2006 Macbook Pro Modern Sleeper Project

[RyzenMaster.sys]

This thread serves as a log for my project to modernize a 2006 Macbook Pro (Core Duo, 512/128mb, 80GB) with modern hardware internals, ideally for the cheap! I love the chassis of this laptop, the keyboard, trackpad, aluminum design, etc but do not love the hardware from 20 years ago.

Backstory and rationale:

I got this device for $13 plus shipping on ebay, and as you'd imagine its not exactly in tip top shape for that price, although it is in mostly working and repairable condition: Its missing screws and falling apart, plus the slot loading optical drive eats discs and the HDD is loud and slow. I posted about it here awhile back, if you want more context and pics : https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/tpus-nostalgic-hardware-club.108251/page-765#post-5343231

I was going to repair the device with new drives, ram upgrade, a battery, and case screws, and perhaps even mail the MLB to a friend with experience in BGA work to upgrade the CPU. I ordered the screws and recieved the wrong ones then forgot about doing anything else. Its such an obselete model its not useful for much other than display purposes, and mine in particular isn't nice enough cosmetically for that use even... I am usually not one to call something old useless, i'm writing this post on a Core 2 device on Windows Vista, but this Macbook's 32bit CPU makes it objectively useless in 2025. I still feel bad about disassembling a near vintage device, so I am going to ensure I keep EVERY SINGLE part I take out and do as little irreversable mods as possible, ideally do none.

The plan:
I would like to install hardware that is new enough to officially support Windows 11, perhaps do hackintosh?, and do a bit of virtualization. Considering anything Whiskey/Coffee Lake or Zen+ and up, 4c8t/6c6t at a minimum. Option one is to purchase a laptop that has working hardware, but is cheap for some other reason, like a broken screen/hinges, chassis damage, bad battery, etc. A 13inch laptop board would fit best. Option 2 is to utilize a SBC like a Lattepanda, but these are... expensive.

Phase 1: Disassembly
It's gutted, has room for activities in here:

Phase 2: Peripherals - This is where I am at now:
There is no sense to buy other hardware to install in here if I will have no way to make it interface with the rest of the computer, so here is my thoughts:

Needs:
Display - LVDS internally, I believe. Will look for appropriate driver boards.
Speakers - Analog, should be easy to adapt to whatever board I use, or perhaps just 3.5mm TRS.
Keyboard + Trackpad - DONE! Full size USB-A, see below for my handywork.
Wifi - Antennas are standard mpcie size, will need to extend these and develop a way to adapt this to the smaller M.2 size antenna connector
DC IN - If I could somhow retain magsafe and the OEM charger I would be thrilled. If I get a mainboard that requires a signal from the charger this will make it difficult. You can program an Arduino usually to emulate the ID signal.
Power button: Its literally 2 wires, no circuitry involved, Apple couldn't have made this easier for me.
Cooling: Needs to line up with the OEM grilles.

Nice to have (In order of importance) :
External USB and 3.5mm ports. Thinking I can make these ports work with a USB hub and appropriate adapters. 3d printed mounts.
Webcam: I really dont care if this works but it would make it more complete feeling. Have not done research on this at all yet though.
Keyboard Backlight: Need to find the pinout for what I believe is the 4 pin connector coming out of the keyboard responsible for the backlight.
External Display Support - IF the board used has a HDMI/DP out i can adapt that to go where the current DVI out sits. Issue becomes spacing, I would honestly be ok with just sticking a HDMI port there and a 3d printed bezel.
External USB C - Would love to give this USB C, no need for charging capabilities. Peraps this could go in place of existing legacy IO, maybe part of the same spot as the HDMI out?

Unlikely to make work:
Battery - Interfacing with an Apple battery is probably a long shot. If I could put a battery internally that corresponds to whatever board I install it would be great. But space is very limited for that...
Optical Drive - There will not be room for this, and besides slot loaders suck

 

[RyzenMaster.sys]

Today I got the keyboard and touchpad working. I thought it would be more difficult than it is, was thinking at the minimum I would have to break out an adapter or arduino.

Thankfully, Apple engineers in 2005/2006 chose to make the touchpad and keyboard communicate over USB internally. I discovered this through some googling and looking at datasheets for the 2 identical infineon ICs on the trackpad board. Apple helpfully labeled the pads on the board for Data+/- DP and DM.
A very helpful anon poster from 2013 in the comments section of this thread posted a picture that got me the rest of the way http://attemptedmaker.blogspot.com/2012/10/converting-macbook-keyboardtouch-pad.html

I dont think the pic is for a pro, but the PCB appears the same.

Here is the result using a chopped up lighting cable cut to an appropriate length:

Its not pretty. In fact its pretty terrible looking, the ground especially. I can do better, but opted to stop messing with it once I tested it and it worked. Hot glue is keeping things in place, strain relief, and short circuit protection. The trackpad, left click button, and keyboard all work perfectly when I've tested it with a couple different computers. The backlight is not wired in yet, and I'm not sure if thatll be possible because of how tiny the connector is.

Next process is getting the display adapted to a more modern standard. While I wait on parts for that i'll work on the speakers, which should be easy. Then perhaps the webcam since that seems easy.

 

[igormp]

Wild thought, maybe you could look into using the innards of one of those atom tablets that run Windows.

 

[Mathragh]

Wild thought, maybe you could look into using the innards of one of those atom tablets that run Windows.

Or simply another more modern laptop!

 

[RyzenMaster.sys]

Just confirmed the webcam is indeed USB via the datasheet for the image microprocessor. Unsure how to figure out which wire is what, but once I do I'll snip another USB cable in half and make it also USB A.

As far as the display, I confirmed a standard LVDS cable can plug into the panel. Bought a long LVDS cable and a driver board for this display that also has an inverter for the CCFL (ew) backlight. The board requires 12v DC, which just adds another problem to deal with, but nothing a buck converter can't fix. Won't get here for awhile, coming from AliExpress in China.