I converted a Macbook into a PC – Mainboard

And I thought I’d share.

I used a Framework 13 mainboard as the core, added IO board to both sides of it and a couple of extra boards for the keyboard, Magsafe and the charge state button.

Are the green PCBs custom by you? This looks both really professional and like a first prototype Super impressive!

hey and you even got the apple battery mounting!!!

Great job @KCB!

Even with the Framework board inverted and extras inside it is still easier to upgrade/repair than a Macbook!

Is that a pre or post touchbar Macbook? Nobody will ever suspect your allegiance to the fruit has been compromised!

Thanks for the replies.
The Macbook is a 2010 17″ so it would have been pretty easy to upgrade and repair (socketed Ram and HDD, screwed in battery) but the age would have made this laptop not only unusably slow but it was also dead as a doornail. Its one of the still good Macbooks with the glowing apple logo.
Yes, all the green PCBs are made by me.

Did you use a new LCD or a converter? Are the LVDS connectors also handled on your circuit boards?

K3n.

Ive replaced the screen with a lp170wq1 from lg. Its directly attached to the mainboard via the framework 16 edp cable.

This is really cool! What is the function of top left board that requires cooling from what looks like a framework fan? If it is a Framework fan can you explain how the lower section was liberated from it’s heatsink?

Thanks

Its to compensate for apples innovative cooling design. Ive desoldered the old heatpipe from the heatsink and soldered a new one on that i press against the main heatpipe.

Sorry it isn’t quite clear to me, is that additional fan adding to the existing cpu cooling solution because you saw overheating or to get the most thermal performance?

Yes its adding to the existing cpu cooling. The first prototype of this I build was using an i5 1135 cpu and was getting pretty hot. So I figured adding an additional heatsink and fan would help. On the Ryzen board im not sure I would have gone through that trouble again, its running much cooler.

This is excellent! Curiously wondering if a smaller Macbook Pro would have been also a worthy candidate? Or would the space provided there just not be sufficient?

Excellent work!

If you dont add a second cooling fan I dont think that would be an issue on the 15 inch. The 13 might be difficult to fit the battery but I think it would be possible.

I had to take it apart to replace the edp cable so I took a couple more pictures (without the tape).

Damn, that’s impressive.
It was already, but seeing the back with the second heat pipe attached gives the sense that almost nothing could stop you.