MacBook Pro Dissected

Very cool.

One question, does the notebook still works after tearing it down and then puting it together?

Hi, i'm new to this forum, been reading for some times, and it's nothing but quite an excellent forum.

I may make some misspelling, sorry as english not being my native langage.

Anyway.

Thanks for the pics, but, maybe you should mask s/n of the machine... Not that it's so much important, but maybe it is after all

Good pics, although the guy didn't have the guts to take pics of the reverse of the motherboard, or remove the fans to see the CPU and GPU.

Hi, i'm new to this forum, been reading for some times, and it's nothing but quite an excellent forum.

I may make some misspelling, sorry as english not being my native langage.

Anyway.

Thanks for the pics, but, maybe you should mask s/n of the machine... Not that it's so much important, but maybe it is after all

I think is not illegal to disassemble what you have bought

We're all becoming a little paranoid?

I think is not illegal to disassemble what you have bought

We're all becoming a little paranoid?

It wasn't about the legal aspect but rather to the fact that, in case the computer would need repair, then, a name could be put on the pseudonym... I may be a litle bit paranoid, but those days i prefer to be more prudent than necessary. Anyway, i'm sure it's not illegal, but bye bye warranty ...

They sure made that hard drive hard enough to get to... *makes mental note to get the 7200RPM drive pre-installed*

They sure made that hard drive hard enough to get to... *makes mental note to get the 7200RPM drive pre-installed*

Good idea! When my brother and I swapped out the HD on his 12" powerbook we had to remove around 30 screws, many of them a tiny Torx variety, and snap off two of the keys to get at hidden screws which were further concealed under tiny paper labels. It was nerve-racking powering it up again, but it worked. And those two keys snap back on again, even though they look like they won't. Not for the faint-hearted (or the visually challenged - now where did I put my glasses?)!

Has anyone heard anything with regard to how the wireless reception is on these now the aerial has been relocated?

I see the DVD drive is a Panasonic/Matsu{censored}a UJ-857C. There isn't a region-free firmware available for that drive yet, which is a good reason for me to hold off buying one. I'm sure my friends at RPC1.org are working on it, in fact I'll give them a nudge.

PS for our US friends - 'aerial' = 'antenna'. Another term for me to add to my UK-US Dictionary!

Thanks for the find, region-free is important to me as well. Since I'm not buying one until right before I move to the UK, I can wait a few months though.

Not yet heard about wireless reception...but I'm sure we'll get some good reports soon.

Has anyone tried replacing the CPU? It's a standard socket, and they are indeed socketed, not soldered. I'd like to see how it handles faster chips - automatic via bios (likely) or jumpers/resistors to re-solder (hopefully not).

mindslip

Yay - i just got an email from apple saying they've shipped mine!

Here is from someone on the Ars forum (in regards to wireless reception):

... just did a quick test. About 50 feet from the router which is separated by two thick walls, I usually got 2 bars on my iBook. I have full signal and taking the MBP another 50 feet and behind another wall only lower the single to 3 bars. Wireless reception is very, very good.

Also, people are reporting the second core never gets shutoff, even in the highest battery saving mode. Which sort of leads me to believe if that gets resolved in the future the battery life will be even more insane.

Here is from someone on the Ars forum (in regards to wireless reception):

 

<snip>

Yup, it's due to the excellent Atheros network card. These cards are far superior to the Broadcoms (and Intels, for that matter). I'm really glad that Apple have chosen to use these cards in the new MacBooks.

Those people who are waiting for Intel wireless drivers are wasting their time, even if they are eventually made, the Intel cards are still inferior to the Atheros.

Great - the wireless reception was the one thing i was worried about being used to the pretty good reception i got with my ibook. Hopefully the issue with the second core will be rectified soon to extend the battery life - not like you need two cores to surf the web/read emails which is what i use my laptop for when i'm on the move.

Cool

Does anyone know what chipset the Atheros cards are using?

Hopefully the issue with the second core will be rectified soon to extend the battery life - not like you need two cores to surf the web/read emails which is what i use my laptop for when i'm on the move.

Indeed. I guess that Intel Speedstep is supported so that the cores run at a low clock speed by default and then ramp up if required (by adjusting the clock multiplier and voltage on-the-fly). Usually on Intel laptops the cores are always running at the lower speed when running on battery, which improves battery life.

Has anyone tried replacing the CPU? It's a standard socket, and they are indeed socketed, not soldered. I'd like to see how it handles faster chips - automatic via bios (likely) or jumpers/resistors to re-solder (hopefully not).

 

mindslip

No it isn't. The iMacs are socketed. The MBPs are soldered due to height issues.

Although Ars usually does a full tear down and review, this dissection of the new MacBooks should be enough for awhile.

 

Why is it that we geeks enjoy seeing things all strewn out and exposed? We were the same kids who would rather take apart the toy than play with it...

 

ummmm.... aren't these pictures clearly of a macbook pro and not a macbook??

even the link has mbp in it twice....

As well as the fact that all the periferals are on the opposite side in the macbook (rather than the MBP)

Yes but this thread is ancient, before macbooks where out so we could refer to pro's as just macbooks at the time. - why did you revive it?

ive changed the original post to be clearer. this is a problem we're likely to see a few times until we're all used to there being MacBooks AND MacBook Pros.

aside from that, please check the dates on postings and do a little *thinking* before posting, people.

I see the DVD drive is a Panasonic/Matsu{censored}a UJ-857C. There isn't a region-free firmware available for that drive yet, which is a good reason for me to hold off buying one. I'm sure my friends at RPC1.org are working on it, in fact I'll give them a nudge.

 

PS for our US friends - 'aerial' = 'antenna'. Another term for me to add to my UK-US Dictionary!

I know this thread was revived by mistake, but I just noticed your dictionary. I must say it is impressive! I never knew that so many words had different meanings to us, I laughed at alot of the 'problem words'.