Introduction
We got our hands on a MacBook Pro 13" Unibody and decided to compare it to a MacBook Unibody -- from the inside! Follow us on Twitter to get all the latest updates as we're doing the teardown!
Tools
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This just in: the new MacBook Pro 13" Unibody!
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We'll be comparing it to the MacBook Unibody throughout the teardown.
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We have a feeling it will be very similar in most regards.
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Some comparisons to the MacBook Unibody:
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No access door for the battery on the bottom.
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The addition of an SD card slot (and the omission of digital/mic port) is readily apparent.
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FireWire is back!
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Computer lock is now on the other side.
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The SD card sticks out almost .5"! This is a cheeseball design for a MacBook "Pro" if you ask us.
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Let's get down to business.
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There's no door latch, going along with the "not user-serviceable battery" theme.
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We had to dig out a Phillips screwdriver for this step.
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A quick flip of the lid and...
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...It's almost exactly the same as our old, "lesser" MacBook Unibody.
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The battery compartment is identical to the one we uncovered in the MacBook Pro 17" Teardown. We'll venture a guess that it looks the same in the updated 15" Pro as well.
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Remove two tri-wing screws and the battery is suddenly replaceable. The sticker comes right off, just as in the 17" Pro -- because it's adhered to just the battery and midwall, not to the optical drive.
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7-hour battery specifications:
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Model A1322
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10.95V
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60Wh
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"This battery contains no mercury (Hg)."
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Although the batteries look similar, they're definitely not interchangeable. The MacBook Pro's battery is too large (and different in shape) to fit into the older MacBook Unibody.
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Removing the hard drive...
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It's still considered user-replaceable by Apple, but replacement does require removing 10 more screws than on the MacBook Unibody.
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First thing we'd do is replace the 160 GB Hitachi with something more meaty.
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The optical drive is attached via three Phillips screws.
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The brackets and screw layout are identical to the older MacBook Unibody.
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Removing the optical drive exposes the right speaker.
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It's held in place by adhesive. A quick pry with the spudger will loosen it.
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Disconnect the LVDS connector.
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Remove 7 motherboard screws.
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Remove 2 DC-in screws.
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Disconnect trackpad, keyboard, and battery level indicator cables.
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Remove LVDS cable retaining bracket.
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And the logic board is almost out...
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A couple of images of the logic board, before we strip it naked...
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Like the MacBook Unibody, the heat sink comes out along with the logic board.
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10 comments
Hi. AMAZING walkthrough and I really love your website. I need HELP!
I bought a refurbished MBP 13-inch 2.26 GHz and I don't think it came with a wireless card (I think I got ripped!). Bluetooth is working but my airport says "No Airport card installed".
Anyway - is it possible to check if the wireless card is in there? If not, is it possible to replace it? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
The AirPort card is hidden in the display. We don't have a guide specifically for it, but you can follow the display guide to remove the display and then use the clutch cover guide to access the AirPort card (you don't have to remove the front display glass to access the card; the clutch cover guide was part of another guide for the LCD but the steps are generally the same).
HELP, how I need to know the difficulty of replacing a LVDS cable. Make screen is fadeing to white and freezes when the screen moves.
great guidelines.... I have a macbook pro mid2009 A1278. buzzing sounds coming out when I play any music. is there any fix?
Hi, need some advise from you experts.
I have the older MacBook Unibody 13" and waiting for the arrival of this MacBook Pro 13".
1) Can I just interchange my 500GB hard-drive in the old machine to this new machine ? Will both still function ?
2) Both Mac OS is the same 10.5.7 ?
3) When will iFixIt sell 4GB RAM for this new Unibody ? Apple upgrade is really expensive.
Thanks guys.
KMCK -
No! I just through my 500gb drive from my unibody macbook pro into my brand spanking new 13" macbook pro, and when i booted, I am not able to get sound (internal speakers is missing in control panel) and also i noticed the firewire 800 port is not working. I dont know if the firewire port was working before the swap, but i KNOW i got sound. I'm PRAYING that i didn't screw something up because the cover did seem to stick on something in the back-right corner when i lifted it off, but i'm thinking its probably just the drivers. The build number is different even though both drives had 10.5.7 on them.
Re-installing 10.5.7 on the 13" now (with CD's that came with it) and will let you know what happens.
-Dave
griffd -
Thanks Dave, hope it's gonna be alright for you !
KMCK -
Could someone please list the exact model # of the build-in hard drive (the one that come with the laptop) in the new MacBook? Also, if you also have the part # for the memory it would be much appreciated too. Thanks.
mather -
I have the Macbook unibody and can't stand the screen - does anyone know if I can just buy the 13" MacBook Pro top panel and replace the screen? (i.e. same dimensions, connector etc??)
22yrmacuser -
I swapped in a 500GiB drive with 10.5.7 from another MacBook, and it booted fine - but as Dave said, the iPhone-style combo audio port wasn't available. I archived-and-reinstalled the OS from the DVD that came with the MBP and have had no problems since.
The built-in speakers are really nice, btw.
deedle -
The drive is labeled: Hitachi 5K500.B-160, HTS545016B9SA02, type TS5SAA160. In smaller print it also has the following label: D33373 HTB-TS5SAA500(B). 5V, 700mA. May-09.
Below, Apple labels it: HDD Firmware 2008, 160GB, 2.5inch, AT 9.5mm, P/N: 0A70461, MLC DA3031 A845221.
deedle -
jim0266 -
Apparently not. I called Apple and they will not replace the screen even if you pay for it. I also called several top Mac shops and the cost was prohibitive. In the end I sold my 2 month old 2.4/4 UMB for $975. In the end it cost me $300 to upgrade to a 2.26/4 MBP. I lost .14 GHz but gained firewire, a much nice screen, an SD card slot and new batter technology, so the cost was worth it to me.
jim0266 -
What kind of Ram and hard drive can you recommend from newegg?
I'm buying the lowing end 13inch MBP and want to upgrade the ram from 2 to 4gb, and the hard drive from the 160gb to a 500gb. Any recommendations? Links to newegg maybe?
Sethal -
散热管太水了
Hiller89 -
The 160GB Hitachi Drive show "HTS545016B9SA02" for the model number.
Simon -
I may or may not have spilled some tomato soup near my trackpad of my unibody MacBook Pro...and though it is still functioning properly, seems like it could use a little cleaning along the clicking edges. Can anyone point me in the direction of a trackpad removal tutorial so I can give it a once over and get it back to un-gunked satus? Cheers
Scott
FEaddict@gmail.com
Scott -
Can I use the PC standard 4G DDR3 Ram install into the empty slot? Coz I have one 4G DDR3 ram spare.
Thanks
arypnh -