Wyse Z90D7: Hardware 

• Hardware
• Z90DE7
• Firmware
• Linux
• Updating
• Using
• SSD
• Mods

The Z50/Z90 series is larger than some thin clients, standing some 20cm (10") high. In comparison with many of the thin clients covered on this website it is quite modern, my version (Z90D7) being manufactured in August 2011.

A number of models share the same hardware base. We have the primary distinction of either an S or a D in the model number that indicates that they are fitted with either a single core or dual core processor. The Z50S and the Z50D run Dell Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux. The Z90 models run Windows:

• The Z90SW and Z90DW run Windows Embedded standard 2009
• The Z90S7, Z90D7 and Z90DE7 run Windows Embedded Standard 7.

My Z90D7 has part No: 909587-02L and was manufactured in August 2011. I also have one (part no: 909702-22L) that was manufactured in February 2012.

Specifications

Note: AMD launched the G-T56N in January 2011. A few months later, in May 2011, they launched an uprated version where the clock speed went up from 1.6GHz to 1.65GHz and the integrated graphics changed from a HD6310 to a HD6320. I haven't yet come across any AMD documentation that mentions the earlier version, the publicity material I've seen on the G series only refers to the 1.65GHz version.

If your Z90 was manufactured before September(?) 2011 it will almost certainly be fitted with the 1.6GHz/HD6310 T56N.

The basic specs for the later version are:

Processor
Type    Speed	Dual core AMD G-T56N 1.65GHz
Memory
Flash    RAM	4GB   2GB (max 16GB)
Video
Chip    Max resolution	AMD Radeon HD 6320 Graphics 2560 x 1600 32-bit colour (Display Port) 1920 x 1200 32 bit colour (DVI-I port)
Ports
Video    Network    USB    Serial    Parallel    PS/2	1 x DVI-I, 1 x Display Port 10/100/1000 4 x USB2.0 2 x USB3.0 2 x USB?.0 (internal) 0 0 0
Power
Power    Plug    Off    Idle    Running	19V 3.4A Coax 5.5mm/2.5mm 1 W 18W 23W
Dimensions
H x W x D (mm)	200 x 47 x 225

Operating system: Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 7.

For others in the range see the table on the Z Class

Power Supply

The power supply that came with my Z90D7 is a 19V 3.42A Delta Electronics PSU that requires a figure-of-eight style mains lead. The coax plug is a standard 5.5mm/2.5mm one.

In July 2020 I heard from Alex who found that the Z90D7 would apparently run off 12V. This is a similar experience to Tomas who found his HP t510 worked with a 12V supply. I guess this reflects the efficiency/flexibility of modern switching regulators. I don't know if there are any side effects from doing this.

Getting Inside

This is fairly straightforward. You need to remove the foot, two screws on the back panel, and the two screws towards the rear of the unit - one on the top and one on the bottom. After that the side cover can be slid back and removed.

CPU

For those to whom it matters here is some detail from Linux's /proc/cpuinfo

vendor_id	:	AuthenticAMD
cpu family	:	20
model	:	2
model name	:	AMD G-T56N Processor
stepping	:	0
flags	:	fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt pdpe1gb rdtscp lm constant_tsc rep_good nonstop_tsc extd_apicid aperfmperf pni monitor ssse3 cx16 popcnt lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm extapic cr8_legacy abm sse4a misalignsse 3dnowprefetch ibs skinit wdt arat hw_pstate npt lbrv svm_lock nrip_save pausefilter vmmcall

The earlier 1.6GHz CPU is flagged as a 'Model 1'.

PCI

00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 14h Processor Root Complex
00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Wrestler [Radeon HD 6320]
00:01.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Wrestler HDMI Audio
00:11.0 SATA controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 SATA Controller [AHCI mode]
00:12.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller
00:12.2 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller
00:13.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller
00:13.2 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller
00:14.0 SMBus: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SBx00 SMBus Controller (rev 42)
00:14.2 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) (rev 40)
00:14.3 ISA bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 LPC host controller (rev 40)
00:14.4 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SBx00 PCI to PCI Bridge (rev 40)
00:14.5 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI2 Controller
00:15.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB700/SB800/SB900 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 0)
00:15.1 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB700/SB800/SB900 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 1)
00:15.2 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB900 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 2)
00:16.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller
00:16.2 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 0 (rev 43)
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 1
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 2
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 3
00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 4
00:18.5 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 6
00:18.6 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 5
00:18.7 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 7
04:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 06)
05:00.0 USB controller: NEC Corporation uPD720200 USB 3.0 Host Controller (rev 04)

.....
00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Wrestler [Radeon HD 6310]
.....
05:00.0 USB controller: NEC Corporation uPD720200 USB 3.0 Host Controller (rev 03)

Expansion

Click on the photo for a larger version.

Both the Flash memory and the RAM in the Z90D7 are easily replaceable.

Flash: The flash is a small horizontal SATA DOM which can be seen bottom-middle in the photo. To the left of this a vertical SATA data socket CN10 for an additional SATA device. I assume the nearby small black socket CN11 can be used for the power connection. My multimeter finds GND on the pins furthest away from the SATA socket and +5V on the two closest pins. This of course is no guarantee that they're actually connected to the +5V line and can deliver the required current.

RAM: The RAM is a 240-pin DDR3 DIMM. The board carries two sockets. The 2GB part fitted to my Z90D7 is an Apacer part: 2GB UNB PC3-10600 CL9. Various memory suppliers put the maximum RAM capacity at 8GB (2 x 4GB). The AMD G series datasheet just says 'DDR3 2 slots' without any mention of size. However in June 2018 I heard from Jason who had successfully installed two sticks of 8GB DDR3 Samsung Eco-ram so a total of 16GB is supported.

USB: There is a spare header on the circuit board - CN13. I plugged a standard 10-pin motherboard-to-two-USB-sockets cable into it and found I'd gained an extra two USB ports.

mPCIe: There is a wireless module (WPEA-121N/W) plugged in to a mPCIe socket.

Connectors

There are also a series of other connectors dotted around the circuit board that I don't know the purpose of. However, for three of them:

CN11. This socket is adjacent to to CN10, the SATA data connector. I measure +5V on pins 1 & 2 (closest to the SATA socket) and GND on pins 3 & 4, so this is no doubt intended to supply power to a second SATA device. The connector is a micro JST connector with 1.25mm pin spacing. You can find suitable plugs with flying leads fitted on eBay - an example of which is shown fitted.

CN109: This socket is adjacent to CN13 (the USB header). I measure +12V on the two pins furthest from the USB socket, so this would appear to be a suitable pick-off point if something you're adding needs 12V power.

This socket has 2.0mm pin spacing but is not a JST socket and I'm not too sure exactly what fits it. However I did buy a pack of 10 2.0mm spacing micro JST plugs and found that, after I shaved off the two 'ribs' on the side of the plug which didn't quite line up with those on the socket, that the plug fitted really quite well.

For these types of connectors the suppliers are usually based in China and you'll end up with a packet of 10. If you're impatient you may be lucky and find an in-country supplier but at a premium, but then these don't cost much in the first place.

CN108 CN109In July 2019 I heard from 'Wacco' who had a Z90DE7 - wider case to accommodate a PCIe expansion card. He tells me CN108 connects to the added PCIe socket via a ribbon cable and the adjacent CN109 provides the 12V power to it.

Legacy Option

In June 2020 I heard from Stefan who pointed out that there was a Legacy connectivity option that added a PS/2 port, two serial ports and a parallel port.

These added ports connect to the two large connectors adjacent to the heat sink.