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Apple MacBook Pro Quad-core i7 teardown

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    Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Teardown

    \n\tIn 2011, Apple updated its MacBook Pro notebook line with Intel Quad-Core i5 and i7 CPUs, more-powerful AMD GPUs, and Intel’s new Thunderbolt connection technology.

    \n

    \n\tFollow along as we crack open a 15″ MacBook Pro for a look at the impressive hardware inside.

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    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Box

    \n\tOur 15″ MacBook Pro cost just under $2,600 (US) and has the following technical specs:

    \n

      \n\t

    • \n\t\t2.2GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7

      • \n\t

    • \n\t\t4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM – 2x2GB

      • \n\t

    • \n\t\t128GB Solid State Drive

      • \n\t

    • \n\t\t8x Double-Layer SuperDrive

      • \n\t

    • \n\t\t15″HR Antiglare WS Display

      • \n

    \n

    \n\tDon’t worry. After cracking this machine open, I’ll put it back together and use it as one of our test machines.

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    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Opening the box

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Power supply and cable

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Top

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Bottom

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Left side

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Ports

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Battery indicator

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Right side

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Keyboard

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Phillips case screw

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the case screws

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Lifting off the bottom panel

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Bottom panel removed

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Bottom panel tab

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Bottom panel tab catch

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): First look inside

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Disconnecting the battery

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the battery screw

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Battery removed

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Battery

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Battery - Bottom

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): SSD

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the SSD bracket screws

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): SSD bracket removed

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the SSD

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): SSD connector

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Disconnecting the SSD

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Disconnecting the SSD

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Toshiba 128GB SSD

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): 8x SuperDrive

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the wireless card assembly

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Disconnecting the wireless assembly cables

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Wireless assembly cables disconnected

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Wireless assembly moved to the side

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the SuperDrive screws

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the SuperDrive

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): SuperDrive removed

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): 8X SuperDrive

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the RAM chips

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Battery, SSD, and SuperDrive removed

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Disconnecting motherboard connectors

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Disconnecting the internal fan cable

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Detaching another motherboard connector

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Disconnecting the display cable

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing a small metal motherboard connector cover

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Disconnecting a motherboard ribbon cable

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the internal fan screws

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the internal fans

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Internal fans removed

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the motherboard screws

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the motherboard

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Motherboard removed

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Nearly empty case

    \n\tAt this point, I’m going to leave the case alone. Many of the MacBook Pro internal ribbon cables are glued to the case. I don’t want to risk damaging the cable by removing them.

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    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Motherboard with cooling assembly

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Motherboard - bottom

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the cooling assembly screws

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Cooling assembly removed

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Cooling assembly

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the speaker assembly

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the smaller cooling plates

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Motherboard with thermal paste

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Motherboard

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): 2.2GHz Quad-Core Intel i7 mobile processor

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Intel BD82HM65 Platform Controller Hub

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): AMD Radeon HD 6490M GPU

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Intel L051NA39 EFL

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Broadcom BCM57765 Integrated Gigabit Ethernet and Memory Card Reader Controller

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): LSI L-W643E-2

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Parade PS8301

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): F2117LP

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Parade 8521A and unknown CY7C 630803-1101

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Four Hynix H5GQ2H24MFR GDDR5 SGRAM chips for graphics memory

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Lattice Semiconductor LFXP2-5E

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Cirrus 4206ACNZ audio controller

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Cypress CY8C24794-24L

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): SMSC USB25138 USB 2.0 Hub Controllers

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Texas Instruments TPS 51980

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): ISL6263 CHRZ H052BBF

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Case opening detector

    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Completely disassembled

    \n\tThe 2011 MacBook Pro has some very noticable improvements over previous model. The new Intel Sandy Bridge Quad-Core i7 processor and AMD Radeon HD 6750M GPU are plenty powerful. The new Thunderbolt I/O port offers significant throughput gains. And, 128GB Toshiba SSD helps the machine boot quickly.

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    \n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    \n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Previously, Bill was an IT manager in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.