Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex TV HD Media Player Review

A Closer Look Inside the GoFlex TV

After carefully breaking apart the case of the Seagate GoFlex TV, we were able to take a closer look into how exactly the engineers put this player together. Even though the GoFlex TV player is based on the Realtek 10733DD chipset like its older brother, the FreeAgent Theater+, the interior of the units are quite different. This is mainly due to the fact that the GoFlex TV interfaces with an eSATA drive.

As we break the case open, we can see that the player has two distinct levels: The upper level for where the eSATA drive plugs in, and the lower level where the processing takes place. The red and black cord carries power to the eSATA ports that you can see below.

The unit is not very large at all. In fact, the GoFlex TV unit measures just under 6-inches in width and 4.3-inches long barely bigger than the GoFlex portable drive!

Here is a better look at the SATA control cable coming from the HDD cradle. We can see in the next picture how the GoFlex drive actually mates to the GoFlex TV unit. Its essentially an eSATA port.

Taking a look at the GoFlex PCB, we see that the board has functional parts on both sides. From this first angle we can clearly see the side USB port and the eSATA power towards the middle.

From here we can see all of the A/V outputs and components. The layout is very clean and free from clutter.

What is interesting is that the GoFlex TV has a battery on board. The unit is able to remember network shares passwords and shortcuts as well as audio/video/subtitle settings. This is great if you want to use the unit in more than one location. You dont have to keep telling the player your ideal settings. This is definitely welcomed!

On other side of the GoFlex TV PCB, we see where the Realtek 1073 chip resides. To the left of the chip is Nanya RAM (Part NT5TU64M16DG-AC). This 1Gb DDR2 SDRAM is a high-speed CMOS, dynamic random memory rated at 400 MHz speed.