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

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

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• ntt2.2GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7

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• ntt4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM – 2x2GB

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• ntt128GB Solid State Drive

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• ntt8x Double-Layer SuperDrive

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• ntt15″HR Antiglare WS Display

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ntDon’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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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Battery indicator

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Keyboard

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): First look inside

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): SSD bracket removed

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): SSD connector

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Wireless assembly moved to the side

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the SuperDrive

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): SuperDrive removed

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): 8X SuperDrive

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the RAM chips

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Disconnecting the internal fan cable

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Disconnecting the display cable

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing a small metal motherboard connector cover

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Disconnecting a motherboard ribbon cable

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the internal fan screws

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the internal fans

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Internal fans removed

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntAt 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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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the smaller cooling plates

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Motherboard with thermal paste

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Motherboard

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Intel BD82HM65 Platform Controller Hub

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): AMD Radeon HD 6490M GPU

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Intel L051NA39 EFL

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): F2117LP

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Cirrus 4206ACNZ audio controller

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Texas Instruments TPS 51980

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntThe 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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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler