How to Disassemble a Mac Silver

The first silver Mac Mini was released 11 January 2005.

The Mac Silver, also known as the Mac Mini A1347, derives its informal name from its silver brushed-aluminum housing. As opposed to other Apple teardowns, such as those required for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, disassembling the Mac Silver is only moderately challenging. It does require a special tool, however – the Mac Mini logic board removal tool. The logic board removal tool is available from Apple as well as aftermarket purveyors.

Things You'll Need

• Lint-free or microfiber cloth
• T-8 Torx screwdriver
• Plastic spudger
• Mac logic-board removal tool
• #00 Phillips-head screwdriver
• Tweezers (optional)
• T-6 Torx screwdriver

Instructions

1. Power down the Mac and allow 10 minutes for its internal components to cool. Position the silver Mac on a lint-free or microfiber cloth. Stand the Mac on its side and hold it stable with one hand. Press the black cover concealing the fan and the Wi-Fi antenna and turn it counterclockwise until it stops. The cover will release from the Mac. Touch a metal component in the Mac to discharge any static electricity your body has.

2. Remove the three T-8 Torx screws securing the fan with a T-8 Torx screwdriver. Lift the fan from the Mac and disconnect the fan ribbon cable from its socket on the logic board with the flat end of a plastic spudger. Remove the fan and set it aside. Remove the four T-8 Torx screws securing the Wi-Fi antenna plate. Slide the Wi-Fi antenna plate towards the rear of the Mac and lift it up and out. Release the antenna cable from its socket beside the hard drive connector using your hand. Make sure you lift straight up on the connector, not to its side.

3. Remove the black plastic cowling from the Mac. Insert the two “U”-shaped hooks of the Mac logic-board removal tool in the two holes locates in the logic board near the rear of the Mac. Slide the logic board to the rear of the Mac to expose the power supply connection that leads to the battery. Pry the power supply connection from its socket with the flat end of the spudger. Lift it by hand from the socket straight up. Slide the logic board assembly from the silver Mac housing.

4. Remove the two #00 Philips screws securing the speaker assembly to the logic board with a #00 Phillips-head screwdriver. Disconnect the AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth cable connectors from their sockets on the logic board with the flat end of the plastic spudger. The cables will have yellow tape securing them to the board. Remove the tape with your fingers or tweezers. Remove the AirPort and Bluetooth from their grooves. Remove the AirPort and Bluetooth cards.

5. Remove the two T-8 Torx screws that secure the heat sink. Remove the six T-6 Torx screws that secure the I/O frame to the logic board. Remove the three #00 Phillips screws securing the hard drive to the logic board.

6. Remove the T-6 Torx screw securing the power supply. Disconnect the power supply’s cable connector with the flat end of the spudger. Remove the power supply from the Mac. Slide the optical drive from the silver Mac housing.

Tips & Warnings

• Disassembling your silver Mac Mini voids Apple's limited warranty.

Resources

• I Fixit: Mac Mini Model A1347 Teardown
• I Fixit: Mac Mini Logic Board Removal Tool