Can Apple tell that I opened up my Macbook?

[spune]

Rcently I took apart my Macbook and replaced the stock thermal paste with some Arctic Silver 5. If for some reason my Macbook doesn't work and I need to send it in to AppleCare, will they know that I've opened up my Macbook and void my warranty?

I read somewhere that there are liquid "sensors" inside, so if you spilled liquid on the keyboard, the sensors will change colors indicating there was liquid. Obviously I didn't spill any liquid inside when I was taking apart my Macbook, so I don't need to worry about that. I'm just a little paranoid about Apple voiding my warranty.

 

[yoda13]

I, of course, can't say for sure, but if you used a different thermal paste and they notice it, then I would say that you have run the risk of voiding your warranty...

 

[TheJayWay]

When I took apart my MBP to replace the Hard drive, I noticed some blue stuff on the screws that hold everything together that looked suspiciously like loctite. Didn't do much in stopping me from taking it apart. But I am curious if it serves a greater purpose...
On the other hand, I think the only way they might be able to tell is if I chewed up the head of a screw or something.

 

[spune]

When I took apart my MBP to replace the Hard drive, I noticed some blue stuff on the screws that hold everything together that looked suspiciously like loctite. Didn't do much in stopping me from taking it apart. But I am curious if it serves a greater purpose...
On the other hand, I think the only way they might be able to tell is if I chewed up the head of a screw or something.

I also noticed the loctite-like material. I wonder if they use new screws every time they take apart laptops. There was one screw that I stripped slightly but still turns; it was a heat sink screw. You probably can't tell unless you look very closely.

Besides, when you send in your computer to AppleCare, are the repair techs really going to care if you opened the laptop up? Isn't their job just to fix laptops? I understand why they wouldn't fix it if there was obvious water damage.

 

[iToaster]

I wouldn't expect new screws in a computer every time it gets repaired. I'm sure that the repair guys at, oh say, CompUSA don't have all those screws and such. They really couldn't be able to tell if you popped it open or if a techie did it for you.

 

[e12a]

they would be able to tell since there is no thermal goop everywhere like before.

 

[CISC-Mac]

they would be able to tell since there is no thermal goop everywhere like before.

They have fixed that issue with the later MB and MBP; when I took mine apart to apply Artic Silver 5 there was virtually no paste overrunning the die onto the board. The color of the paste is the same color as the Artic Silver 5 as well. Just cleaned it up with the ArticClean kit, applied new paste and put it all back together.

The loctite is on the screws is very similar to the blue type you put on bolts for vehicles - basically keeps the screws from loosening and spinning out of the threads - and will break once the screw is removed. There is no way for a tech to really know unless they see a damaged screw or a screw not threaded in all the way and coming out (hasn't been touched by Apple techs before). After putting mine all back together, it looks exactly the same as when I was taking it apart.

BTW, CPU is running almost 10C lower than before; was in the mid to upper 50s when just browsing internet, etc...now down into the mid 40s. I did notice that the copper heatsinks, although very smooth, are not exactly of the highest quality - discoloring was very much apparent. I should have taken pictures of all this. And why not use copper heat pipe; it is aluminum....Dell I had was all copper - ran much cooler straight from the factory - yeah, it does add a bit of weight...

 

[jtrwallace]

Well, I'll say this. On my PowerBook I decided I wanted to see what the inside of my computer looked like so I took it apart carefully then reassembled everything but one of the screws got f'ed up and would only go in half way. I left it like that for probably a year or so and then my optical drive burnt out so I had to have it replaced. When I went into the store I said, "Oh, and by the way, this screw has always been poking out and I was wondering if you could fix it." He said, "Has it ever been serviced before?" I said "No," and he said ok well we will probably have to replace the entire metal casing on the top and bottom. I was like woah... and I got it back three days later with a new optical drive and all new metal casing. So, just lie and they believe you haha.