5. Prepare to slide
The logic board is almost ready to be removed from its aluminium armour. Sliding out the logic board is tricky because of the resistance you must overcome from clips around the back panel. But before this most satisfying of stages, don’t forget to remove the one remaining screw that secures the board, near the cooling vents.
6. All tooled up
For this stage, you’ll need the customised tool that iFixit provides in the kit – a U-shaped wire that slips into two special holes that the Apple design team thoughtfully included for this task. Insert the tool until the ends touch the inside of the chassis, then carefully ease the tempered wire back towards you.
7. Spring into action
The logic board should now be loose from a number of spring clips all around the black plastic back plate. It may help to stand the mini upright and continue to ease the board, carefully, so it stands clear of all these clips. And when rebuilding later, ensure that none of the clips are misaligned.
8. Release the power
Now's a good time to lift out the existing lower drive. The unibody Mac mini has an integral power supply, an 85W Delta Electronics switch-mode power supply unit (PSU) that lives down the right-hand edge when viewed from the front. This provides all power to the mini through a 9-pin connector – this sits between the lower drive and the memory. With the main board now partially removed, it’s possible to disconnect this by hand.
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