iFixit

Like previous generations, the new Mini is cooled by a single brushless fan.

The extremely high blade density of the blower pushes a good amount of air while keeping noise at a minimum.

The Wi-Fi antenna plate is held in place by four screws.

After a good deal of wiggling, the antenna plate can be slid out from under the lip of the outer case.

The top Wi-Fi antenna connector is hidden underneath the antenna plate near the hard drive connector.

Removing the cowling gives access to various connectors on the logic board:

• Hard drive flex cable
• Optical drive flex cable (in the server model, this is where the second hard drive flex cable is)
• Thermal sensor cables
• Infrared board cable

Behold, iFixit's specialized Mac Mini Mid 2010 logic board removal tool!

There are two blind holes in the case of the Mini that are meant for the ends of Apple's u-shaped logic board removal tool.

Being the shadetree mechanics that we are, we decided to circumvent the special Apple tool in favor of something that works just fine while keeping extra dollars out of Mr. Jobs' pockets.

We now carry our own Mac Mini Logic Board Removal Tools (shown in the second picture) designed with a rubberized high-torque handle to the exact specifications needed to remove the logic board without the risk of inserting abrasive tools into a delicate logic board.

Before completely sliding out the logic board assembly, the power supply connector must be disconnected.

After disconnecting the power cable, the logic board assembly slides right out.

The top and bottom of the logic board and I/O frame assembly.

In using unibody construction, Apple had to get creative with the placement of the antennas. Two auxiliary antennas are the square steel components seen at both ends of the I/O frame.

Two screws secure the speaker assembly to the logic board.

The Mini's 3/8" woofer dome won't be popping ear drums anytime soon.