MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Teardown
MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211
Teardown
Written By: Luke Soules
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MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Teardown
INTRODUCTION
We disassembled this computer on October 30, 2006.
TOOLS:
Phillips #00 Screwdriver (1)
Spudger (1)
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MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Teardown
Step 1 — MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Teardown
The MacBook Core 2 Duo (Merom)
ships in the same surprisingly thin
box as the original MacBook Pro
(only 3.25") thick. Our machine
arrived this morning (Oct 30th).
Note the lack of a pinhole for the
iSight LED, as in the previous
model. The LED is still in the same
spot, and there is a circular pattern
of micro-holes allowing light through.
The holes weren't evenly drilled on
our machine, letting more light
through on the left side than the
right. We didn't have a good enough
lens to capture the effect.
Step 2
We received a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2
Duo model with 1 GB RAM (single
chip) and a 120 GB hard drive. The
peripherals and power adapter are
all the same.
The new Core 2 Duo is on top, with
the additional Firewire 800 port. It's
about time!
The battery is exactly the same as
the previous model: 10.8V, 60 Watt-
hour, model # A1175.
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MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Teardown
Step 3
The internals are mostly the same
as the previous model. We'll point
out the notable differences.
Removing the upper case.
Step 4
The Bluetooth board has moved from
near the hard drive in the lower
case, and is now mounted on the
upper case near the new Firewire
port on the right side.
The antenna is mounted so it is in
contact with the aluminum. You'll be
wanting to put your Bluetooth cell
phone and mouse on the right side of
your computer for best reception.
Sorry, lefties.
The ribbon connecting the upper
case to the logic board now has the
keyboard, trackpad, Bluetooth, sleep
sensor, and power button wires
integrated into it. That's quite an
engineering feat.
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MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Teardown
Step 5
Internals view with the upper case
removed. Notable features:
120 GB longitudinal recording Fujitsu
drive. Rumor has it the 160 GB
model ships with a perpendicular
drive.
The optical drive is now a 6X, dual-
layer, 9.7mm SuperDrive (DVD-R
DL/DVD-RW/CD-RW). The drive
itself says UJ-857C, while System
Profiler reports it as a UJ-857D. We
can't explain the discrepancy.
The logic board layout is virtually
identical to the previous model.
Apple introduced a new cable
connector that is soldered to the
logic board better. This may reduce
some of the problems we've had with
the previous brittle connectors.
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MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Teardown
Step 6
Here's the new Airport board. The
world's worst kept secret is that this
is actually an 802.11n draft chipset.
We're not aware of any way to get
the n-functionality in OS X yet, but
some have been successful in Boot
Camp with drivers for the D-Link
DWA-645.
Note the three antenna cables
coming into the Airport board. The
previous model only had two cables.
The additional antenna could provide
better reception, or different
frequencies (802.11n uses both 2.4
GHz and 5 GHz) for the new
wireless chipset.
Step 7
Top of the logic board. Click on the
image for a larger image, or here for
even more resolution.
The Merom processor says:
Top: LE80537, T7400, 7626B184,
SL9SK
Bottom: 2.16 / 4M / 667 Intel
For the optimists out there, you can
stop hoping now: the processor is
soldered onto the logic board.
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MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Teardown
Step 8
Bottom of the logic board.
Not much to note here. Again, click
on the image for a medium-rez
version, and here for high-rez.
That's all, folks.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
This document was last generated on 2017-06-17 02:52:14 AM.
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