Hardware

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display

By // July 5, 2012, 2:51 PM PST // billdetwiler

Image 1 of 82

  • Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display teardown

    Apple's MacBook Pro with Retina Display is a powerful laptop and probably the most portable MacBook Pro ever. But as this Cracking Open gallery shows, it's also nearly impossible to upgrade and a real pain to work on.

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Teardown shows Retina MacBook Pro is nearly impossible to upgrade, difficult to work on.

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

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Hardware specifications

    Our MacBook Pro with Retina Display test unit had 2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics processor, 16GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a 15.4-inch LED-backlit Retina display (2880 by 1800 pixel resolution at 220 ppi).

    It's also thinner and lighter than the traditional MacBook Pro, measuring 0.71" (H) x 14.13" (W) x 9.73" (D) and weighing 4.46 pounds.

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

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Box contents

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Bottom

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: 15.4-inch LED-backlit Retina display (2880 x 1800 pixel resolution at 220 ppi)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Top

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Bottom

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: MagSafe 2 power connector, Thunderbolt ports, USB 3 port, and headphone jack

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: SDXC card slot, HDMI port, and USB 3 port

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display compared to 2011 MacBook Pro

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display compared to 2007 MacBook Pro

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display stacked with 2007 and 2011 MacBook Pros

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Vents and case screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Tamper-resistant pentalobe case screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the case screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the bottom cover

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Internal hardware

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Disconnecting the battery

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the SSD screw

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the SSD

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: 256GB Flash Storage (Samsung Model: MZ-DPC2560/0A2)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: 256GB Flash Storage - Back

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the wireless board screw

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the wireless board

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Broadcom BCM94331CSAX wireless adapter

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Wireless board - Back

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the left side fan screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the left side fan

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Disconnecting the right side fan

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the right side fan screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Detaching the wireless antenna cables

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the right side fan

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Cooling fans

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Detaching the I/O board connectors

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the I/O board screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the I/O board

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: I/O board

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Broadcom BCM57100 Integrated Gigabit Ethernet and Memory Card Reader Controller (BCM57100B0KMLG)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Parade Technologies PS8401 HDMI Jitter Cleaning Repeater

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the MagSafe 2 power connector

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the motherboard screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the motherboard

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Upper case

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Right side speaker

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Left side speaker

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Headphone jack

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Microphones

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: 10.95 V, 95Wh Model A1417 Li-ion battery

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Motherboard with cooling assembly and MagSafe 2 power connector

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Detaching the MagSafe 2 connector

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: MagSafe 2 power connector

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the cooling assembly screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Removing the cooling assembly

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Cooling assembly

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Motherboard - Top

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Motherboard - Bottom

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: 2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 processor

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics processor with 1GB of GDDR5 memory

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Intel BD82HM77 Platform Controller Hub (PCH) (E209B413 SLJ8C)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: 16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM (Hynix H5TC4G83MFR x 32 top and bottom)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Hynix H5TC4G83MFR

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Intel Z213T010D L213TA57 DSL3510L (Thunderbolt controller?)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Texas Instruments/National Semiconductor VM21AC 45-EXTJ

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Texas Instruments (58872D TI 1CI A37S E4)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Intersil ISL8014A 4A Low Quiescent Current 1MHz High Efficiency Synchronous Buck Regulator (8014AIRZRF213JC)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: TL02043A 6352.113 ZSD205

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: SMSC USB2512B USB hub controller

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Texas Instruments/Stellaris LM4FS1AH microcontroller

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Maxim MAX15119 GTM 203 ISM0QAF

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Intersil ISL62882C multiphase PWM Regulator (62882C HRTZ F209DMD)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Pericom PI3VDP12412 Thunderbolt signal switch - x4 Lane, DisplayPort 1.2 switch with support up to HBR2 (PI3VDP 12412NEE 1145EG ES12)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Renesas Semiconductor R2F2113 16-Bit Single-Chip Microcomputer (R4F2113 XLG A02 AD00279 1215JPN)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Hynix H5GQ2H24AFR GDDR5 SGRAM (2Gb x 4 = 1GB)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Hynix H5GQ2H24AFR GDDR5 SGRAM

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Texas Instruments TPS51980 TI 21K CSCV G4

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Intersil ISL6259A battery charger (6259A HRTZ F207BZ)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Cypress Semiconductor CY8C24794 PSoC Programmable System-on-Chip (CY8C24794-24L TXI 1207 A 04 CHI CYP 606491)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Linear Technology LT3957B DC/DC inverting switching regulators (215 3957 B68413)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Cirrus Logic CS4206B Audio codec (4206BCNZ C2LH1203 MAL)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Texas Instruments CD3210 A0 TA 221 A4Sk (x2)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: 02313 06SD201

  • Cracking Open MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Completely disassembled

Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display teardown

Apple's MacBook Pro with Retina Display is a powerful laptop and probably the most portable MacBook Pro ever. But as this Cracking Open gallery shows, it's also nearly impossible to upgrade and a real pain to work on.

For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Teardown shows Retina MacBook Pro is nearly impossible to upgrade, difficult to work on.

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

Related Topics:

Hardware Innovation Mobility Networking Storage Data Centers Smart Persons Guides

By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor 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...