Buying a broken Macbook

[ghost recon88]

Hey all, I'm debating making a move to a Macbook but so far the price has been the main factor holding up the move. I have some experience buying broken laptops, swapping out the motherboards, and getting them working again. However when it comes to Apple, I don't know much about their "logic boards".

I see there are many generations of Macbooks, if I buy a Macbook that is say labeled "AA11" and it's a 13", can I buy a logic board for say model "BB22" (assuming its for a 13" Macbook) and stick it in there? Or do I have to get a direct motherboard replacement?

Also are the CPUs soldered onto the motherboard? Or could I upgrade the CPU myself?

 

[TheStu]

1: A Logic Board is a Main Board is a Motherboard. There is no difference besides the name. And the fact that a Logic Board doesn't have a BIOS, Apple uses EFI.
2: AA11 versus BB11 (neither are real model numbers ), sometimes yes and sometimes no. I believe that the Core Duo, and the first 2 Core 2 Duo models were interchangeable. They had all the same mounting points, so you could take a Core Duo shell and drop a Core 2 Duo logic board into it. However, after that point I am not so sure. Your best bet is to get a 1:1 replacement, or at the very least, the same generation board since they always offered multiple speeds.
3: Yes they are soldered onto the logic board
4: No you cannot upgrade the CPU yourself.

 

[ghost recon88]

Alright thanks for that. It really sucks that Apple chose to solder the CPUs in. That's what thing that has kept me on the Windows side is that everything (save the video card) is user upgradeable.

I'm looking at a broken Macbook Pro 13.3". If I buy one that still has warranty left, and it won't boot up, how hard is it to transfer the remaining warranty to myself? And assuming the laptop doesn't have any physical damage, how hard is it to get repaired? Do they come out to your door like Dell does, or do you have to send it in?

 

[TheStu]

Alright thanks for that. It really sucks that Apple chose to solder the CPUs in. That's what thing that has kept me on the Windows side is that everything (save the video card) is user upgradeable.

I'm looking at a broken Macbook Pro 13.3". If I buy one that still has warranty left, and it won't boot up, how hard is it to transfer the remaining warranty to myself? And assuming the laptop doesn't have any physical damage, how hard is it to get repaired? Do they come out to your door like Dell does, or do you have to send it in?

The warranty is tied to the serial number, not the owner. They might ask you for some sort of proof of purchase, but past that I don't think they will hassle you.

You can either send in the system, or take it to the Genius Bar at the Apple Store. They will check it out and let you know if they will repair it under warranty. Then, they will either fix it in house if they can, or send it out.

 

[ghost recon88]

So would a Paypal receipt count as a proof of purchase :hmm:

I see they have two different 13" Macbook Pros, one has a black bezel around the LCD and one appears to be silver all the way around. I wonder if I can buy the silver one and put it a logic board from the black bezel one :hmm: