Apple's new MacBook Pro has antenna mounted to optical drive frame
A disassembly of Apple's new 15-inch Core i5 MacBook Pro has uncovered Intel's HM55 chipset, a redesigned speaker assembly, and a wireless antenna mounted on the frame of the optical drive opening.
"The new MacBook Pro doesn't look any different than its predecessor, but Apple has made quite a few subtle tweaks within their latest professional laptop," said Kyle Wiens, teardown specialist over at iFixIt. "We dove inside to find out exactly what a year's worth of tweaks and improvements looks like."
In an email, Wiens noted the following highlights from the tear-down:
Wireless
Apple moved the WiFi/Bluetooth board. This redesign no longer requires that the wireless connections be integrated into the camera cable, greatly decreasing the size of the connector.
Since the WiFi/Bluetooth board is now mounted inside the all-metal case, Apple added an antenna that is mounted on the frame for the optical drive opening. "Pretty clever! Time will tell what impact this move has on wireless performance."
Audio
Apple changed the design of this speaker assembly slightly, moving from a single plastic enclosure to separate plastic enclosures for the speaker & subwoofer that are connected by the speaker leads.
Graphics Switching
Apple's homebred automatic graphics switching calls on the OS to switch to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M graphics as needed for higher demand applications "like Chess, and uses the integrated Intel Core i5 graphics for Solitaire."
Chipset
Apple is using Intel's HM55 Express Chipset. Apple has clearly tweaked Intel's chipset to enable the seamless switching between the Intel and NVIDIA graphics. Interestingly enough, the chipset hub (BD82HM55) is not connected to the heat sink. Enough heat is convected from the surface of the silicon to remove the small amount of heat generated. Another advantage of this Intel chipset over Optimus is that the integrated graphics are powered down when the discrete GPU is active.
Battery
The battery is now rated at 77.5 Wh. That's just a tad bit bigger (6%) than the 73 Wh battery we found in last year's 15" model, but not enough to explain the 2 hour battery life (22%) improvement Apple is claiming for this machine. Apple has dramatically reduced this machine's power consumption, and we expect it to run quite a bit cooler than the previous model.
Apple has stopped using five-point Torx screws found on other MBP 15" Unibodies in favor of Tri-Wing screws.
"The new MacBook Pro doesn't look any different than its predecessor, but Apple has made quite a few subtle tweaks within their latest professional laptop," said Kyle Wiens, teardown specialist over at iFixIt. "We dove inside to find out exactly what a year's worth of tweaks and improvements looks like."
In an email, Wiens noted the following highlights from the tear-down:
Wireless
Apple moved the WiFi/Bluetooth board. This redesign no longer requires that the wireless connections be integrated into the camera cable, greatly decreasing the size of the connector.
Since the WiFi/Bluetooth board is now mounted inside the all-metal case, Apple added an antenna that is mounted on the frame for the optical drive opening. "Pretty clever! Time will tell what impact this move has on wireless performance."
Audio
Apple changed the design of this speaker assembly slightly, moving from a single plastic enclosure to separate plastic enclosures for the speaker & subwoofer that are connected by the speaker leads.
Graphics Switching
Apple's homebred automatic graphics switching calls on the OS to switch to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M graphics as needed for higher demand applications "like Chess, and uses the integrated Intel Core i5 graphics for Solitaire."
Chipset
Apple is using Intel's HM55 Express Chipset. Apple has clearly tweaked Intel's chipset to enable the seamless switching between the Intel and NVIDIA graphics. Interestingly enough, the chipset hub (BD82HM55) is not connected to the heat sink. Enough heat is convected from the surface of the silicon to remove the small amount of heat generated. Another advantage of this Intel chipset over Optimus is that the integrated graphics are powered down when the discrete GPU is active.
Battery
The battery is now rated at 77.5 Wh. That's just a tad bit bigger (6%) than the 73 Wh battery we found in last year's 15" model, but not enough to explain the 2 hour battery life (22%) improvement Apple is claiming for this machine. Apple has dramatically reduced this machine's power consumption, and we expect it to run quite a bit cooler than the previous model.
Apple has stopped using five-point Torx screws found on other MBP 15" Unibodies in favor of Tri-Wing screws.
Comments
Apple has stopped using five-point Torx screws found on other MBP 15" Unibodies in favor of Tri-Wing screws.
Ah damn. Now I can't use my outdated Torx screwdriver to break open the case anymore. Seriously though, wonder why they stopped using Torx in favor of Tri-wing?
Obviously, the MBA's would need a lot more RAM & larger SSHD's. And a lot lower price.
But, now I think Apple should just 'dump' the SuperDrive in the MacBookPro's and use the space for larger batteries...add SSHD's and you have an 'instant-on' laptop with a ~15 to 20hr battery life.
Knowing Apple, they (MBP's) would most likely be a little thinner, too!
Thoughts!
Ps. I also think with the advent of the iPad that has pretty much killed the MBA....I know it has for me. All I need is my iPhone 3Gs, iPad 3g and a 27" iMac....and I'm good to go along with my AppleTV!
Pss. Once I get my iPad 3G...I will seriously be thinking of dropping my iPhone 3Gs for a 'dumb' phone and tell ATT to 'stuff the $110/mo iPhone fees up their nose!'
Apple has dramatically reduced this machine's power consumption, and we expect it to run quite a bit cooler than the previous model.
AnandTech notes that it's actually warmer and uses an additional fan, but that might be with the previous entry-level 15" MBP.
I was thinking that in conjunction with the MacBookPro lineup, the MBA was the future...eventually adding a 15" and 17" with the idea of supplanting the MBP dominance. Sans the Superdrive!
Obviously, the MBA's would need a lot more RAM & larger SSHD's. And a lot lower price.
But, now I think Apple should just 'dump' the SuperDrive in the MacBookPro's and use the space for larger batteries...add SSHD's and you have an 'instant-on' laptop with a ~15 to 20hr battery life.
Knowing Apple, they (MBP's) would most likely be a little thinner, too!
Thoughts!
Ps. I also think with the advent of the iPad that has pretty much killed the MBA....I know it has for me. All I need is my iPhone 3Gs, iPad 3g and a 27" iMac....and I'm good to go along with my AppleTV!
Pss. Once I get my iPad 3G...I will seriously be thinking of dropping my iPhone 3Gs for a 'dumb' phone and tell ATT to 'stuff the $110/mo iPhone fees up their nose!'
1) I think the MBA has its place. The iPad for traveling weighs greatly with consuming not creating. The MBA still makes a lightweight device for travel if you need to do a lot of typing. The next update for the MBA should be the CULV Core-i7, hopefully with 4GB RAM and with a greatly improved battery life. With the 9400M being on par with Intel HD, I would think that is an okay tradeoff as long as the anemic battery duration is increased, and price once again lowered (but not to the foolish sub-MacBook prices some people think it should simply because it's less powerful than a MB).
2) If the MBA does get discontinued, I think that speaks more for the future of Mac notebooks than for it being a result of the iPad. I think that would mean the removal of widely unused internal ODD in their next release. A USB drive or SD card with some funky design just for the Mac OS X Restore Disc utilizing the cheapest, slowest NAND would still faster than any DVD, use less power and be cheaper when you consider the cost savings from drive, too. After years of waiting for Blu-ray each new release pulls farther and farther away from Apple supplying BRDs in Macs. I think they might add AACS support in the future, but only well after ODDs have been removed from their notebooks. Do you really think they added SD card slots so late in the game just for photo transfers? I don't.
3) The most pressing issue seems to be the next revision of the 13" MBP. The space and price point seem to make adding a discrete GPU difficult, to put it mildly, and while the C2D with Nvida 320M is certainly a better choice over Core-i3 and Intel HD I can't see them being able to pull that same trick next time around. I think a discrete GPU in the 13" MBP is going to be required.
4) I bought an iPad to see if carrying it around could replace my iPhone. I found that it's much easier to walk or stand in line much easier with the iPhone, which is how I seem to mostly use it. For me, I don't think saving a few bucks on carrier fees will work.
I think Apple should just 'dump' the SuperDrive in the MacBookPro's and use the space for larger batteries...add SSHD's and you have an 'instant-on' laptop with a ~15 to 20hr battery life.
Intriguing to think about, but I think a battery that large would be cost prohibitive. I would think it would be cheap enough to accomplish in the near future, but I almost have to wonder if lithium batteries will experience diseconomies of scale due to the high demand (especially with electric cars hitting the market en masse).
I do think you could move the SuperDrive to being external for 100% of the MacBook lineup and get away with it, though. Thinking of when you actually need it, it?s mostly for installing software, ripping DVDs, etc., which are ?desktop? tasks. Even then, at least for me, it?s quite rare.
1) I think the MBA has it's place. The iPad for traveling weighs greatly with consuming not creating. The MBA still makes a lightweight device for travel if you need to do a lot of typing. The next update for the MBA should be the CULV Core-i7, hopefully with 4GB RAM and with a greatly improved battery life. With the 9400M being on par with Intel HD, I would think that is an okay tradeoff as long as the anemic battery duration is increased, and price once again lowered (but not to the foolish sub-MacBook prices some people think it should simply because it's less powerful than a MB).
2) If the MBA does get discontinued, I think that speaks more for the future of Mac notebooks than for it being a result of the iPad. I think that would mean the removal of widely unused internal ODD in their next release. A USB drive or SD card with some funky design just for the Mac OS X Restore Disc utilizing the cheapest, slowest NAND would still faster than any DVD, use less power and be cheaper when you consider the cost savings from drive, too. After years of waiting for Blu-ray each new release pulls farther and farther away from Apple supplying BRDs in Macs. I think they might add AACS support in the future, but only well after ODDs have been removed from their notebooks. Do you really think they added SD card slots so late in the game just for photo transfers? I don't.
3) The most pressing issue seems to be the next revision of the 13" MBP. The space and price point seem to make adding a discrete GPU difficult, to put it mildly, and while the C2D with Nvida 320M is certainly a better choice over Core-i3 and Intel HD I can't see them being able to pull that same trick next time around. I think a discrete GPU in the 13" MBP is going to be required.
4) I bought an iPad to see if carrying it around could replace my iPhone. I found that it's much easier to walk or stand in line much easier with the iPhone, which is how I seem to mostly use it. For me, I don't think saving a few bucks on carrier fees will work.
Very thoughtful response....and you are exactly correct about doing 'work' on the MBA as opposed to the iPad. I agree I most likely won't give up my 3Gs iPhone either. I guess I will just have to get one each of every product Apple makes!!!!!
Intriguing to think about, but I think a battery that large would be cost prohibitive. I would think it would be cheap enough to accomplish in the near future, but I almost have to wonder if lithium batteries will experience diseconomies of scale due to the high demand (especially with electric cars hitting the market en masse).
I do think you could move the SuperDrive to being external for 100% of the MacBook lineup and get away with it, though. Thinking of when you actually need it, it’s mostly for installing software, ripping DVDs, etc., which are “desktop” tasks. Even then, at least for me, it’s quite rare.
Agreed! Using the Superdrive is quite rare for me, too. In fact, if I remember correctly, the last time I did use it, is just as you say...to load software, specifically the Snow Leopard Box Set! And that was two days after it was released. So that was awhile ago! Meanwhile, I've been carrying it around everywhere I go!
But, now I think Apple should just 'dump' the SuperDrive in the MacBookPro's
I think thats a really great idea. I cant remember the last time I used the SuperDrive, and even the pros who need to use it, are unlikely to use it while traveling. Its pretty much become only a home/office use deal, a need which should be met quite well by an external drive.
Toshiba and WD now have 640G at 9.5mm. There are a couple of 750G and 1TB available in 12.5 now. WD just announced a 750G at 9.5mm for end of 2010. Amazing. They are JUST keeping up with my photo/music addiction. ;-)
Jim
Intriguing to think about, but I think a battery that large would be cost prohibitive. I would think it would be cheap enough to accomplish in the near future, but I almost have to wonder if lithium batteries will experience diseconomies of scale due to the high demand (especially with electric cars hitting the market en masse).
I don't think anyone expects it to take up the entire additional space left over from the ODD. More so than the other machines, 13" MBP really need space for a GPU, probably could lower some costs and reduce heat by allowing greater cooling. Also, that 5" for the optical disc slot could be used for ports. Apple already had to remove the separate microphone port and move the ports closer together than they created the unibody MBP. Jobs even mentioned how hard it was to get all those ports in there.
Apple seems to charge the same price for all their replacement batteries so I have to wonder if the cost of the lithium polymer is minimal compared to the overall construction costs and other fees. Imagine having a 95W battery in the 13" MBP instead of the 63.5W battery current being used. That is about 50% longer use, or likely an 8 hour battery with the GPU going strong, for using 50% of the space the ODD currently occupies (at least based on my rough and dirty calculations). I'd go for that.
http://www.amazon.com/Triwing-Screwd.../dp/B000S6AG9G
I think thats a really great idea. I cant remember the last time I used the SuperDrive, and even the pros who need to use it, are unlikely to use it while traveling. Its pretty much become only a home/office use deal, a need which should be met quite well by an external drive.
there are other ways around it, I know macbook modding is not a huge industry like it is on PCs but it is possible to replace the ODD with a HDD of your choice.
2.5" Hdd Caddy for Macbooks
So how big is the space for the Hard Drive? Will it only hold the 9.5mm or will it squeek in a 12.5mm? The older 17" MBP could hold 12.5.
Toshiba and WD now have 640G at 9.5mm. There are a couple of 750G and 1TB available in 12.5 now. WD just announced a 750G at 9.5mm for end of 2010. Amazing. They are JUST keeping up with my photo/music addiction. ;-)
Jim
Well i can honestly say that you can fit 2x 1.0Tb WD Blue (12.5mm) HDDs into a Late 2008 13" Unibody Macbook.
Not sure about the newer models (the caddy above would fit with the 12.5mm drive but not sure about the space available next to the battery for the second drive.
As for power consumption, it hardly makes any difference. I loose maybe 20 mins of battery life compared to before. But its not enough to justify not doing it.
Now if only this machine could handle more than 4gb of CL7 ram
**EDIT**
Found a few links that people may find handy..
http://www.ifixit.com/Answers/History/11514
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=871145
I could plug the ODD in on the very, very rare occasions that I need it and have the best of both worlds - a really fast SSD machine with cheap HDD bulk storage.
...I do think you could move the SuperDrive to being external for 100% of the MacBook lineup and get away with it, though. ...
Well, you know, an additional benefit of possessing an external DVD drive that comes with your most recent laptop acquisition is that
- often, on desktop Macs, the DVD drive starts failing and one has to resort to target mode on another machine (which makes it temporarily unavailable for regular work -- ask my wife), or, of course an external drive;
- as your 2nd, 3rd Mac gets older, it continues to work, but the DVD drive doesn't read the newer DVD formats (say Dual Layer, or maybe soon Blue Ray, or just dual sided Dual Layer), which of course is solved
But the benefit only comes if Apple would care to make these external drives compatible with ALL Macs.often, on desktop Macs, the DVD drive starts failing and one has to resort to target mode on another machine
Under System Preferences » Sharing, the first option is CD/DVD sharing. No need to use Target Disk Mode.
i know, we can just get the tri-wing screw driver online and i'm sure that's what many will do, but why send this kind of message to the most loyal users...
but it makes me think that many of us love the mac products for what apple regard as its faults rather than its virtues... and the ipad is perhaps apple addressing those issues by making it even harder to customise the software.
I was thinking that in conjunction with the MacBookPro lineup, the MBA was the future...eventually adding a 15" and 17" with the idea of supplanting the MBP dominance. Sans the Superdrive!
Obviously, the MBA's would need a lot more RAM & larger SSHD's. And a lot lower price.
But, now I think Apple should just 'dump' the SuperDrive in the MacBookPro's and use the space for larger batteries...add SSHD's and you have an 'instant-on' laptop with a ~15 to 20hr battery life.
Knowing Apple, they (MBP's) would most likely be a little thinner, too!
Thoughts!
Ps. I also think with the advent of the iPad that has pretty much killed the MBA....I know it has for me. All I need is my iPhone 3Gs, iPad 3g and a 27" iMac....and I'm good to go along with my AppleTV!
Pss. Once I get my iPad 3G...I will seriously be thinking of dropping my iPhone 3Gs for a 'dumb' phone and tell ATT to 'stuff the $110/mo iPhone fees up their nose!'
That's the dumbest idea I can think of for many, many reasons, not the least of which is the ability to rip a DVD and give a client a copy of their finished contract work.