Author Topic: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?  (Read 7442 times)

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Offline 0dbTopic starter

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how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« on: March 10, 2020, 01:52:21 pm »
A colleague owns an old Apple MacBook/Pro. It looks to be a 5 years old model or something similar, and the motherboard is fried. The computer doesn't power on but the LCD looks working.

My colleague wants to throw it into the trash dumpster, and I wonder if the LCD can be reused for something.

Any idea?
 

Online SiliconWizard

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2020, 01:59:18 pm »
If I'm not mistaken, most Retina panels on Mac laptops (as long as they are not too ancient) have an eDP interface. Check that with the reference of the panel.

Then you can buy an HDMI-eDP board interface and try that (can be found on Aliexpress and the like.) Make sure it supports the native resolution of the panel though.
 

Offline 0dbTopic starter

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2020, 02:43:57 pm »
On the back of the computer, there is only a label, reporting Model A1286. Not very helpful to understand how old it is.
 

Offline jfiresto

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2020, 02:48:10 pm »
A quick search for "Apple A1286" found this as the second listed hit.
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Online SiliconWizard

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2020, 02:52:48 pm »
A quick search for "Apple A1286" found this as the second listed hit.

Ahah, same find.

Now the easiest way of finding out what kind of panel it is exactly will be to disassemble the laptop and take a look at the panel's reference directly (you'll also get to see if there is indeed an eDP connector.)

From what you can read in the specs above, this should be a 15.4", 1440x900 panel. If it's eDP, the difficult part will be to find an HDMI-eDP interface that will support this resolution. Many of the low-cost adapter boards only support Full HD or 4K, but rarely anything else. Good luck!
 

Offline 0dbTopic starter

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2020, 03:14:24 pm »
A quick search for "Apple A1286" found this as the second listed hit.


all of these are A1286

Quote
MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 (Unibody)   2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo (P8600)
   
Intro.   October 14, 2008   Disc.   June 8, 2009
Order   MB470LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2255)
Family   Late 2008   ID   MacBookPro5,1
RAM   2 GB   VRAM   256 MB*
Storage   250 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 (Unibody) Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 (Unibody)   2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo (T9400)
   
Intro.   October 14, 2008   Disc.   March 3, 2009
Order   MB471LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2255)
Family   Late 2008   ID   MacBookPro5,1
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   512 MB*
Storage   320 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 (Unibody) Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.8 (Unibody)   2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo (T9600)
   
Intro.   October 14, 2008   Disc.   March 3, 2009
Order   BTO/CTO   Model   A1286 (EMC 2255)
Family   Late 2008   ID   MacBookPro5,1
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   512 MB*
Storage   320 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.8 (Unibody) Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 (Unibody)   2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo (T9550)
   
Intro.   March 3, 2009   Disc.   June 8, 2009
Order   MC026LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2255)
Family   Late 2008/Early 2009*   ID   MacBookPro5,1
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   512 MB*
Storage   320 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 (Unibody) Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.93 (Unibody)   2.93 GHz Core 2 Duo (T9800)
   
Intro.   March 3, 2009   Disc.   June 8, 2009
Order   BTO/CTO   Model   A1286 (EMC 2255)
Family   Late 2008/Early 2009*   ID   MacBookPro5,1
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   512 MB*
Storage   320 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.93 (Unibody) Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 (SD)   2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo (P8700)
   
Intro.   June 8, 2009   Disc.   April 13, 2010
Order   MC118LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2324*)
Family   Mid-2009 15"   ID   MacBookPro5,4
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   256 MB
Storage   250 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 (SD) Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 (SD)   2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo (P8800)
   
Intro.   June 8, 2009   Disc.   April 13, 2010
Order   MB985LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2325*)
Family   Mid-2009 15"   ID   MacBookPro5,3
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   256 MB*
Storage   320 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 (SD) Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.8 (SD)   2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo (T9600)
   
Intro.   June 8, 2009   Disc.   April 13, 2010
Order   MB986LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2325*)
Family   Mid-2009 15"   ID   MacBookPro5,3
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   512 MB*
Storage   500 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.8 (SD) Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 3.06 (SD)   3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo (T9900)
   
Intro.   June 8, 2009   Disc.   April 13, 2010
Order   BTO/CTO   Model   A1286 (EMC 2325*)
Family   Mid-2009 15"   ID   MacBookPro5,3
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   512 MB*
Storage   500 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 3.06 (SD) Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i5" 2.4 Mid-2010   2.4 GHz Core i5 (I5-520M)
   
Intro.   April 13, 2010   Disc.   February 24, 2011
Order   MC371LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2353*)
Family   Mid-2010 15"   ID   MacBookPro6,2
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   256 MB*
Storage   320 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i5" 2.4 Mid-2010 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i5" 2.53 Mid-2010   2.53 GHz Core i5 (I5-540M)
   
Intro.   April 13, 2010   Disc.   February 24, 2011
Order   MC372LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2353*)
Family   Mid-2010 15"   ID   MacBookPro6,2
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   256 MB*
Storage   500 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i5" 2.53 Mid-2010 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.66 Mid-2010   2.66 GHz Core i7 (I7-620M)
   
Intro.   April 13, 2010   Disc.   February 24, 2011
Order   MC373LL/A*   Model   A1286 (EMC 2353*)
Family   Mid-2010 15"   ID   MacBookPro6,2
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   512 MB*
Storage   500 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.66 Mid-2010 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.8 Mid-2010   2.8 GHz Core i7 (I7-640M)
   
Intro.   October 20, 2010   Disc.   February 24, 2011
Order   BTO/CTO   Model   A1286 (EMC 2353*)
Family   Mid-2010 15"   ID   MacBookPro6,2
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   512 MB*
Storage   500 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.8 Mid-2010 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.0 Early 2011   2.0 GHz Core i7 (I7-2635QM)
   
Intro.   February 24, 2011   Disc.   October 24, 2011
Order   MC721LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2353-1*)
Family   Early 2011 15"   ID   MacBookPro8,2
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   256 MB*
Storage   500 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.0 Early 2011 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.2 Early 2011   2.2 GHz Core i7 (I7-2720QM)
   
Intro.   February 24, 2011   Disc.   October 24, 2011
Order   MC723LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2353-1*)
Family   Early 2011 15"   ID   MacBookPro8,2
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   1 GB*
Storage   750 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.2 Early 2011 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.3 Early 2011   2.3 GHz Core i7 (I7-2820QM)
   
Intro.   February 24, 2011   Disc.   October 24, 2011
Order   MD035LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2353-1*)
Family   Early 2011 15"   ID   MacBookPro8,2
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   1 GB*
Storage   750 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.3 Early 2011 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.2 Late 2011   2.2 GHz Core i7 (I7-2675QM)
   
Intro.   October 24, 2011   Disc.   June 11, 2012
Order   MD318LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2563*)
Family   Late 2011 15"   ID   MacBookPro8,2
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   512 MB*
Storage   500 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.2 Late 2011 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.4 Late 2011   2.4 GHz Core i7 (I7-2760QM)
   
Intro.   October 24, 2011   Disc.   June 11, 2012
Order   MD322LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2563*)
Family   Late 2011 15"   ID   MacBookPro8,2
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   1 GB*
Storage   750 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.4 Late 2011 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.5 Late 2011   2.5 GHz Core i7 (I7-2860QM)
   
Intro.   October 24, 2011   Disc.   June 11, 2012
Order   BTO/CTO   Model   A1286 (EMC 2563*)
Family   Late 2011 15"   ID   MacBookPro8,2
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   1 GB*
Storage   750 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.5 Late 2011 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.3 Mid-2012   2.3 GHz Core i7 (I7-3615QM)
   
Intro.   June 11, 2012   Disc.   October 22, 2013
Order   MD103LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2556*)
Family   Mid-2012 15"   ID   MacBookPro9,1
RAM   4 GB   VRAM   512 MB*
Storage   500 GB HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.3 Mid-2012 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.6 Mid-2012   2.6 GHz Core i7 (I7-3720QM)
   
Intro.   June 11, 2012   Disc.   October 22, 2013*
Order   MD104LL/A   Model   A1286 (EMC 2556*)
Family   Mid-2012 15"   ID   MacBookPro9,1
RAM   8 GB*   VRAM   1 GB*
Storage   750 GB* HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.6 Mid-2012 Specs

MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.7 Mid-2012   2.7 GHz Core i7 (I7-3820QM)
   
Intro.   June 11, 2012   Disc.   October 22, 2013
Order   MD546LL/A*   Model   A1286 (EMC 2556*)
Family   Mid-2012 15"   ID   MacBookPro9,1
RAM   8 GB*   VRAM   1 GB*
Storage   750 GB* HDD   Optical   8X DL "SuperDrive"
Complete MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core i7" 2.7 Mid-2012 Specs



but, 2011? 2012? 2013?
 

Offline jfiresto

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2020, 03:50:54 pm »

all of these are A1286....

but, 2011? 2012? 2013?

Yes. And I own one of the latter – which is now a stylish paperweight from the serial consequences of three debilitating engineering defects.

Try entering the computer's complete serial number as the identifier, and searching for it.
-John
 

Offline 0dbTopic starter

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2020, 05:03:32 pm »
That's the pic of the video connector ... umm it's a 2009-2010 computer
 

Offline 0dbTopic starter

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2020, 05:06:51 pm »
Try entering the computer's complete serial number as the identifier, and searching for it.

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)
 

Online SiliconWizard

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2020, 05:19:53 pm »
That's the pic of the video connector ... umm it's a 2009-2010 computer

Very much looks like an eDP 30-pin connector. You can unplug it (just pull off gently) and count the pins to make sure it's 30-pin.
 

Online wraper

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2020, 05:23:22 pm »
The best would be simply selling this laptop for parts, it still holds significant value. You likely could buy LCD which is suitable for your needs without tinkering and there still would be some money left.
 

Offline Refrigerator

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2020, 08:54:13 pm »
The best would be simply selling this laptop for parts, it still holds significant value. You likely could buy LCD which is suitable for your needs without tinkering and there still would be some money left.
I agree.
These macs should have depreciated in value much more that they have, but people's belief that they still hold significant value keeps them pricey.
You can sell this one for parts, especially if the LCD is good and buy a decent monitor.

Fiy, working 15.4" LCD displays from old non-mac laptops sell for ~5€ where i live, so if you want to play around you can first get one of them.
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Offline Nusa

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2020, 09:04:12 pm »
The whole (even the fried motherboard) has value as parts to individuals that repair macbooks. Unless you have those skills yourself and other macbooks to fix, I'd sell it on whatever auction site works best in your country.
 

Offline TomS_

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #14 on: March 11, 2020, 08:22:39 am »
Or send it to Louis Rossmann, get him to fix it (if possible), and sell as a working machine.
 

Offline mikerj

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Re: how to reuse the LCD of a dead Apple MacBook/Pro?
« Reply #15 on: March 11, 2020, 01:25:04 pm »
Or send it to Louis Rossmann, get him to fix it (if possible), and sell as a working machine.

I can't imagine that would be remotely viable economically, compared to just selling the thing for spares. 
 


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