Ask HN: How to validate hardware inside your mac?

[terrykohla]

How can I ensure that apple shipped me what I paid for in terms of processor, RAM and graphic card if I can't open the iMac or Mac Book?

[runjake]

Apple Menu->About This Mac->More Info->System Report or /usr/sbin/system_profiler from the Terminal.

[terrykohla]

is this something I can trust?

[timpattinson]

If you don't trust Apple's tools, use a Linux livecd and one of many system analyser packages.

[terrykohla]

Thank you. I just think that when money is involved there is a natural conflict of interest.

At least on the Mac Pro you can open the box and peek into the hardware.