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MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement, Lower Case: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following P5 pentalobe screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Pro:

    • Eight 3.0 mm

    • Two 2.3 mm

  2. MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Lifting from the edge nearest the clutch cover, lift the lower case off the MacBook Pro.

    • Set the lower case aside.

  3. MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Peel back the warning label covering the battery connector.

  4. MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 2
    • Using the flat end of a spudger, gently pry the battery connector straight up out of its socket on the logic board.

    • Bend the battery cables back and out of the way, ensuring that the battery connector doesn't accidentally make contact with the logic board.

  5. MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement, Heat Sink: step 5, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement, Heat Sink: step 5, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement, Heat Sink: step 5, image 3 of 3
    • Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the rubber heat sink cover on the right fan.

    • Slide the spudger underneath the length of the cover, releasing the adhesive.

    • Lift the cover and rotate it off of the heat sink.

  6. MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • In the same manner described above, release the adhesive and flip back the heat sink cover on the left fan.

  7. MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following six screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:

    • One 5.5 mm silver raised head T5 Torx screw

    • Four 3.5 mm T5 Torx screws

    • If your model uses discrete graphics, you may have more screws to remove.

    • One 3.8 mm silver T5 Torx screw

  8. MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2014 Heat Sink Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • Grasping the heat sink from one side, lift the heat sink off of the MacBook Pro, pulling it free from the computer.

    • The thermal paste may make it difficult to remove the heat sink. Pull the heat sink off gently but forcefully to avoid damaging any components on the logic board.

    • When installing the new heat sink, do not forget to replace the thermal paste underneath the heat sink. See our Applying Thermal Paste guide for further instructions.

Conclusion

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

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6 Comments

Half of photos are with mac that has only integrated graphics, half with one that has discrete GPU. This frustrates.

Because of fact that this is about heatsink, it's kinda important to point the difference out.

semioniy - Reply

He could at least just add a note on the heatsink screw photo.

Eduardo Melean -

Are the denser fan blades in some of the pictures from a different model year? iirc my 2014 one had denser fan blades, but not that metallic inner fan part.

tipoo - Reply

do one with the discrete gpu and integrated graphics please

Matthew De Leon - Reply

For the discrete GPU, there are 4 screws surrounding a square copper plate, just unscrew those 4 and follow the steps above. It’s very similar to the integrated graphics board, but with 4 extra screws.

JoeyLovesTrains -

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