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MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown

Written By: Luke Soules (and 7 other contributors)
Published: September 24, 2009
  • Comments: 21
  • Favorites: 144
  • Views: 393.1k

MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown

Written By: Luke Soules (and 7 other contributors)
Published: September 24, 2009
  • Comments: 21
  • Favorites: 144
  • Views: 393.1k

Teardown

Introduction

Go to step 1

We disassembled this computer on October 15, 2008.

What you need

Tools

Show more…

This teardown is not a repair guide. To repair your MacBook Unibody Model A1278, use our service manual.

  1. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown, MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Apple boasts that, "The new MacBook packaging is 41 percent smaller than the previous generation" and is made from recycled material.

    • Smaller packaging, they say, means fewer planes to transport the same number of products.

    • Follow our updates on twitter.

    Edit

  2. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • It looks like a MacBook Air from the top, but it's about 25% thicker than the thickest part of the Air, and almost 6 times thicker than the thinnest part.

    • To be fair, though, it's about 12 percent thinner than its predecessor (0.95 in vs. 1.08 in) and 10 percent lighter (4.5 pounds vs. 5 pounds).

    Edit

  3. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • In the box:

    • 85-page user's manual

    • Restore DVDs

    • 60-watt AC adapter

    • AC adapter extension cable

    • Cleaning cloth

    • As with previous MacBooks, there's no video adapter included. There's an empty spot in the box where it would fit nicely, but there's no adapter to be found. Apple offers the DisplayPort adapter for $29 extra.

    Edit

  4. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • There's a new Mini DisplayPort (fourth from the right), and a complete lack of a FireWire port.

    • It may be hard to tell from the image, but there are now 8 lights on the battery indicator, and it's conveniently located where you can actually see it.

    Edit

  5. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Opening the battery latch.

    • For those hurt by the financial crisis, a coin is no longer required.

    Edit

  6. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • The hard drive is on the left, and the battery is on the right.

    • The new MacBook uses the same hard drives as previous MacBook models.

    • Shameless plug: If you're not ready for a new machine, you can upgrade the hard drive in any Apple laptop. We have free guides for most models that make hard drive replacements easy.

    Edit

    Beautiful computer . Even in 2017

    dilirdaiyan - Reply

    “you can upgrade the hard drive in any Apple laptop”. That didn’t age well

    Duck - Reply

  7. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • The battery is 45 watt-hours compared to 55 on the previous generation. It's also almost 20 percent lighter (302 g vs. 402 g).

    • Still, Apple claims that you'll get 5 hours of wireless productivity (with the display brightness set to 50 percent).

    Edit

  9. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • The hard drive is held down by a single Phillips screw.

    • Like the last black MacBook, the standard hard drive on the 2.4 GHz model is 250GB SATA and 5400 rpm.

    Edit

  10. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 9, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnecting the hard drive.

    • To replace the hard drive, you'll need a T6 Torx screwdriver to transfer the hard drive mounting screws to the new drive.

    Edit

  11. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • The bottom panel is attached by 8 screws:

    • One 3 mm Phillips in the top left corner.

    • Four 3.5 mm Phillips along the bottom.

    • Three 13.8 mm Phillips along the top.

    Edit

    what type of screws are those, i'm missing those threws

    step 10

    rosie - Reply

  12. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Removing the bottom panel provides access to the RAM, optical drive, display hinge, fan, and logic board.

    • It looks like the only really hard part to replace will be the upper case and keyboard.

    Edit

  13. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Removing the RAM

    • 2GB (two 1GB SO-DIMMs) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM are included. Apple will upgrade the RAM to 4GB for an extra $150.

    • Apple claims this machine maxes out at 4GB RAM, but the Montevina chipset appears to support up to 8GB.

    • Shameless plug: You can upgrade your existing MacBook or MacBook Pro to 4 GB. We'll also be offering the RAM for the new Unibody machines in the near future.

    Edit

    It's been tested... 6GB max. Why? Who knows, but the computer will not recognize 8GB (and a 4GB chip for this machine is still stupid expensive...)

    fairleymac - Reply

    Nope, not true. I am currently running 8 GB (2 x 4GB Corsair) in my Late 2008 Unibody MacBook.

    Given, it was probably adjusted in some later update in the 5 years since you posted that comment. Still, useful to know.

    Kevin K - Reply

    Yes Kevin it id useful for me I have late 2009 Macbook Uni.

    Ice - Reply

  14. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • We've now exhausted the installation instructions Apple printed on the back of the battery cover.

    • Disconnecting the subwoofer and optical drive cables.

    Edit

    I am having a hard time disconnecting the subwoofer cable from the logic board. Does it pop straight off? Is there a trick?

    pjohn07 - Reply

    Be very careful here. Mine had a small piece of foam on too. Peal this off carefully. Don't peel from the corner of the plastic square. Slide wire side gently away toward optical drive. If possible hold down very thin sides of retaining clip while pulling away.

    web1 - Reply

  15. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • The optical drive is held in by the following 4 screws:

    • Three 2.5 mm Phillips.

    • One 3.7 mm Phillips.

    • Apple gives the following specification: 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW).

    Edit

  16. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 15, image 1 of 2 MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 15, image 2 of 2

    • The optical drive, now SATA.

    • The optical drive shows a manufacture date of October 2008. That drive sure got from the factory to us fast!

    Edit

  17. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Removing the logic board.

    • This may be the most beautiful laptop we've disassembled. Apple has a right to be proud of their engineers and manufacturing team.

    Edit

    I'd love some more detail on which screws need to be removed in order to remove the logic board.

    pjohn07 - Reply

    Quote from pjohn07:

    I'd love some more detail on which screws need to be removed in order to remove the logic board.

    This is a teardown, and should not be used as a repair guide due to many missing steps. The repair guides for this machine can be found here.

    Andrew Bookholt - Reply

  18. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 17, image 1 of 3 MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 17, image 2 of 3 MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 17, image 3 of 3
    Edit

    If you were to double or triple the resolution of the huge image, then we could read the part numbers and perhaps help in mapping out the circuit

    Tom Dowad - Reply

    are there different types of logic boards that I can replace mine with? and where can i get them

    matt - Reply

  19. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 18, image 1 of 1

    • The bottom of the logic board.

    • Part numbers found thus far:

    • Cypress PSoC Mixed-Signal Array CY8C24794-24L FXI 0831 A 04 KOR CYP 637569

    • Realtek HD Audio Codec ALC885 87J24A1 G83283

    • TDK 6T213HF 0838 d

    • ISL95O4 BHRZ H0832BB49

    • APP001 928 3T 0829A

    • SN 802043 TI 87K JR7C G4

    Edit

    SN802043 is the actual part number (The numbers 87K JR7C G4 are different on each IC batch produced). This part is hard to get (unless you live in USA) and is not listed in Texas Instruments website http://www.ti.com If anybody in UK has this part, please Add a comment.

    Gurjinder Virdee - Reply

  20. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 19, image 1 of 2 MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 19, image 2 of 2

    • Removing the right speaker and subwoofer.

    • The new MacBook received a welcome speaker upgrade. In the second image, the old plastic MacBook's speakers are on the left, and the new MacBook's speakers are on the right.

    Edit

  21. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • The elegant new glass and Aluminum display assembly.

    • Amazingly, the new display assembly weighs slightly less than the previous MacBook's plastic display assembly.

    Edit

    could this be replaced with a newer macbook air 13.3inch screen thereby increasing this macbooks resolution?

    Calum Macrae - Reply

  22. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Teardown: step 21, image 1 of 1

    • All major components - only 4.5 pounds, not bad for a full-featured, metal laptop.

    • Looking for more pictures? We've also disassembled the new MacBook Pro.

    Edit

7 Comments

My comp turns on and the screen turns white and stays white. If I hook it up via hdmi it works fine through my tv. Need help on what it could be

Joey c - Reply

Apple will help you. Simply ask them (Customer Service) for a reply.

Ethan Z -

While disassembling my MacBook 2008-11 model as seen in these pictures, I was careful to lay out and label each part to reassemble after attempting to repair from water damage. When I lifted the hard drive a small black rectangular bracket about 1/2 wide with a small square on the back and an extruding piece against the black hollow square tha appears would go over a screw hole; dropped to the floor. It has part number ZYI-4 as best I can make out. Does anyone know where this goes? I cannot figure it out. Thanks!!!!

Sara - Reply

Hi Label beetween keyboard a lil bit part i dont see in my macbook. This part is ? Because my macbook dont turn on.

Iovany Gabriel - Reply

Great help with this post and a couple of others here at ifixit.com helped me in around 90 minutes to replace the thermal paste.

Thanks ifixit.com !!!

ioannisk - Reply

Are the logic boards for 2.0GHz and 2.4GHz interchangeable?

Arend van Teutem - Reply

We all love the unibody... with 16 GB RAM and 1TB SDD.

nicO - Reply

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