Can I replace the display on a 2010 MBP 17 inch with one from a 2009?

Question

Can I replace the display on a 2010 MBP 17 inch with one from a 2009?

I have a 17-inch Unibody MBP Mid-2010 (A1297, MacBookPro6,1) that's well out of AppleCare eligibility. The display is currently exhibiting the pink/green flickering vertical lines problem, which all my searching tells me means I need to replace the display assembly. Fair enough. I'm having trouble locating one at a price I can afford, though.

As I was searching online yet again for a replacement display assembly, I realized that I have a potential replacement already on hand. I still have the machine that I bought this MBP to replace (17-inch Unibody MBP Mid-2009, A1297, MacBookPro5,2). I had to replace it because of water damage to the motherboard, and I cannibalized the hard drive and RAM to use with the replacement, but as far as I know there's nothing wrong with its display.

Would there be any issues with replacing the bad display assembly on the 2010 MBP with the one from the 2009? I know how to do the replacement; I just want to know if there is any functional difference between the two displays that could cause problems, before I start cracking open cases.

MacBook Pro (17-inch Mid 2010), OS X Mavericks (10.9.3)

Posted on May 23, 2014 4:11 PM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

May 23, 2014 4:43 PM in response to MarquelleDavianMcKean

I would check the iFixit web site and see if those MBP displays have the same part number.

Ciao.

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Answer 2

May 23, 2014 4:52 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Unfortunately, iFixit doesn't currently show a listing for the 2010's display assembly—I don't know if that means that they're out of stock or that they don't acknowledge such a part exists. They do list the 2009's display assembly, and under "Compatibility" they list only the Early 2009 and Mid 2009 models. To me, that indicates that they're not identical parts between the 2009 and the 2010.

But I already knew that they weren't identical. What I was hoping to find out was if the difference would cause any functional issues.

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Answer 3

May 23, 2014 5:28 PM in response to MarquelleDavianMcKean

Check with PowerBook Medic -> http://www.powerbookmedic.com/17-Inch-MacBook-Unibody-Display-LCD-Screen--p-1738 3.html - this screen seems to fill the bill.

Clinton

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Answer 4

May 23, 2014 6:18 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

PB Medic was where I was planning to buy it in the first place, but in the time between when I first diagnosed the problem and when I actually had the money to buy the parts, they've run out of the assemblies (both the glossy and the anti-glare).

The part you linked to would be great if it was what I needed, but I need the whole assembly, not just the screen. 😟 PBM lists the 2009 and 2010 assemblies separately, but it doesn't really state the differences.

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Answer 5

May 23, 2014 6:21 PM in response to MarquelleDavianMcKean

You could always search eBay for 'parts' - not sure what all you need but there's bound to be a 17" 2009 model that simply has a bad logic board, etc.

Good luck,

Clinton

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Answer 6

May 23, 2014 7:25 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

I have a 17" 2009 with a bad logic board and a 17" 2010 with a bad display. All I'm asking is if anyone knows whether Franken-Maccing the 2009 display assembly onto the 2010 computer will have any known issues.

If no one knows, I'm liable to try it, because if it works, that saves me a lot of money over buying a replacement. I was just hoping to find out beforehand if making that swap might damage the 2010—that would negate the savings I get by using what I have, because then I'd likely have to replace the whole machine instead of just parts.

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