, there are marked differences worth mentioning.
Hardware 4 Autopilot computer was launched in February on the refreshed Model S and Model X. People expected the next model to get the new components would be the refreshed Model 3 once Project Highland hits the roads. The Cybertruck will, of course, start sales with Hardware 4, but the Model Y should've got it last anyway, possibly after a significant upgrade planned under the "Project Juniper" moniker.
To anyone's surprise, Tesla started delivering Model Y with the new hardware in May. This changed things a bit, meaning that the EV maker is running out of HW3 parts or keeping them for current model repairs. As Elon Musk confirmed, it's not practical to retrofit the HW4 on older cars, so Tesla must replace faulty HW3 parts with the same-generation hardware when needed.
After almost two months of deliveries with the new hardware, the Model Y is now thoroughly analyzed, and hacker Green (@greentheonly) offered the first pictures of the HW4 computer inside the Model Y. The first conclusion is that the component installed in the Model Y is still the same as that on Model S/X but different. The form factor is similar to Model S/X, which means no retrofit possible. Still, inside the box, there are differences.
Although the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) layout is identical, some components are missing. Green mentions that the Model Y lacks its bigger brothers' GPU and sound processing capabilities, which makes sense considering the price difference. The Model Y's HW4 computer also uses cheaper non-ECC memory, which it carries forward from the HW3 era. Green says two extra display connectors are on the board in a different place than on the Model S/X PCB, but both are depopulated.
The orientation of the BroadR-Reach ethernet is also different on the Model Y part, with a third (depopulated) connector added. Tesla changed the vendor of the gateway chip to the one supplying Giga Shanghai, which means that it now has only one supplier for all gigafactories. The PCB features depopulated extra camera connectors (previously marked with L-SVC, R-SVC, and C-SVC), which means the Model Y will not get a front bumper camera as rumored on the refreshed Model 3. The fact that the PCB still has placeholders for these connectors confirms that Tesla intends to offer additional cameras in the future.
Green will dig deeper into the Hardware 4 computer's secrets in the coming days, and we'll probably find out more. I'll keep you posted on this, or you can directly follow Green on Twitter for more insights into Tesla hardware and software.
To anyone's surprise, Tesla started delivering Model Y with the new hardware in May. This changed things a bit, meaning that the EV maker is running out of HW3 parts or keeping them for current model repairs. As Elon Musk confirmed, it's not practical to retrofit the HW4 on older cars, so Tesla must replace faulty HW3 parts with the same-generation hardware when needed.
After almost two months of deliveries with the new hardware, the Model Y is now thoroughly analyzed, and hacker Green (@greentheonly) offered the first pictures of the HW4 computer inside the Model Y. The first conclusion is that the component installed in the Model Y is still the same as that on Model S/X but different. The form factor is similar to Model S/X, which means no retrofit possible. Still, inside the box, there are differences.
Although the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) layout is identical, some components are missing. Green mentions that the Model Y lacks its bigger brothers' GPU and sound processing capabilities, which makes sense considering the price difference. The Model Y's HW4 computer also uses cheaper non-ECC memory, which it carries forward from the HW3 era. Green says two extra display connectors are on the board in a different place than on the Model S/X PCB, but both are depopulated.
The orientation of the BroadR-Reach ethernet is also different on the Model Y part, with a third (depopulated) connector added. Tesla changed the vendor of the gateway chip to the one supplying Giga Shanghai, which means that it now has only one supplier for all gigafactories. The PCB features depopulated extra camera connectors (previously marked with L-SVC, R-SVC, and C-SVC), which means the Model Y will not get a front bumper camera as rumored on the refreshed Model 3. The fact that the PCB still has placeholders for these connectors confirms that Tesla intends to offer additional cameras in the future.
Green will dig deeper into the Hardware 4 computer's secrets in the coming days, and we'll probably find out more. I'll keep you posted on this, or you can directly follow Green on Twitter for more insights into Tesla hardware and software.
HW4 Model Y are nothing new, but I have not seen any inside picture yet.
— green (@greentheonly) July 10, 2023
So here comes.
Thank you for your sacrifice, anonymous donor.
The computer formfactor is similar to s/x cars (so no retrofit to hw3 cars) pic.twitter.com/Hl5HBl9Hvm
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