Total MacBook Upgrade: CPU Replacement
Most owners of Apple laptops know that the processor on macbooks is wired to the board and cannot be replaced. Therefore, when buying a poppy, you must immediately choose a complete set with the desired processor.
But this information is not entirely correct. Yes, the processor is really soldered, but you can replace it like a regular BGA chip. And even if replaced by a more powerful one, then everything will work fine. The only condition is that the processor must be compatible series, i.e. have the same system bus frequency. This is necessary for normal operation with the chipset on the motherboard. And other characteristics of the processor: frequency and cache do not matter. Thus, you can get an upgrade-pump percent.
This statement is not idle, we repeatedly performed such an operation in our service center. True, we tried to do this only on, already obsolete, Macs with Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs, models 2008-2010. Theoretically, there should not be a problem with newer processors in the Core i series. But we do not have such experience yet, we hope that we will try soon.
So, we will tell in more detail. It will be about the following models of poppies: MacBook A1278 2008; MacBook A1342 2009-2010; MacBook Pro 13 ”A1278 2009-2010; MacBook Pro 15 ”A1286 2008-2009; MacBook Pro 17” A1297 2009
In these models, various mobile Intel Core 2 Duo processors were installed, with a frequency of the system bus 1066 MHz. Intel supplied such BGA-based processors (BGA479), which Apple used in their laptops.
The question arises: where to get such a percentage to replace? There are three possible solutions:
1. Buy a ready-made BGA479 format on eBay or in China.
2. Solder the percent from the donor board and then restore the BGA balls.
3. The most interesting in our opinion, and the most affordable, more about it.
Processors in the BGA479 format are almost no different from those in the PGA478 socket. But at the same time, the latter are more widespread and accessible. Mobile Intel Core 2 Duo processors for the PGA478 socket were massively installed in ordinary PC laptops. Therefore, they are easier and cheaper to buy. There are only two fundamental differences between the PGA478 and BGA479:
1. The PGA478 has contact legs instead of balls. But they are simply soldered, they can be easily soldered even with a soldering iron.
2. The PGA478 has one pin less. But this contact is not functional, it is a power outlet that is duplicated many times on other legs.
Thus, a BGA can be made from a socket processor. In the photos below, we demonstrated this process.
1 photo. The processor is designed for the PGA478 socket.
2 photos. Solder the contact legs.
3 photos. Solder BGA balls (reballing).
4 photos. Ready for soldering BGA processor.
We will not describe the process of replacing the processor, it is no different from replacing, for example, a video chip, such material is full on the network.
In conclusion, here is a list of compatible Intel Core 2 Duo processors that can be installed on 2008-2010
Intel® Core ™ 2 Duo Processor poppies :
T9400 (6M Cache, 2.53 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
T9600 (6M Cache, 2.80 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
P9500 (6M Cache, 2.53 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
P8600 (3M Cache, 2.40 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB ),
P8400 (3M Cache, 2.26 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
P7350 (3M Cache, 2.00 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
T9800 (6M Cache, 2.93 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
P8700 (3M Cache, 2.53 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
T9550 (6M Cache, 2.66 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
T9900 (6M Cache, 3.06 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
P8800 (3M Cache, 2.66 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
A full description of these processes can be found at this link.
But this information is not entirely correct. Yes, the processor is really soldered, but you can replace it like a regular BGA chip. And even if replaced by a more powerful one, then everything will work fine. The only condition is that the processor must be compatible series, i.e. have the same system bus frequency. This is necessary for normal operation with the chipset on the motherboard. And other characteristics of the processor: frequency and cache do not matter. Thus, you can get an upgrade-pump percent.
This statement is not idle, we repeatedly performed such an operation in our service center. True, we tried to do this only on, already obsolete, Macs with Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs, models 2008-2010. Theoretically, there should not be a problem with newer processors in the Core i series. But we do not have such experience yet, we hope that we will try soon.
So, we will tell in more detail. It will be about the following models of poppies: MacBook A1278 2008; MacBook A1342 2009-2010; MacBook Pro 13 ”A1278 2009-2010; MacBook Pro 15 ”A1286 2008-2009; MacBook Pro 17” A1297 2009
In these models, various mobile Intel Core 2 Duo processors were installed, with a frequency of the system bus 1066 MHz. Intel supplied such BGA-based processors (BGA479), which Apple used in their laptops.
The question arises: where to get such a percentage to replace? There are three possible solutions:
1. Buy a ready-made BGA479 format on eBay or in China.
2. Solder the percent from the donor board and then restore the BGA balls.
3. The most interesting in our opinion, and the most affordable, more about it.
Processors in the BGA479 format are almost no different from those in the PGA478 socket. But at the same time, the latter are more widespread and accessible. Mobile Intel Core 2 Duo processors for the PGA478 socket were massively installed in ordinary PC laptops. Therefore, they are easier and cheaper to buy. There are only two fundamental differences between the PGA478 and BGA479:
1. The PGA478 has contact legs instead of balls. But they are simply soldered, they can be easily soldered even with a soldering iron.
2. The PGA478 has one pin less. But this contact is not functional, it is a power outlet that is duplicated many times on other legs.
Thus, a BGA can be made from a socket processor. In the photos below, we demonstrated this process.
1 photo. The processor is designed for the PGA478 socket.
2 photos. Solder the contact legs.
3 photos. Solder BGA balls (reballing).
4 photos. Ready for soldering BGA processor.
We will not describe the process of replacing the processor, it is no different from replacing, for example, a video chip, such material is full on the network.
In conclusion, here is a list of compatible Intel Core 2 Duo processors that can be installed on 2008-2010
Intel® Core ™ 2 Duo Processor poppies :
T9400 (6M Cache, 2.53 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
T9600 (6M Cache, 2.80 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
P9500 (6M Cache, 2.53 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
P8600 (3M Cache, 2.40 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB ),
P8400 (3M Cache, 2.26 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
P7350 (3M Cache, 2.00 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
T9800 (6M Cache, 2.93 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
P8700 (3M Cache, 2.53 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
T9550 (6M Cache, 2.66 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
T9900 (6M Cache, 3.06 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB),
P8800 (3M Cache, 2.66 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
A full description of these processes can be found at this link.