I have a MacBookPro9,1 MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012). I love this machine, even more so than the newer MacBooks.
I'm considering buying a logic board or two as a backup from eBay. What should I be looking for in terms of finding a compatible logic board? And is it possible a later model logic board will work with my machine?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4), null
First, you should only replace the logic board with the same version that came with your notebook. Second, you need to understand eBay's return/refund policy should the logic board not work. Finally, to get an idea on what it would take to replace the board, take a look at this iFixIt article:
MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Logic Board Replacement - iFixIt
Your model is known to you. Ask sellers from what model the board was taken. In addition to your model's ID is the catalog model - A1286. You have a 15" model, so you can't use a board from the 13" model of the same period.
It's not a good idea to buy such parts on eBay if you don't know exactly what to look for or ask about. If you want reliable results then buy from a reliable parts dealer if you can find one. You might try iFixIt.com. Or you can search on Google or Amazon. But stick to resellers who offer some sort of return policy.
Given the age of your computer, you may find the prices of a used model are less than the motherboards.
> Your model is known to you. Ask sellers from what model the board was taken. In addition to your model's ID is the catalog model - A1286. You have a 15" model, so you can't use a board from the 13" model of the same period.
This is precisely why I asked this question. There appears to be the following:
* Serial Number (unique across all devices)
* Model Identifier: MacBookPro9,1
* Model Name: MacBook Pro
* Catalog Model: A1286
* Model Description?: MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)
* Identifying Numbers / Marks on the Logic Board itself
Which one or combination of these do I need to use to ensure a matching logic board?
The serial number isn't useful nor is the model name. The rest are valid identifiers on their own. Logicboards will have a part number on them, but I don't have any way to know what that is for your model.
That's still ambiguous. "The rest are valid identifiers on their own." Does that mean I should try and match up Catalog Model + Model Name + Model Description + Part Number and if none of those match, then it's a no-go on a matching logic board? Is there no variance allowed on any of these?
amateur.chemist wrote:
That's not entirely accurate. For example, there are boards denoted as MacBookPro9,1 but for 13" and not 15".
The 13" mid-2012 MBPs are designated as MacBookPro9,2. Apple did it the opposite way of the previous generation, where 8,1 was the 13", 8,2 was the 15", and 8,3 was the 17".
The Retina models that were released the same day are 10,1 (15") and 10,2 (13").
Only get logicboards and parts intended for your model. There are no motherboards from later generations that can replace the one in your model without modifications to the case.
> Only get logicboards and parts intended for your model.
And what is the best way to ensure this? There appear to be multiple variants of model numbers to match up.
Yours is the latest of its kind. There's nothing later that will fit in the A1286 case. All the later (Retina) models are built around SSDs and don't have a memory socket.
It means you can use any one of them or any combination thereof should you want. It is not ambiguous. They are mutually inclusive.
That's not entirely accurate. For example, there are boards denoted as MacBookPro9,1 but for 13" and not 15".
Logic Board Upgrade
