Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch)
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Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch)
ntIn July 2011, Apple released the 3nd generation MacBook Air. As with the 2nd generation Airs, the 2011 notebooks are available in 11-inch (A1370) and 13-inch (A1369) models. We cracked open the 1st generation MacBook Air (released in 2008) and 2nd generation MacBook Airs (released in 2010). And earlier this year, I cracked open the 13-inch 2011 MacBook Air.
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ntFollow along as we go inside Apple’s ultra-thin laptop.
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ntTo disassemble the new MacBook Air you’ll need a screwdriver with Torx T5 and T8 bits and either a very small Phillips screwdriver or special pentalobe bit.
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ntFor a more in-depth analysis of the hardware inside the MacBook Air, check out my post, MacBook Air (2011 11-inch) Teardown: Ultra-efficient internal design.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Box
ntThe 2011 MacBook Air is available in four basic configurations–11-inch with 64GB of storage, 11-inch with 128GB of storage, 13-inch with 128GB of storage, and 13-inch with 256GB of storage. Within each of these divisions, you can further customize the processor and RAM.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Opening the box
ntOur $1,199 MacBook Air (11-inch) came with a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel i5 CPU, 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 128GB flash storage, Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 384MB of shared DDR3 SDRAM, and an 11.6-inch LED-backlit display.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Power adapter and product documentation
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Top
ntOur 11-inch 2011 MacBook Air has the same dimensions as the 11-inch 2011 model. The 2011 Air measures 0.11-0.68 inch (H) x 11.8 inches (W) x 7.56 inches (D). It weighs 2.38 pounds.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Front edge
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Back edge
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 11.6-inch Display
ntThe MacBook Air has an 11.6-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display that supports several resolutions–including 1366 x 768 pixels (native).
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): MagSafe power connector, USB port, headphone jack, and microphone
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): MagSafe power connector, USB port, headphone jack, and microphone
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): USB port and Thunderbolt port
ntApple added a Thunderbolt port to the 2011 MacBook Air. Unlike the 13-inch Air, the 11-inch model does not have an SD-card reader.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Bottom
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 5-point petalobe tamper-resistant screws
ntAs on the 2010 MacBook Air and some iPhone 4’s, Apple used tamper-resistant pentalobe screws on the 2011 Air’s bottom cover. Using a small Phillips I was able to remove the screws, but not without damaging one of the screws beyond future use. I’ll be looking for replacement screws before reassembling this laptop.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the bottom cover
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Internal hardware
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the battery screws
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the battery
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 7.3V 4680mAh Li-ion Polymer Battery (Model A1406)
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 7.3V 4680mAh Li-ion Polymer Battery (Model A1406)
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Battery removed
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the SSD screw
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the Samsung SSD
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 128GB Samsung MZ-CPA1280/0A2 SSD
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the Broadcom mini-PCIe wireless card screw
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the Broadcom mini-PCIe wireless card screw
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the Broadcom mini-PCIe wireless card
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Broadcom BCM943224PCIEBT2BX mini-PCIe wireless card
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Broadcom BCM943224PCIEBT2BX mini-PCIe wireless card
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the cooling fan screws
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the cooling fan
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Delta Electronics KDB05105HC-HM04 cooling fan
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the left-side PCB screw
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the left-side PCB
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Left-side PCB
ntThe left-side PCB contains the MagSafe power connectors, USB port, and headphone jack.
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Cirrus 4206BCNZ audio controller
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Disconnecting the motherboard cables
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the motherboard screws
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the motherboard
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Aluminum body and display assembly
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Right-side speaker
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Left-side speaker
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Trackpad
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Silicon Storage Technology - SST 25VF020 20-4C-QAE 111335S-AB
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Silicon Storage Technology - SST 25VF020 20-4C-QAE 111335S-AB
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Cypress CY8C24x94-24L PSoC
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Broadcom BCM5976A0KUB2G
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Motherboard and heatshink
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the heatsink screws
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the heatsink
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Heatsink
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Motherboard - Top
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Motherboard - Bottom
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 Processor with integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 Processor with integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Intel E78296 Platform Controller Hub
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Intel DSL2310
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Texas Instruments 58864D
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Fairchild AB22AF FDMS 0355S and AB21AK FDMS 0348
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Fairchild AB22AF FDMS 0355S and AB21AK FDMS 0348
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Samsung K4B2G0846D DDR3 SDRAM (4GB)
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): MAXIM 15092G
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Intersil 80 14AIRZ F119HH
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Texas Instruments 51916
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): SMSC USB2513B USB 2.0 Hub Controller
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): SMSC 1704-2 146696C CMY
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): F2117LP 20H RVP AE0268 1111JPN
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 25Q064A 13E40 99 PHL 7B122A2R66
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Texas Instruments TPS 51980
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Intersil 625 9AHRTZ F120BR
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): NXP 1112 /A 11231B
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 14AD D68B
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 3148V 1R603 MPA
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Linear Technology 121 3957 B28281
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Parade PS8301 U08FUC ARTFH 2011 A2
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): NXP 04DP081A 1238.121 ZSD120
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Texas Instruments SN1010 017 TI 17K ATRP
Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Complete teardown
ntAs with the 2010 MacBook Air and 13-inch 2011 model, the 2011 11-inch MacBook Air is simple to disassembled, once you remove the bottom cover. Apple’s use of tamper-resistant pentalobe screws, makes the Air very difficult to open.
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ntFor a more in-depth analysis of the hardware inside the MacBook Air, check out my post, MacBook Air (2011 11-inch) Teardown: Ultra-efficient internal design.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
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