Chosen Solution
Hey there, I have a late 2013 Macbook Pro with a broken motherboard (it got smashed really hard… terrible times) which was my main working computer up until it got busted. I got a replacement laptop with the same specs, but from mid-2012, to last me til the new Macbook Pros come out, and I’m wondering whether it would be possible to take out the motherboard from the mid-2012 one and fix the late-2013 one with it? I checked the parts on a website and it seems they have different part codes, which makes sense, but maybe it’s still possible since the laptops share the same model number? TBH I can work with the mid-2012 laptop, but it’s a bit frustrating that I won’t be able to update it to Big Sur, and also for cosmetic reasons I’d rather go back to my old laptop (all my stickers are on there). Thanks in advance!
Apple really uses the Model ID not the Series number. So lets look at these MacBookPro10,1 - 2012 MacBook Pro ‘s Vs MacBookPro11,2 - IG 2013 MacBook Pro ‘s and MacBookPro11,3 - MacBookPro11,2 - DG 2013 MacBook Pro ‘s Then there is the IG (Intergraded Graphics) vs DG (Discreet Graphics) versions to add more complexity! So you’ll need to see which you have by plugging in your systems S/N into here EveryMac - Lookup So now we need to look at what is needed to move the logic board over, if the 2012 is a DG version board they its possible but its not that simple! Apple often doesn’t make it easy! The display assembly will also need to be transferred as Apple changed the pinout of the display connector so you’ll also need to transfer it over too! Don’t try it without moving the display over as you will damage the logic board! Now the last shoe to drop! Big Sur officially is not possible with the 2012 board {macOS Catalina (10.15) is the highest supported} unlike the 2013 models which supports macOS Big Sur (macOS 11). So the bottomline I would leave things as is, it’s not worth the risks.
