Some old memories on iFixit.

I bet that wasn't his personal computer. But if it was I liked his wallpaper. I still hate separate power supplies even if they are more replaceable.

I know when I did my AL2216W I used my MBP from the period and connected it over DVI, since I had the VGA and DVI adapters at that point because I "grew up" and got my first DVI monitor late in the game. I no longer buy Apple after the rMBP (and the end of the non Retina machines) and stick to business class. No more adapters like that :-). At the time I had the 2009 17" Unibody.

I know for a fact that machine ran 10.6 up until it's 5th year of use so that guide was when I had 10.6 installed. I did revise that guide, but that's because the original wiring style didn't age well. However, the pictures are still the same as the 2013 version. At the time, this is what I used.