We verified the difference while examining some cables we’ve come across in used computers. These cables were designed with a thicker plastic film and offered more protection to the wires. The new cables now included a different part number 821-2049-A and later 821-2480-A. Apple offered this particular laptop (order number MD101LL/A) for a whopping four years due to high demand for the Unibody series of notebooks, and at some point wised up and began shipping computers with a revised version of the cable.

This MacBook’s cable originally was manufactured with part number 821-1480-A printed on it. We had to look through our microsoldering microscope with the highest magnification lens just to see evidence of the damage Even a microscopic tear can be enough to ruin the cable entirely.

Over time, this can result in exposure of the wiring embedded in the cable. Flat flexible cables (FFCs) are supposed to be thin, but the 2012 hard drive cable doesn’t quite have enough of the plastic film base which surrounds and protects the internal wires.Īny time the computer is moved around, minor shifts of the hard drive and hard drive cable create friction between the cable and the coarse aluminum. This hasn’t been an issue with most of the MBP Unibody laptops, but the 2012 MBP 13″ hard drive cable was made a bit too thin. In theory, it seems great, but unlike the exterior aluminum surface which is machined to an extra smooth finish, Apple skimped on machining the interior surface to match. Though this keeps the cable nice and secure, it also sandwiches it between the hard drive and the metal casing. The cable runs from the logic board SATA connector, across the optical drive and then underneath the hard drive, finally connecting to the SATA connector of the HDD. MacBook Pro 13″ (Mid 2012) Hard Drive Cable So if it ever fails, we’ve got your back. If you’re in need of one of these notorious flex cables, we guarantee our cables with a lifetime warranty. We had to figure out what was causing the issue and find a solution. Customers kept returning with the same persistent issue. It didn’t matter if we used a used cable or a new cable in the replacement. And possibly again with yet another bad cable. Our repair services department noticed this issue when they’d replace a bad cable, only to have the customer return a few months later with another bad cable. What is it that makes the Mid 2012 release special in this regard? A design flaw in the flex cable that seems to be compounded by the properties of the aluminum housing.

While it affects just about the entire Unibody lineup, the Mid 2012 MacBook Pro 13″ (Model A1278) is especially prone to this type of failure. Owners of a Unibody MacBook Pro laptop are probably already aware that failure of the hard drive flex cable is a common issue.

Replace hard drive macbook pro 2011