Upgrading MBP Logic Board

[LewisChapman]

Hi all,

I have searched the forums and online elsewhere but I can't quite find a good guide/answer to my question.

I have a late 2011 MBP 13 inch and I want to replace all of the internals with the internals of a 2012 MBP (or later). I want the 3.0 USB ports and I'm sick of having to enable continuity manually with the 2012 Airport Card I currently have installed.

Is this possible? Looking at the parts roughly I believe the board will fit however will there be any software issues?

Cheers.

 

[chrfr]

Looking at the parts roughly I believe the board will fit however will there be any software issues?

There may not be software issues, but there are likely to be hardware issues. Thermal engineering, display connections, power connections, etc. are not necessarily the same. It appears that the full display assembly is different in each so you would need to replace that too.
If you want the features from a 2012 Macbook, you should buy one and sell your 2011. It will get you a functional, properly engineered computer and will almost certainly cost you less than the parts alone for a 2012.

 

[T5BRICK]

Is this possible?

Anything is possible, but it'll be more cost effective to just sell your 2011 model and buy something newer.

 

[LewisChapman]

There may not be software issues, but there are likely to be hardware issues. Thermal engineering, display connections, power connections, etc. are not necessarily the same. It appears that the full display assembly is different in each so you would need to replace that too.
If you want the features from a 2012 Macbook, you should buy one and sell your 2011. It will get you a functional, properly engineered computer and will almost certainly cost you less than the parts alone for a 2012.

Thanks for the reply. To my knowledge all of the connections are the same including the power and display. Whether the thermal properties would be any different I am unsure since the shell of the 2012 model is entirely the same as the 2011 model and even if the 2012 logic board produces more heat, the body is still the same as well as the fan and thermal dissipation channels. Could you provide some more information on the full display assembly as that is interesting and I can't find much on it.

My 2011 MacBook Pro has 1TB of SSD, 16GB RAM, Blu-Ray optical drive internal and the battery has been replaced before - I can't get that much more money for this spec and if I gut it and put it back to stock I am still only looking at £500-£600 maybe to the right buyer. I can pick up a 2012 logic board for £300 which is cheaper than buying a used 2012 MacBook Pro. I'm a student so not only do I not have the money but I need the optical drive for submissions etc.

I appreciate your time and I do see where you are coming from just it would also be a good project for me for when I'm not studying.

Anything is possible, but it'll be more cost effective to just sell your 2011 model and buy something newer.

I've had a look at costs (see above) and unless I'm missing something major and being a bit dull I think it might be more cost effective to upgrade it - makes for a good project and I'll post the updates on here too.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[T5BRICK]

I've had a look at costs (see above) and unless I'm missing something major and being a bit dull I think it might be more cost effective to upgrade it - makes for a good project and I'll post the updates on here too.

If you feel like you're up to the challenge, go for it.

Alternatively, heres a refurbished 2012 13" MacBook Pro for £759.00.

 

[chrfr]

Could you provide some more information on the full display assembly as that is interesting and I can't find much on it.

iFixit is a good indicator. The display assemblies for the 2011 and 2012 MBPs are different part numbers. The panels themselves are the same, but that won't help you.
2011: https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/Ma...y-2011-Late-2011-Display-Assembly/IF163-028-3 which is Apple part # 661-5868
2012: https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/MacBook-Pro-13-Inch-Unibody-Mid-2012-Display-Assembly/IF163-042-1 Apple part # 661-6594

My 2011 MacBook Pro has 1TB of SSD, 16GB RAM, Blu-Ray optical drive

These can go in the 2012.

I can pick up a 2012 logic board for £300

which is cheaper than buying a used 2012 MacBook Pro. I'm a student so not only do I not have the money but I need the optical drive for submissions etc.

If you buy the logic board alone, your 2011 has no resale value. There isn't that much price difference between a complete 2011 and complete 2012 computer.

 

[LewisChapman]

If you feel like you're up to the challenge, go for it.

Alternatively, heres a refurbished 2012 13" MacBook Pro for £759.00.

I have had a look at the refurbished models, but I wouldn't want to go from an i7 to an i5 and the i7 models are £900+ and at that point I could get a new one for £1200.

 

[LewisChapman]

iFixit is a good indicator. The display assemblies for the 2011 and 2012 MBPs are different part numbers. The panels themselves are the same, but that won't help you.
2011: https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/Ma...y-2011-Late-2011-Display-Assembly/IF163-028-3 which is Apple part # 661-5868
2012: https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/MacBook-Pro-13-Inch-Unibody-Mid-2012-Display-Assembly/IF163-042-1 Apple part # 661-6594

What does this mean do you think? Would this suggest that the LCD connectors are different?

If you buy the logic board alone, your 2011 has no resale value. There isn't that much price difference between a complete 2011 and complete 2012 computer.

Not sure if I follow - it's been a long day. Once I replace the 2011 logic board with the 2012 logic board I would run it into the ground - I was planning to run this MacBook until it stops working but I have been tempted with this project and the USB 3.0 would benefit me. It's less about the resale cost and more about the function I would gain from the new board.

Thanks for your time and the reply.

 

[chrfr]

What does this mean do you think? Would this suggest that the LCD connectors are different?

It could be that or some other wiring. Apple does not document these sorts of changes.

Not sure if I follow - it's been a long day. Once I replace the 2011 logic board with the 2012 logic board I would run it into the ground

I mean you could sell the 2011 and buy a complete 2012, but if you buy a 2012 board, you can't sell the 2011. I really think you're overestimating the price delta. Also, the difference between i5 and i7 CPUs are, for most people, extremely inconsequential.

 

[hallux]

If you look at the iFixit guides for both machines (I looked at the late 2011 13" and mid 2012 13"), it looks like the heatsink mounting may be different. Look at step 27 for both. Also the heatsink routes across the board different, so unless you get it with the board you'll be SOL.

 

[TheIguana]

I think it is a very interesting idea and if your willing to invest the time in it this could be a fun project. But if you just want a computer that works better your going to be way better off buying a newer model.

My big concern would be that Apple tends to shift things around with every version a slight amount. Thus mounting the logic board in there might actually be more problematic than you expect.

 

[LewisChapman]

It could be that or some other wiring. Apple does not document these sorts of changes.


I mean you could sell the 2011 and buy a complete 2012, but if you buy a 2012 board, you can't sell the 2011. I really think you're overestimating the price delta. Also, the difference between i5 and i7 CPUs are, for most people, extremely inconsequential.

I can see what you mean, it's just a mentality thing I don't want to feel like I've 'downgraded' - hyper threading > USB 3.0.

Cheers

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I can see what you mean, it's just a mentality thing I don't want to feel like I've 'downgraded' - hyper threading > USB 3.0.

Cheers

It will still work out cheaper to sell the 2011 and buy a 2012.

2011 about £4-500 buy it now on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f....TRS0&_nkw=apple+macbook+pro+13+2011&_sacat=0

2012 about £5-600 on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o....TRS0&_nkw=apple+macbook+pro+13+2012&_sacat=0

Buy the 2012 swap out your ssd and RAM and then sell the 2011 for a loss of about £100

The 2012 all have USB 3 and Hyperthreading.

 

[LewisChapman]

If you look at the iFixit guides for both machines (I looked at the late 2011 13" and mid 2012 13"), it looks like the heatsink mounting may be different. Look at step 27 for both. Also the heatsink routes across the board different, so unless you get it with the board you'll be SOL.

Yes I did notice that, it seems that the screw mounting points for the heatsink are the same so if I could source the heatsink I may be able to replace it however the images I have come across do not show more of the heatsink.

 

[chrfr]

I can see what you mean, it's just a mentality thing I don't want to feel like I've 'downgraded' - hyper threading > USB 3.0.

Cheers

i5s are Hyperthreaded in the Macbook Pros.

 

[LewisChapman]

I think it is a very interesting idea and if your willing to invest the time in it this could be a fun project. But if you just want a computer that works better your going to be way better off buying a newer model.

My big concern would be that Apple tends to shift things around with every version a slight amount. Thus mounting the logic board in there might actually be more problematic than you expect.

It will still work out cheaper to sell the 2011 and buy a 2012.

2011 about £4-500 buy it now on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f....TRS0&_nkw=apple+macbook+pro+13+2011&_sacat=0

2012 about £5-600 on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o....TRS0&_nkw=apple+macbook+pro+13+2012&_sacat=0

Buy the 2012 swap out your ssd and RAM and then sell the 2011 for a loss of about £100

The 2012 all have USB 3 and Hyperthreading.

I'm not really doing this for a new computer. I'm interested in this project and I would hope it would make for a good read for the MacRumors community however I don't want to go ahead and buy a board that clearly does not fit since this will just be a waste of money/time.

And.. USB 3.0 would be nice.

 

[LewisChapman]

i5s are Hyperthreaded in the Macbook Pros.

I wasn't aware of this, always thought the i7's were the only processors with the hyper threading.

Still doesn't change my mind but thanks for the info.

 

[snaky69]

I wasn't aware of this, always thought the i7's were the only processors with the hyper threading.

Still doesn't change my mind but thanks for the info.

That is only true in the quad cores.

The performance difference (if any) between your i7 and the i5 in the newer MBP would be a few percent, not much more.

Edit: your 2011 i7 scores 5655 in geekbench, the 2012 i5 5689, so the newer i5 is actually 0.6% faster. So theoretically, it's more of a sidegrade than a downgrade.

 

[LewisChapman]

That is only true in the quad cores.

The performance difference (if any) between your i7 and the i5 in the newer MBP would be a few percent, not much more.

Edit: your 2011 i7 scores 5655 in geekbench, the 2012 i5 5689, so the newer i5 is actually 0.6% faster. So theoretically, it's more of a sidegrade than a downgrade.

Now that is interesting however I have the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the i7-2640M 2.8 GHz which scores 6,973.

It does show the improvements that have been made with the 2012 over the 2011 though.

 

[snaky69]

Now that is interesting however I have the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the i7-2640M 2.8 GHz which scores 6,973.

It does show the improvements that have been made with the 2012 over the 2011 though.

Which was the model I was comparing. 2011 i7-2640M 2.8GHz vs i5-3210M 2.5Ghz.

See for yourself:
2011:
http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/2963275

2012:

http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/2963428

 

[LewisChapman]

Which was the model I was comparing. 2011 i7-2640M 2.8GHz vs i5-3210M 2.5Ghz.

See for yourself:
2011:
http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/2963275

2012:

http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/2963428

Why are the results different between here and here?

 

[laurihoefs]

Why are the results different between here and here?

Different benchmarks. First one is Geekbench 2, second one Geekbench 3.

The fact that the 2011 and 2012 display assemblies are different parts makes me think the logic boards are not quite interchangeable. The top cases seem to be the same, so the board would fit in place, but the display cables or Airport antenna cables could have slightly different lenghts, if they are routed differently.

Ifixit seems to use same pictures for its guides of both models, so they are likely very close. It's hard to say if there actually would be visible differences, if they used different pictures for each guide

 

[snaky69]

Different benchmarks. First one is Geekbench 2, second one Geekbench 3.

Exactly.

 

[LewisChapman]

I'm more interested with this thread as to whether anyone has heard of this installation being done and if it's physically possible more than whether it's economically viable.

Might seem silly I'm sure but I just think it would be a great project to complete and share with the community.

 

[snaky69]

So long as all the connectors, heatsinks, etc are the same physical size and occupy the same physical location on the board, I don't see why this wouldn't be possible.