iFixit Teardown: Studio Display Features iMac-Like Internal Setup

[untitledartists]

This.

My old 2013 21' iMac had its internal hard drive fail (1TB spinner) but I was able to repurpose it as my Plex server by adding an external SSD. (the thing runs an order of magnitude faster than when it was new) And I bought a 2nd iMac in 2017 to replace it as my desktop system... but I use that older iMac as a 2nd monitor via "target display mode".

I love how that older iMac is serving two functions simultaneously.

View attachment 1983687

So true! I use an old 2009 27 iMac as 3rd Display with Target Display Mode. On 2009/2010 models you can also connect an PC with Display Port (2011 and later only Thunderbolt). Still great display and good for environment not throwing away working tech stuff...

 

[Analog Kid]

iFixit represents everything I loathe about the YouTube generation. This idea that you don’t need to actually know anything to assert it, and then when you’re factually wrong people need to tell you in the comments which drives up your “engagement” numbers which boosts the visibility of your nonsense.

The exact moment iFixit jumped the shark:

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

I like how apple went with tall and narrow capacitors and mounted them inline with the plane of the circuit board. Not just flat on the PCB, but inside cutouts in the PCB. I have never seen that before.

 

[jarman92]

They literally shoved an internal power supply and an M1 Ultra in the Mac Studio.

It's not behind a 27" 600-nit display, the Studio doesn't provide 96W of external power delivery, and the Studio contains a massive fan and an even more massive heatsink.

 

[blairh]

The extra brightness was likely achieved through better cooling allowing them to raise the backlight output higher. A higher peak brightness is not indication of some drastic change. However, that would warrant a slight model number change which Apple could then call "all new." Going off LG's 5K model database, there are no model numbers that indicate there has been anything more than minor revisions to the 5K panel since it was introduced in 2015 or whatever. It is the same panel as the iMac and UltraFine with some minor revisions (likely better cooling for a higher peak brightness) and a small form factor change to mate to the different enclosure.

I would also trust iFixIt to correctly identify parts over what Apple PR says or some random forum members hope is true.

Okay? It still isn’t the exact same display as stated in the article.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Apple used to *only* do overkill like this. It's why many folks fell in love with them. Steve Jobs pretty famously
rejected the designs of the original logic boards inside of the Apple II as the ‘lines were not straight enough’.

ok - Well I meant in the modern Apple sense (basically iPhone era of 2007 and on)

 

[constructor]

All of that power for… what exactly?

All at the same time:
1. 96W of charging power to a MacBook Pro via Thunderbolt
2. 3 * 15W of supply / charging power to USB devices
3. the amplifiers of the 6 high-grade speakers
4. the 600nits backlight of the display itself
5. the 10-bit 5k display
6. the two fans
7. the motherboard with its A13
8. power supplied to the drivers in the active Thunderbolt cable
9. headroom to spare so it won't burn up on hot days while all that is going on

 

[turbineseaplane]

Has anyone considered that that a 27in isn't currently possible based on thermal limitations of the new form factor? Maybe a 27in with an M1 Max/Ultra wasn't possible because of the thermal budget wasn't large enough. So Apple created the next best solution by separating the product into Mac Studio/Studio Display.

Many would love loved a 27" with normal M1 options

 

[turbineseaplane]

Okay? It still isn’t the exact same display as stated in the article.

Folks are conflating the panel with the overall product (display)

It's quite possible it's the same panel part with different backlight and calibration

 

[DeLaSoul]

Steve Jobs introduced three machines in one with the iPhone:
It's an iPod, it's a phone, it's a browser.

This is also three machines in one:

It's an iPad... but without a touch screen.
It's a modern Apple display... but without HDR or Promotion.
It's an Apple TV without, err... the Apple TV software.

What is this monster they created!

 

[turbineseaplane]

I would also trust iFixIt to correctly identify parts over what Apple PR says or some random forum members hope is true.

You just hit on something
There are some folks really "hoping" it's an all new panel to help justify the really high price Apple is charging.

Really hits (the wrong way) when more and more recycled components/ideas are slapped into an all new high price point. 😵

 

[constructor]

Steve Jobs introduced three machines in one with the iPhone:
It's an iPod, it's a phone, it's a browser.

This is also three machines in one:

It's an iPad... but without a touch screen.
It's a modern Apple display... but without HDR or Promotion.
It's an Apple TV without, err... the Apple TV software.

What is this monster they created!

Just a really good monitor – ignore what it could be, just look at what it actually is!

 

[CWallace]

They saying it’s the same display b/c they’re both 5K or they compared part numbers??

so it the same display as the 27" iMac or not?

DPReview says otherwise…

”Apple confirmed to me that this is a new panel specially designed for this new thin-bezel monitor.”

Which makes sense as it is a 600-nit panel compared to the 500-nit panel used in the iMac 5K.

And LG pulled the UltraFine 5K (which also had a 500-nit panel), but noted it would be coming back, so I expect it will be getting this new 600-nit panel, as well.

Better yet a 27” iMac that could also be used as a 27” 5K display if needed.

And I just don't understand why they didn't..

And we could absolutely bring back TD mode now also, as technology caught up and we have the ports, cables, standards, DSC, etc, to do that again.

I still expect the Timing Controller is behind not being able to use the iMac 5K, Pro Display XDR and Studio Display with Target Display Mode.

Even with TB3/TB4 now able to handle 5K over a single cable, the original panel was clearly designed to be driven as two 30Hz halves and it was Apple's custom TC (subsequently shared with LG) that allowed the screen to be driven as a single 60Hz whole.

Can someone explain why having an internal power supply such a feat of engineering? And why did it require a 50% thicker chasis? My much more power-hungry 27" Intel iMac already has an internal power supply -- is it such a feat they were able to do for a monitor here?

The iMac 5K is pretty thick where all the "stuff" is - it is only the edges that are thin.

And the Studio Display vents the air out the top, as opposed to out the back, and so it needs to be thicker to handle the air management channels.

 

[Cashmonee]

Okay? It still isn’t the exact same display as stated in the article.

While likely not the "exact" same, they are essentially the same with a slightly higher brightness. The differences that do exist are minor. When Apple is claiming "all new" they are implying this has be created from the ground up, which is simply not true.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Even with TB3/TB4 now able to handle 5K over a single cable, the original panel was clearly designed to be driven as two 30Hz halves and it was Apple's custom TC (subsequently shared with LG) that allowed the screen to be driven as a single 60Hz whole.

eh - weak sauce

There are endless Chinese parts accomplishing this easily.
Apple could do it no problem - trivial for them

 

[constructor]

You just hit on something
There are some folks really "hoping" it's an all new panel to help justify the really high price Apple is charging.

Really hits (the wrong way) when more and more recycled components/ideas are slapped into an all new high price point. 😵

It's one of the best LCD panels available, with the best resolution anywhere close to its price point, free of mini LED blooming artifacts, color-calibrated and at long last a large retina display for external connection after a long time of only iMacs!

(The LG Ultrafine is crap and doesn't count.)

The only way up from there is the 6k XDR at an absurd pice point that's only appropriate for a tiny number of uses and that one also comes with mini LED blooming artifacts.

Talking of "recycled" is complete nonsense because there is nothing "new" anywhere close to it!

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's one of the best LCD panels available, with the best resolution anywhere close to its price point, free of mini LED blooming artifacts, color-calibrated and at long last a large retina displar for external connection after a long time of only iMacs!

(The LG Ultrafine is crap and doesn't count.)

The only way up from there is the 6k XDR at an absurd pice point that's only appropriate for a tiny number of uses and that one also comes with mini LED blooming artifacts.

Talking of "recycled" is complete nonsense because there is nothing "new" anywhere close to it!

So you're saying it perhaps is a recycled part -- but that's "good", because it's a great panel?

I agree!

I have no issue with it being recycled
Some folks seem to be bothered by that possibility (not me!)

 

[blairh]

While likely not the "exact" same, they are essentially the same with a slightly higher brightness. The differences that do exist are minor. When Apple is claiming "all new" they are implying this has be created from the ground up, which is simply not true.

Okay. But I take issue with this notion of minor differences. It’s clearly a brighter and higher contrast display compared to the 5K iMac and LG UF.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Better yet a 27” iMac that could also be used as a 27” 5K display if needed.

No. That was old Apple. New Apple says you just have to buy more things.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Okay. But I take issue with this notion of minor differences. It’s clearly a brighter and higher contrast display compared to the 5K iMac and LG UF.

Do you mind linking to the contrast measurements?
I'm interested to see those

thx

 

[NT1440]

To the people asking “why not just make it an iMac”, do you guys fight the “why doesn’t Apple make a standalone display” crowd?

 

[Cashmonee]

So Apple are essentially selling a 27" iMac with the computer part turned off. At least it is $200 cheaper?

 

[turbineseaplane]

So Apple are essentially selling a 27" iMac with the computer part turned off. At least it is $200 cheaper?

Not quite, but pretty close
(some components are missing/not quite right, but the building blocks are all basically there)

 

[WinstonRumfoord]

When it goes to refurb, the cheapest it will be is $1359.00 = $1599 X .85, which is the standard Apple refurb percentage off. Just an FYI.

Right, I meant more like backmarket or amazon refurb, which tend to be cheaper than direct apple refurbs.

 

[xpaulso]

At the very least they could run the AppleTV OS on it. That would allow full airplay2 support, and media consumption, facetime, and games. All without any mac attached. This would really work well for macbook users that need to dock sometimes.