Fix Your Stuff Community Store

MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement

Introduction

This guide will walk you through how to replace a faulty logic board. This motherboard includes all the ports on the right side of the MacBook Pro.

What you need

  1. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 3 of 3

    • Use your fingers to push both battery release tabs away from the battery, and lift the battery out of the computer.

    Edit

  2. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement, RAM Shield: step 2, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement, RAM Shield: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the three identical 2mm Phillips screws from the memory door.

    • Lift the memory door up enough to grip it and slide it toward you, pulling it away from the casing.

    Edit

  3. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement, Upper Case: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two 2.8 mm Phillips screws in the battery compartment near the latch.

    Edit

  4. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following 6 screws:

    • Two 10 mm T6 Torx screws on either side of the RAM slot.

    • Four 14.5 mm Phillips screws along the hinge.

    Edit

  5. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the four 3.2 mm PH00 Phillips screws on the port side of the computer.

    Edit

  6. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees and remove the two 3.2 mm Phillips screws from the rear of the computer.

    Edit

  7. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees again and remove the four 3.2 mm Phillips screws from the side of the computer.

    Edit

  8. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 8, image 3 of 3

    • Do not yank the upper case off quickly. The case is attached to the logic board via a ribbon cable.

    • Lift up at the rear of the case and work your fingers along the sides, freeing the case as you go. Once you have freed the sides, you may need to rock the case up and down to free the front of the upper case.

    • There are four plastic clips above the DVD slot, and another above and to the left of the IR sensor. These clips can be very difficult to disengage without prying. They can also be difficult to re-engage during reassembly.

    • Reassembly Tip: Press down firmly on the tip of the top case above the location of each clip until you hear a snap to reseat them in their slots.

    • Reassembly Tip: The two center DVD clips will rarely snap back into place properly without help, and downward pressure will instead simply deform the frame around the DVD slot. Support the frame by inserting a plastic spudger into the DVD slot directly under the clip location until it is snug, then press down until you hear the snap.

    Edit

  10. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • Disconnect the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable from the logic board, removing tape as necessary.

    • Note: It is possible to replace the hard drive without disconnecting the keyboard from the chassis, but it will need to be held upright to keep it out of the way, while still allowing you both hands to work on the drive removal.

    • Be careful when removing the keyboard-trackpad ribbon cable to ensure that the rear of the upper case is disengaged from the area near the hinge. It is easy to accidentally bend the screw receivers on either side of the keyboard.

    • Remove the upper case.

    Edit

  11. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement, Optical Drive: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the orange SuperDrive ribbon cable from the logic board, removing tape as necessary.

    Edit

  12. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the following 4 screws:

    • Two 3.3 mm silver Phillips screws on either side of the SuperDrive.

    • One 4.7 mm silver T6 Torx screw from the top left corner of the drive.

    • One 6.2 mm black Phillips screw at the top right corner of the drive.

    • Lift the optical drive up and out of the computer.

    Edit

  13. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement, Logic Board: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the hard drive and ExpressCard connectors from the left side of the logic board.

    Edit

  14. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the iSight and display data cables from the logic board by sliding them straight back out of their connectors, removing tape as necessary.

    Edit

  15. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the eight indicated connectors by placing a spudger beneath the wired side of each one and lifting up.

    • Use care when disconnecting some of the smaller connectors. A forceful prod with the spudger may accidentally break them off the logic board.

    Edit

  16. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the foam bumper from the top of the right hinge of the display.

    Edit

  17. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the silver 9.5 mm T6 Torx screw securing the ground loop in the display data cable to the casing.

    Edit

  18. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the single black 6 mm T6 Torx screw securing the upper portion of the logic board to the lower case.

    Edit

  19. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 1

    • Peel up the orange Kapton tape securing the right thermal sensor cable to the logic board.

    Edit

  20. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following 15 screws:

    • One 4.4 mm black Phillips screw to the right of the ram slot.

    • Eight 4.7 mm silver T6 Torx screws securing the logic board to the lower case.

    • If you leave the five uppermost orange screws in place, the heatsink/pipes come out effortlessly, still mounted onto the main board. That way its thermal connection is retained, and you won't need to reapply thermal paste as instructed two steps below.

    • One 6.2 mm black T6 Torx screw on the right side of the left fan.

    • Five 9.4 mm silver T6 Torx screws securing the left and right fans.

    Edit

  21. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 2

    • Hold the logic board down with one hand and use your other hand to lift the left fan up from its housing. There is a piece of black tape securing the left fan to the heat sink. Carefully peel this tape up from the heat sink as you lift the left fan up.

    • Place the left fan above the Airport card. It is not necessary to remove the fan from the computer entirely.

    • Lift the right fan up and carefully peel up the tape securing the fan to the heat sink as you go.

    • Remove the right fan from the computer.

    Edit

  22. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 2

    • Lift up the left side of the logic board and disconnect the gray and black power cable from the bottom of the board.

    • Pull the power cable connector parallel to the face of the logic board.

    • Grasp the logic board at the left side and at the thin section, and rotate the logic board out of the lower case.

    • If you detached the heatsink from the motherboard two steps above, you'll have to clean off and replace the old thermal compound from the chips on the back of the logic board. Use our Applying Thermal Paste Guide to prepare the processor and heat sink surfaces.

    Edit

  23. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Logic Board Replacement, Logic Board: step 22, image 1 of 1

    • Release the tabs on each side of the RAM chip at the same time. These tabs lock the chip in place and releasing them will cause the chip to "pop" up.

    • Pull the chip directly out from its connector.

    • If there are two RAM chips installed, repeat the above procedure for the second chip.

    • When reinstalling the logic board, completely clean off the old thermal paste and apply a new layer on the three chips (CPU, GPU & PCH).

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

237 other people completed this guide.

17 Comments

In step 15 re: foam bumper. On the reinstall of the foam bumper what do you use to reattach it and hold it in place?

Val - Reply

You can use double sided tape, foam or regular scotch,3m to reattach it.

Cong Trieu -

Thank you ifixit! I used this guide to remove and replace my logic board in my early 2008 MBP. I am among the successful (so far) ones who managed to reflow the gpu solder via the oven method. I purchased a few items from you to do the job. I had nothing to lose, so I went for it - and a detailed step by step guide no doubt was key to my success. The Arctic thermal paste was important to the reassembly as was removing all the dust clogging fans and heatsinks. My machine, which has been sitting collecting dust since last summer is humming quietly - I was able to upgrade to Yosemite on this old workhorse and testing it now. Woo hoo!

thompsonkmt - Reply

I recently had to reflow the chipset on my A1226 and then applied new thermal paste.

However, I forgot to remove the plastic tabs at the top of the logic board and they melted from the temperature of the heat gun. Now I cannot screw in the two center top screws on the back cover. First what are those pieces called and how can I get replacements?

They are tiny but apparently have a key function in reassembling the case.

I would appreciate any advice.

Thank you.

Howard U.

howard10475 - Reply

I forgot to attach the two bumpers before reassembling my MBP the first time I baked the logic board, so I saved them (for the next time). I needed to do another baking, so I reinstalled them after I was done. I did not have trouble reinstalling the screws as you describe - so maybe some part of the melted bumpers is obscuring the holes?

thompsonkmt -

Add Comment

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 11

Past 7 Days: 45

Past 30 Days: 170

All Time: 316,658