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I need some advice/input. My 2011 MacBook Pro (A1278) has been a pet project for me and I have upgraded several parts: hard drive, RAM, keyboard, hard drive cable, dc-in, etc. Then my screen got smashed so has to be replaced. I would do it w/o hesitating but there has been an issue w/ the battery that I cannot figure out. The battery is not recognized so I can only use it while it’s plugged in. I tried everything possible on the software side. After none of that worked I replaced the battery, the charger/adapter the magsafe dc-in, the sleep sensor, and none of that worked either. I know this machine has been extended well past its years but I can’t afford to buy a new macbook right now and I need to be careful and conservative with my money. (Not to mention I dont like that I can’t open up new MBP to do simple repairs). I want to know what you all think about my options and what you would do. At this point the options I am leaning toward are (1) getting a fairly basic PC that I can immediately upgrade w/ RAM, maybe a hard drive, and (2) fixing my mbp screen and try to keep extending its age. I hesitate to do that because 1) a new screen is $300 which could help pay for a chunk of a new machine; 2) i wont know how much more i can get out of that machine and 3) needing to be connected to an outlet just sucks. I welcome and and grateful for all advice, tips, suggestions, other points of view, and anything else you can throw at me. Thank you so much!
For 300$ you can buy a couple of used screens, not one. Prices for the full machine according to Bidvoy survey on ebay last week average prices are around 300$. Of course that is an average including all sorts of late 2011 Macbooks, including those for spares and/or in bad conditions, but it should give you some additional info. Fixing your board will be somewhat expensive and unless you have the i7 version I’d be a bit hesitant to recommend fixing it right now..I’d rather look for a 2012 2,5Ghz board which is upgradeble with Mojave and has a better video card. Unless your screen assembly is in very poor conditions you may also consider replacing glass and lcd panel, on pre retina machines is feasable, although a bit troublesome, but will help you save the money you’d need for a board upgrade.
