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Trebuin

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 3, 2008
1,494
272
Central Cali
I'm pretty sure I know what the result would be, but I am curious if anyone has attempted to swap the retina display with the standard on an older MBP.
 
Since the display is actually part of the screen housing now, you'd have to replace the entire top panel with the one from the regular MBP, and since the rMBP is slightly smaller in all dimensions, I doubt it would fit.
 
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Yeah I don't even think the logic boards are the same and if the pin connectors are the same. Further more the chassis is totally different. Did you even read any of the articles about the RMBP. They totally redesigned the screen construction. They removed the glass panel and stuff, made it thinner and what not.



But seriously whats the point. Downgrading from retina to hi-res? You want to save power or something?
 
Since the display is actually part of the screen housing now, you'd have to replace the entire top panel with the one from the rMBP, and since the rMBP is slightly smaller in all dimensions, I doubt it would fit.

That's my impression as well. Either it's impossible to get the screen transferred to another screen enclosure, or the entire new screen simply won't fit into the slotting of the old macbook. The best that could be done is an adapter, which will only give you bragging rights that you did it, though now you have essentially a two piece laptop.

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Yeah I don't even think the logic boards are the same and if the pin connectors are the same. Further more the chassis is totally different. Did you even read any of the articles about the RMBP. They totally redesigned the screen construction. They removed the glass panel and stuff, made it thinner and what not.



But seriously whats the point. Downgrading from retina to hi-res? You want to save power or something?

No, upgrading to retina. And in reality, bragging rights. I can't see the connection from all the reviews of the old and new macbook to see if they're the same or not. I know the screen has been redesigned.

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Is this a joke?

Is a macbook teardown a joke?
 
That's my impression as well. Either it's impossible to get the screen transferred to another screen enclosure, or the entire new screen simply won't fit into the slotting of the old macbook. The best that could be done is an adapter, which will only give you bragging rights that you did it, though now you have essentially a two piece laptop.

Bragging rights? It would look hideous since it wouldn't fit together properly :p

The connectors are probably different too so you'd have to fabricate an adapter yourself- I doubt anybody will be making them.

Why don't you just buy the old MBP if you don't want the Retina display? The specs on the mid-2012 legacy Pro is identical. Sure, it's a bit thicker and heavier, but it's certainly better than having two different laptops held on with duct tape or something like that. Pull out the ODD to save a bit of weight ;)
 
Bragging rights? It would look hideous since it wouldn't fit together properly :p

The connectors are probably different too so you'd have to fabricate an adapter yourself- I doubt anybody will be making them.

Why don't you just buy the old MBP if you don't want the Retina display? The specs on the mid-2012 legacy Pro is identical. Sure, it's a bit thicker and heavier, but it's certainly better than having two different laptops held on with duct tape or something like that. Pull out the ODD to save a bit of weight ;)

It would be the other way around, why spend 3k+ on a macbook if you can get a new display. Did that with another notebook in the past due to screen/keyboard scratching. Warranty didn't cover it and the screen only cost $150, much cheaper than their cost to fix.
 
That's my impression as well. Either it's impossible to get the screen transferred to another screen enclosure, or the entire new screen simply won't fit into the slotting of the old macbook.

Both. What you're asking isn't possible.
 
I tried this. I didn't work. I took two machines apart and got all the parts mixed up. Now I have a lot of parts that don't fit together. I also stepped one something and it cracked. Not my best work by far. :eek:
 
It would be the other way around, why spend 3k+ on a macbook if you can get a new display. Did that with another notebook in the past due to screen/keyboard scratching. Warranty didn't cover it and the screen only cost $150, much cheaper than their cost to fix.

I'm confused. You want to upgrade your regular MBP with a retina display, but where are you getting the retina display? Are you going to order a $3k laptop, take the screen out....and then what? You're left with a screen-less $3k laptop you can't return.
 
all you do is go into the settings>display scale it one up from the best (Retina) settings and it's 1680 x 1050. its even a little clearer looking than the actual 1680 x 1050 hi res screen too.
 
If you try taking a Retina Macbook Pro display apart, you're gonna have a bad time.
If+you+try+to+hard+to+make+the+Front+Page+_0ef8c0c53b5210aec038081c0f71d4bc.png
 
It would be the other way around, why spend 3k+ on a macbook if you can get a new display. Did that with another notebook in the past due to screen/keyboard scratching. Warranty didn't cover it and the screen only cost $150, much cheaper than their cost to fix.

It would work if the parts were designed to be interchangeable. Obviously, it isn't.

I'm confused. You want to upgrade your regular MBP with a retina display, but where are you getting the retina display? Are you going to order a $3k laptop, take the screen out....and then what? You're left with a screen-less $3k laptop you can't return.

The title of the thread seems to indicate that he's interested in swapping the Retina display with a High-Res display from the regular MBP, though after reading through the rest of the replies he could be talking about the other way round? I'm pretty confused now.
 
This is like trying to swap parts between, say, two different generations of cars. Sure, the new one has something cool that you want, but the whole thing is entirely redesigned including everything that has to do with mounting/interfacing with the part/feature that you'd like to add.


Not gonna happen, and no one will develop an adapter for a piece that isn't going to fit. Square block in a circle shaped hole.
 
I tried this. I didn't work. I took two machines apart and got all the parts mixed up. Now I have a lot of parts that don't fit together. I also stepped one something and it cracked. Not my best work by far. :eek:

End of this serious thread :D
 
That's my impression as well. Either it's impossible to get the screen transferred to another screen enclosure, or the entire new screen simply won't fit into the slotting of the old macbook. The best that could be done is an adapter, which will only give you bragging rights that you did it, though now you have essentially a two piece laptop.

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No, upgrading to retina. And in reality, bragging rights. I can't see the connection from all the reviews of the old and new macbook to see if they're the same or not. I know the screen has been redesigned.

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Is a macbook teardown a joke?

No, but buying something so you can brag about it certainly is.
 
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