Introduction
Use this guide to replace your mini's heat sink. Reinstalling the heat sink will require a new layer of thermal paste.
What you need
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Place your thumbs in the depressions cut into the bottom cover.
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Rotate the bottom cover counter-clockwise until the white dot painted on the bottom cover is aligned with the ring inscribed on the outer case.
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Tilt the mini enough to allow the bottom cover to fall away from the outer case.
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Remove the bottom cover and set it aside.
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Remove the two 11.3 mm T6 Torx screws securing the fan to the logic board near the antenna plate.
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Lift the fan out of the mini for enough clearance to access its connector.
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Carefully pull the fan cables upward to lift the fan connector up out of its socket on the logic board.
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Remove the fan.
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Lift the cowling from the end nearest the antenna plate.
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Rotate the cowling away from the outer case and remove it from the mini.
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Remove the following screws securing the antenna plate to the mini:
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Two 6.6 mm T8 Torx screws
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Two 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mm Hex screws (either screwdriver will work)
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When putting back together:
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Slightly lift the antenna plate from the end closest to the RAM.
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Carefully pull the antenna plate away from the circular rim of the outer case.
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Use the tip of a spudger to carefully pry the antenna connector up from its socket on the AirPort/Bluetooth board.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive connector up from its socket on the logic board.
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Use the tip of a spudger to lift the IR sensor connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.
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Remove the following three screws:
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One 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mm Hex screw (either screwdriver will work)
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One 16.2 mm T6 Torx screw
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One 26 mm T6 Torx standoff
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Insert the into the two holes highlighted in red. Be sure it makes contact with the top side of outer case below the logic board before proceeding.
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Carefully pull the tool toward the I/O board. The logic board and I/O board assembly should slightly slide out of the outer case.
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Remove the Mac Mini Logic Board Removal tool.
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Pull the I/O board/logic board assembly out of the outer case enough to access the power connector.
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Use your fingers to disconnect the DC-In cable from the logic board.
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Pull the power cable connector toward the front side of the mini.
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Carefully slide the logic board assembly out of the mini, minding any cables that may get caught.
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Remove the following two screws securing the speaker to the logic board assembly:
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One 3.5 mm T6 Torx screw
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One 3.7 mm T6 Torx screw
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Carefully lift the speaker wires upward to lift the speaker connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.
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Lift and remove the speaker away from the logic board.
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Remove the single 5 mm T6 Torx standoff from the heat sink near the edge of the logic board.
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Remove the following screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:
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Four 8.6 mm T8 Torx screws
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One 2.6 mm T6 Torx screw
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order. Be sure to follow our thermal paste guide to reapply the thermal compound on the CPU.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order. Be sure to follow our thermal paste guide to reapply the thermal compound on the CPU.