14 DAY TRIAL // Using their spudgers and torx screw drivers, the crafty crew over at iFixit were happy to dismantle and analyze Apple’s new Mac Pro (Late 2013) model, and even more happy to rate it as the most repairable and upgradable Mac in Apple’s lineup.
For those of you interested in the technicalities, iFixit’s comprehensive hardware review awaits at the firm’s official web site. A truckload of high-resolution photos await there as well.
The system is chock-full of precision-engineered parts, making it a sight to behold, even spread across the table in an unusable state.
“For being so compact, the design is surprisingly modular and easy to disassemble. Non-proprietary Torx screws are used throughout, and several components can be replaced independently,” is just one of the praises dished out by the repair shop.
Apple has made it easy to swap the RAM modules, allowing users to upgrade the computer’s memory at home. iFixit also lauds the company’s decision to include a simple lock-switch which enables users to undress the system, so to speak.
“Here's a strangely un-Apple-like design choice: simply sliding the lock switch allows us to remove the outer casing of the Mac Pro. No stubborn pentalobe screws here!” the geek crew wrote.
As usual, iFixit hovered with their well-documented eyes over every piece of silicon to give readers a full lowdown of everything from CPU and GPU to wireless chips and sensor controllers.
Even the processor is user-replaceable, according to the tech-savvy bunch at iFixit.
“While it will require a bit of digging, the CPU is user-replaceable—meaning intrepid fixers should be able to save considerably by upgrading from the base-level processor configuration,” the team wrote.
iFixit, however, also cautions that unexperienced users shouldn’t attempt to dismantle the expensive Mac.
“With some proprietary new connectors and tight cable routing, working on this $3,000 [€2,197] device without a repair manual could be risky.” In light of their discoveries, iFixit gave the new Mac Pro a record repairability score of 8 out of 10, with 10 being the easiest to repair.