DIY super budget laptop cooler

College kids are broke and so am I. I work my macbook down to the every byte it has. Today i decided to give it a helping had and try to keep it as cool as possible.

The total budget was just ender $10.00

Step 1: Materials you'll need.

1. Shoebox
2. Male USB cord
3. Soldering iron + solder
4. Shrink wrap
5. Fan (Make Sure it is 5v. USB from a laptop only puts out 5v) We will be running the power off of USB.
6. Hobby Knife
7. Pen
8. Double Stick tape

Comments

[GASSYPOOTS]

works ok-ish with pc overclocking

[tbh-1138]

I'd put the fan on the side of the box. It would suck the hot air out more efficiently, because hot air goes up and if you try to move it down it just goes back up. Pushing it to the side works much better.

[atthomas]

I have a spare case fan that I would like to use for this. However my case fan, unlike yours, has three wires coming out of it. Can I still do this project? If so, what should I do differently?

[Patented]

You should mention that the 5v fans work better because the output of USB is 5 volt, I tried with a 12v fan and it goes very slowly so it doesn't blow a lot of air

[notaless]

Thanks I'll add that in.

[tokymaru]

the bottom of macbooks get hot too the more air moving along the bottom the cooler it gets it takes heat away no matter where the air vents are

[Sevion]

Wow, my friend made me one of these (except it was just a bare fan with a USB cord.) but it helped a lot! :D

[dkfa]

Just wondering, if you laptop is a mac book, the air vents are on the side not the bottom like all the other laptops are. So how do this take away all teh heat if its on teh wrong side.

[jordand]

You can also use an app called smcFanControl. It lets you set your fan speed
smcFanControl download

[notaless]

Wow! Thanks for the awesome tip!

[ll.13]

Nice wallpaper!

[notaless]

Thanks!

[nickc321]

A few months ago someone posted using a 3-ring binder as a laptop stand, (I've been using 1.5") I'm thinking this may be a good addition.... I'll have to give it a try

[mitchell12]

great idea. gives me ideas to make a more permanent one rather then cardboard. Wouldn't have thought of using the 5v out from the usb.