Swapping over 2015 MacBook Pro motherboard

[DouglasCarroll]

I use a 2015 15" MacBook Pro as my daily computer and I recently acquired free one of the models with the dedicated graphics, but it has some other non motherboard related issues. My plan is to swap over this "top of the line" 2015 dedicated graphics motherboard into my daily driver machine which only has the integrated graphics so I can have the top of the line 2015. The process seems pretty straightforward after checking out some online tutorials and I'm familiar with screwing around inside laptops from past projects. Does anyone have any "gotchas" or advice about the procedure that they might have experienced before I tear into this?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Fishrrman]

This is one of those "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situations.

I suppose if you're certain you can do the job successfully, it -might- be worth the try.

But then again...

 

[Macdctr]

If you're planning to swap out logic boards between computers the go to the iFixit web site and look up their tear downs for the 2015 MacBook Pro Retina and you won't have any problem. The iFixit tear down guides have a list of tools and provide step-by-step pictorial guides on how to do the logic board swap. Do yourself a favor and review their tear down guide and you should have no issues doing this swap.

 

[DouglasCarroll]

Thanks for the reply. I did check that out on iFixit and am planning to tackle this when my wife is out of town for her work so I won’t be disturbed…

👍

 

[DouglasCarroll]

This is one of those "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situations.

I suppose if you're certain you can do the job successfully, it -might- be worth the try.

But then again...

I know what you mean, however I’m frankensteining two machines that I don’t currently use and THEN if all is well I’ll swap over the ssd from my main machine.

 

[DouglasCarroll]

Finished swapping over the motherboard to the new machine a d everything working great! Definitely worth the effort!!

👍

 

[asbeve]

Finished swapping over the motherboard to the new machine a d everything working great! Definitely worth the effort!!

👍

Hello. I’m also swapping motherboard from integrated to dedicated graphics in a MBP15-mid2015. I’ve found the different heatsink I need, but not the screws and fasteners. Can you please tell me where you got the exact screws?

Asbjørn

 

[DouglasCarroll]

Hello. I’m also swapping motherboard from integrated to dedicated graphics in a MBP15-mid2015. I’ve found the different heatsink I need, but not the screws and fasteners. Can you please tell me where you got the exact screws?

Asbjørn

I needed to purchase nothing extra, only swap the motherboards between two cases.

 

[asbeve]

I needed to purchase nothing extra, only swap the motherboards between two cases.

Thanks for you reply. The motherboard differs with integrated graphics and dedicated graphics. The dedicated graphics needs a different heatsink, to better dissipate heat from the graphics card. Did you get a different heatsink, and did it come with the screws you needed? Because with integrated graphics the heatsink only needs 4 screws, but the dedicated one needs 8 screws.

 

[DouglasCarroll]

Sorry, I'm not sure what you're asking for. I literally swapped out the entire motherboard from one case into the other case, I didn't have to purchase anything else.

 

[alphaod]

Thanks for you reply. The motherboard differs with integrated graphics and dedicated graphics. The dedicated graphics needs a different heatsink, to better dissipate heat from the graphics card. Did you get a different heatsink, and did it come with the screws you needed? Because with integrated graphics the heatsink only needs 4 screws, but the dedicated one needs 8 screws.

Sounds like the OP's motherboard included the heatsink already on there, and you have a barebones one without any cooling hardware.

 

[asbeve]

Sounds like the OP's motherboard included the heatsink already on there, and you have a barebones one without any cooling hardware.

Thanks. Yes, that's right. Hope I find the screws I need.