New
#1
Notebook cooling.
Hi all. Decided to put this here as this would otherwise be a case mod. Let’s just call this a case extension as that is sort of the equivalent with mobile systems for something like this.
Basically, I am considering an unorthodox cooling alternative for my notebook which seems to tend to the warmer temperature these days irregardless of load (despite my efforts with the can of air to prevent that, for the dust and such - I'm not willing to dismantle it half-way just to get the dust so...). Today it peaked at 77C/170.6F with ambient room temperature being 12.7C/55F (I keep my window open no matter how cold it is). Not good at all and the 90-110F temperatures will be approaching soon and I fear for this system’s ability to handle it without putting unnecessary strain on the CPU/GPU.
So to get to the point, here is what I am considering in theory.
I would like to modify a Styrofoam cooler, cut it down to appropriate height. Put that into something else to keep the “sweating” from that off of my desk and contained. A bit of sheet metal to fasten a sort of lid on top after drilling some ventilation holes for the fans of a ‘cooling’ pad (as it will serve to better make use of the cool air the packs will provide – even more so if I use wiring to directly transfer it). Then which I would prop up my notebook on top with a little air-flow maximizer thing (basically an X that raises the system up a fair amount). When I need to use it, I will put the gel packs into a zip lock and with a medium hand towel on top of them and I think you get the general idea of where I’m going with this. If not please don’t hesitate to ask me to elaborate further.
Now… I understand the potential for humidity here. But I am thinking so long as there is no direct contact between the metal sheet and the notebook chassis, then there will be no “sweating” phenomenon and due to the space between this, the ‘cooling’ pad and the air flow prop it should not give off much more or possibly the same equivalent of an open window during winter (25-50F). I will definitely be using a zip lock bag over the packs and also a hand towel, which I believe should mitigate as much of the potential humidity as possible and I will also not be having the fans of the ‘cooling’ pad funnel it straight into the intake vent… not the goal, just thermodynamic transference strictly via the immediate ambient air… If that makes sense.
My question is if I am more or less correct in my assumptions or if I should give this up as a bad job while I’m ahead.
Though, I do feel certain without this measure if only in the hellish summers… the system will take on more damage from the heat than it will from the humidity of something like this (and if I’m not mistaken there are some non-powered dehumidifier devices out there I could potentially toss in there to further decrease it like one of these).
By using only one pack, without the insulated cooler, metal sheet or fan ‘cooling’ pad and with it propped up to ensure there is no direct contact between the pack and the bottom of the chassis, it lowers the temperature by an awesome 10-15 degrees. So I believe, if the humidity would not be too threatening with this proposed method… I could get that down considerably further.
I thank you sincerely for taking the time to consider this post. Any and all opinions and input are greatly appreciated.