Installing MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Heat Sink

Replace the heat sink on your MacBook Pro 17" Unibody.

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Use this guide to replace your MacBook Pro's heat sink. Before reinstalling the heat sink, it is essential to apply a new layer of thermal paste.

Sections
Tools
Tools (continued)
Relevant parts
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Lower Case  ¶ 

  • Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:

    • Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.

    • Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • Wedge your fingers between the lower case and the vent, and lift upward to release the clips holding the lower case to the upper case.

  • Remove the lower case.

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Add Note Edit Step 3 — Battery  ¶ 

  • Whenever working near the logic board, it is always wise to first disconnect the battery to avoid short circuits.

  • Grab the plastic tab attached to the battery connector and pull it toward the front edge of the device.

  • Pull the tab parallel to the face of the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 4 — Right Fan  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the right fan connector out of its socket on the logic board.

  • It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.

  • The fan socket and the fan connector can be seen in the second and third pictures. Be careful not to break the plastic fan socket off the logic board as you use your spudger to lift the fan connector straight up and out of its socket. The layout of the logic board shown in the second picture may look slightly different than your machine but the fan socket is the same.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Remove the three 3.1 mm Phillips screws securing the right fan to the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • Remove the right fan from the upper case, minding its cable that may get caught.

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Add Note Edit Step 7 — Logic Board  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the left fan connector out of its socket on the logic board.

  • It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Remove the three 3.1 mm Phillips screws securing the left fan to the logic board.

  • Remove the left fan from the upper case, minding its cable that may get caught.

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Add Note Edit Step 9  ¶ 

  • Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the keyboard backlight ribbon cable.

  • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

  • Pull the keyboard backlight ribbon cable out of its socket.

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Add Note Edit Step 10  ¶ 

  • Before disconnecting the camera cable, a small plastic retainer stuck to the logic board must first be moved out of the way.

  • Use the tip of a spudger to push the small plastic cable retainer away from the camera cable socket for enough clearance to remove the camera cable.

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Add Note Edit Step 11  ¶ 

  • Pull the camera cable toward the optical drive opening to disconnect it from the logic board.

  • The camera cable socket is very fragile. Do not apply any upward force to this socket, as it may break off the logic board. Pull the camera cable parallel to the face of the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 12  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 13  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the subwoofer & right speaker connector out of its socket on the logic board.

  • Pry up from beneath the wires.

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Add Note Edit Step 14  ¶ 

  • Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the IR sensor ribbon cable socket.

  • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

  • Pull the IR sensor ribbon cable out of its socket.

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Add Note Edit Step 15  ¶ 

  • Remove the following four screws:

    • Two 3.5 mm Phillips screws

    • Two 1.6 mm Phillips screws

  • Remove both connector shields from the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 16  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 17  ¶ 

  • Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the keyboard ribbon cable socket.

  • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

  • Pull the keyboard ribbon cable out of its socket.

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Add Note Edit Step 18  ¶ 

  • Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the express card cage ribbon cable socket.

  • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

  • Pull the express card cage ribbon cable out of its socket.

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Add Note Edit Step 19  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the hard drive cable connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 20  ¶ 

  • Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the battery indicator cable socket.

  • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

  • Pull the battery indicator ribbon cable out of its socket.

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Add Note Edit Step 21  ¶ 

  • Lift the black plastic flap attached to the display data cable retainer and rotate it toward the DC-In side of the MacBook.

  • Pull the display data cable out of its socket.

  • The display data cable socket is very fragile. Do not lift the connector upward as you disconnect it, as the socket may break off the logic board. Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 22  ¶ 

  • Remove the following eight screws securing the logic board and DC-In board to the upper case:

    • Six 3.2 mm Phillips screws

    • Two 7.6 mm Phillips screws

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Add Note Edit Step 23  ¶ 

  • Handle the logic board by its edges only.

  • Lift the logic board from the side nearest the optical drive and lift it away from the upper case.

  • Carefully pull the ports and DC-In board away from the side of the upper case and remove the logic board, minding any cables that may get caught.

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Add Note Edit Step 24 — Heat Sink  ¶ 

  • Remove the eight 8.3 mm Phillips screws securing the heat sink to the logic board.

  • Be sure to keep track of the springs held under each of the screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 25  ¶ 

  • Squeeze the heat sink thermal sensor cable between your thumb and the tip of a spudger.

  • Lift the spudger upward to lift the thermal sensor connector out of its socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 26  ¶ 

  • Remove the heat sink from the logic board.

  • If the heat sink appears to be stuck to the logic board after removing all eight screws, it may be helpful to use a spudger to separate the two components.

  • If you need to mount the heat sink back onto the logic board, we have a thermal paste guide that makes replacing the thermal compound easy.

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

For more information, check out the MacBook Pro 17" Unibody device page.

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