Hardware

Apple MacBook Pro Quad-core i7 teardown

By // April 5, 2011, 1:03 AM PST // billdetwiler

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

    In 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.

    Follow along as we crack open a 15" MacBook Pro for a look at the impressive hardware inside.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

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

    • 2.2GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
    • 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
    • 128GB Solid State Drive
    • 8x Double-Layer SuperDrive
    • 15"HR Antiglare WS Display

    Don't worry. After cracking this machine open, I'll put it back together and use it as one of our test machines.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Battery, SSD, and SuperDrive removed

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

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

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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Detaching another motherboard connector

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the motherboard

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

    At 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Motherboard with cooling assembly

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the cooling assembly screws

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Cooling assembly removed

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Removing the speaker assembly

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  • Apple MacBook Pro (2011 Quad-Core i7): Parade 8521A and unknown CY7C 630803-1101

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

In 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.

Follow along as we crack open a 15" MacBook Pro for a look at the impressive hardware inside.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...