What is the Smaller Heatsink For?

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MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011

Early 2011 Model: A1278 / 2.3 GHz i5 or 2.7 GHz i7 processor

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Jackson @jaxothebuilder

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What is the Smaller Heatsink For?

Hello! I am questioning the use of the smaller heatsink, as I plan on swapping out the motherboard in my machine for one of a 2012, and they usually don’t include the smaller heatsink or metal cover.

This can be shown in the image attached (from this Ebay listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Macbook-Pro-13-...) here:

However, there are some cases in which the metal heat sink is included. For reference, use this image:

(Notice that the heatsink or metal heat spreader is right next to the CPU heatsink)

I am asking this mainly since I am unable to find any further details online, even within iFixit’s guides. This also isn’t sold as an individual part anywhere. Therefore, I believe that I will need to transfer this over only if I am required to do so or if it improves the stability or longevity of the machine, despite it’s flat and seemingly-unimportant form-factor. I believe that this component is crucial since I suspect it cools the CPU and Thunderbolt chipsets, yet I am unsure since it isn’t included with most motherboards.

Thanks in advance!

-Jax

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arbaman @arbaman

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As you can see from online pictures the mid 2012 board doesn’t have the standoffs on the board to secure the smaller heatsink, thus you couldn’t transfer the one you find on the 2011 boards even if you wanted to.

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Thank you for replying!

I just inspected both the 2011 and 2012 guides for motherboard replacement and noticed the CPU heatsink placements in how the copper tube is positioned between two gray capacitors while the 2012's bends around them. Also, I just noticed the lack of mounting holes.

Now I can infer two things:

1. The Ebay listings with those chipset covers are most likely fake, unless there is the special case that the two gray capacitors are side-by-side, shown in the 2012's guide (MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2012 Logic Board Replacement) near the bottom.

2. Apple clearly noticed the unimportance of this metal cover's cooling, as it probably wasn't cooling anything.

Thank you, arbaman, for the quick reply and for clearing up these muddy waters!

4 янв 2020 г. из Jackson

@JAXOTHEBUILDER I cannot tell much about the eBay listings, but some mistake can't be excluded. I didn't think of mentioning that the 2012 board has a different heatsink, thus it's better to make sure it comes with it attached. As far as the smaller heatsink is concerned, I believe the newer generation of processor and PCH changed a bit the thermal profile making it unnecessary, but only Apple engineers could confirm that.

4 янв 2020 г. из arbaman

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Thank you for replying!

I just inspected both the 2011 and 2012 guides for motherboard replacement and noticed the CPU heatsink placements in how the copper tube is positioned between two gray capacitors while the 2012's bends around them. Also, I just noticed the lack of mounting holes.

Now I can infer two things:

1. The Ebay listings with those chipset covers are most likely fake, unless there is the special case that the two gray capacitors are side-by-side, shown in the 2012's guide (MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2012 Logic Board Replacement) near the bottom.

2. Apple clearly noticed the unimportance of this metal cover's cooling, as it probably wasn't cooling anything.

Thank you, arbaman, for the quick reply and for clearing up these muddy waters! — Jackson
@JAXOTHEBUILDER I cannot tell much about the eBay listings, but some mistake can't be excluded. I didn't think of mentioning that the 2012 board has a different heatsink, thus it's better to make sure it comes with it attached. As far as the smaller heatsink is concerned, I believe the newer generation of processor and PCH changed a bit the thermal profile making it unnecessary, but only Apple engineers could confirm that. — arbaman

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011

What is the Smaller Heatsink For?

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