Use a desktop cooling solution on a laptop

[trowe37]

First post here so here it goes.

I've got an old laptop that I no longer need, due to having a new one. Anyway this old one I'm now using as a media server that streams files to all the devices in the house using Plex. However the CPU in the laptop seems to heat up dramatically while it transcodes on the fly. To try and stop the issue being as bad as it is currently due to the increased temperature in summer I have removed the whole bottom portion of the laptop so it the CPU cooler has free airflow and all the components are being cooled.

The obvious solution being to buy a laptop cooling pad. However I have not had much luck with these and they only lower the temperature a few degrees, so to me are not worth the purchase. The other option would be to just build a computer using a desktop processor, however I am limited on budget, meaning the only other option is just providing sufficient cooling. I've had no problems with transcoding, no lag, however the overheating is shortening the life of the processor.

So the question I'm asking is if it is possible to use a desktop style CPU cooler in a laptop? The main problem being actually mounting it to the CPU, while powering the fan being less of a problem. The CPU is a 2310M, and the current laptop style cooler is mounted using four screws in a rectangular fashion. There is no need for the laptop to be portable any more, so any solution should work.

Thanks for any answers in advance.

 

[TechyInAZ]

With modding, sure you could. But it would take a lot of work since there are NO laptop cpu coolers.

 

[USAFRet]

So the question I'm asking is if it is possible to use a desktop style CPU cooler in a laptop?

1. Won't mount.
2. Far too thick.

 

[TechyInAZ]

So the question I'm asking is if it is possible to use a desktop style CPU cooler in a laptop?

1. Won't mount.
2. Far too thick.

Plus you could break your motherboard with the weight of those heavy cpu air coolers.

 

[Cristi72]

Hello,

Which make/model is your laptop? If the CPU is underneath the mainboard and if you don't mind modifying the laptop's underside (cutting, drilling, etc.) you could get an used cooling system from a much powerful laptop (try do a search laptop + heatpipe + cpu + cooler, you will find good ideas). If your CPU is on the upper side of the mainboard, you are SOL, as you will need to also remove the keyboard.