New MBA Rev.2, had to take apart.

[NC MacGuy]

Okay almost went 24 hours but temptation won out. Took it apart to see differences between rev. 1& 2. Here's rev. 2. Cleaner than rev. 1:

I'm providing a link on a "how to" replace the heatsink compound from another thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/6748970/

 

[deriko100]

Thanks for the pics, Id be scared doing that.

 

[HeadForTheHills]

Okay almost went 24 hours but temptation won out. Took it apart to see differences between rev. 1& 2. Here's rev. 2. Cleaner than rev. 1:

Superb and you are certainly braver than me

Looks like the RAM is in BGA packages - I don't seem many people having the equipment to upgrade those !

And big changes to the heat-sink area

 

[NC MacGuy]

Rev. 1:

 

[NC MacGuy]

Superb and you are certainly braver than me

Looks like the RAM is in BGA packages - I don't seem many people having the equipment to upgrade those !

And big changes to the heat-sink area

Exactly. They aren't purely soldered in sticks. Heatsink is way different.

 

[lenselijer]

Wow the new heatsink is looking good. Can you take some more pictures of it? Maybe it will also fit in the MBA rev.1?

 

[HeadForTheHills]

The manufacturing date of your SSD is 19th October !

Guess that was the component holding back shipments.

 

[NC MacGuy]

It definitely won't. Haven't put all the screws back in this one yet, just testing it to make sure the sucker still works..

Will take out the two screws and take some more pics.

Yepp, right off the prod. line. Probably why no HDD's are being sent. Looks like they're cutting it close on product components being ready for announced releases - ya' think??

 

[Grimace]

Well Done!

How is the thermal paste in revB compared to revA? That was always an issue with other Apple laptops.

 

[HeadForTheHills]

Strange bumps on the RHS of the PCB - is it a composite board with bonded in heatsink or even copper Invar copper layers ?

 

[pilotError]

I see the SSD is Apple branded like the MB and MBP drives, but that confirms its made by Samsung.

 

[NC MacGuy]

Well Done!

How is the thermal paste in revB compared to revA? That was always an issue with other Apple laptops.

I uploaded some of Rev A. You can see the difference. Clearly, REV B is way better.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Well Done!

How is the thermal paste in revB compared to revA? That was always an issue with other Apple laptops.

It almost looks "neater", but the OP would have to say for sure.

OP: Niiiiice! And nice use of a Ryder Cup golf towel!

 

[NC MacGuy]

Strange bumps on the RHS of the PCB - is it a composite board with bonded in heatsink or even copper Invar copper layers ?

It certainly looks like heat dissipating copper - you can already see it got some hot.. Without taking the whole board out to see what they are actually tethered to, it's just conjecture.

Didn't have enough time for full blown autopsy since I did want to get backing using it today.

 

[mkrishnan]

Nice analysis. Thread temporarily stuck per Jessica's request.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Nice analysis. Thread temporarily stuck per Jessica's request.

Thanks
This is serious geek porn if you ask me. I think I need a shower I feel so dirty.

 

[NC MacGuy]

Thanks
This is serious geek porn if you ask me. I think I need a shower I feel so dirty.

Kick ass way to spend a Saturday, ehh??? At least this keeps me out of the PRSI cesspool.

1st pic is new MBA. You can see the heat sink is much smaller and not attached to the fan shroud as in Gen 1 MBA. Much cleaner design.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Kick ass way to spend a Saturday, ehh??? At least this keeps me out of the PRSI cesspool.

1st pic is new MBA. You can see the heat sink is much smaller and not attached to the fan shroud as in Gen 1 MBA. Much cleaner design.

Weeeeell, I have a few other Saturday ideas, but yes, this sure is cool!

 

[lenselijer]

Would be nice if you could run 2 terminal windows with yes > /dev/null and tell the cpu temperature from istat pro after 15 minutes.

 

[mac jones]

Check to see if the dispay connector is the same.

Some of these part may be interchangeable, if not the whole motherboard (you would lose the display port though)

 

[NC MacGuy]

Would be nice if you could run 2 terminal windows with yes > /dev/null and tell the cpu temperature from istat pro after 15 minutes.

What? Do you want me to break it? Running as I type...

Check to see if the dispay connector is the same.

Some of these part may be interchangeable, if not the whole motherboard (you would lose the display port though)

Put it all back together. Sorry
I think some photos I took have high enough resolution to tell. Can enlarge them.

 

[NC MacGuy]

Okay, a few people keep asking for this. Ran two terminal windows w. yes >/dev/null concurrently for 18 minutes now. Also ran Handbrake today.

Here's the dev/null screenshots:

 

[zer0tails]

I would like to say thank you to NC Macguy. Really appreciate you doing all this for us

I always knew I was getting the Air, but this just makes the decision all the more easier.

much thanks!

 

[mhnajjar]

Great job OP

 

[GoCubsGo]

^^ Yeah thanks.