Hot Plate

This is a very easy and cool project to do with a dead CPU.

A CPU is a very beautiful piece of a computer that you won’t through away even if it was dead. Among many other things, simply, you can drill a hole in it and use it as your key chain.

This project will show you how to make a hot plate for your Mug from a dead CPU.

Step 1: Tools and Materials

1. A dead CPU.

(Ofcourse you can use a working one but it won’t be feasible.)

2. A USB cable

3. A Fan grill with screws.

4. Any box (I used a wooden tie box cover)

5. A rotary Tool (the best tool ever invented)

6. Epoxy

7. A creative artistic mind.

 

 

Comments

[pclever1]

I just tried this myself and the cpu got up to 96F and was able to melt chocolate. However the cpu clearly states that it runs at 1.525V. I tried it again latter and it want working (I checked the connections). Do you think I fried the cpu?

I used a phone charger for this that runs at 500ma (also 5V).

[umerji1000]

could someone please help me find the voltage and ground pins on my cpu.
here is the dash sheet: http://download.intel.com/design/celeron/datashts/30235305.pdf

[jbird123]

Nice tut!

I found the datasheet for a CPU that I'm looking at on eBay. It states "For clean on-chip power distribution, the Celeron processor on 0.13 micron process has 85 VCC (power) and 181 VSS (ground) input", does that mean I can solder the power wire to any one of these 85 VCC pins, and the ground wire to any one of the 181 VSS pins? Or will mine have a specific one that needs wiring to? Or maybe I'm not undeerstanding the statement correctly?

Also, when done would I be able to plug this into something such as an iPhone charger, I believe they are 5v?

[John_Edward]

....Okay.
Lets get these things straight.

First, a CPUs SAFE temperature range is, depending of the CPU, between 30 and 55.
The MAXIMUM temperature (exceeding this usually means the computer shuts down forcefully) is between 60 and 100, depending of the CPU.
You do not, under any circumstances, want to run your CPU at those temperatures, as they will get damaged over time.
Source : http://www.pantherproducts.co.uk/Articles/CPU/CPU%20Temperatures.shtml

Second, the voltages of CPUs vary, a lot.
Old Pentium 1 runs at 5v. my Core 2 Duo runs between 0.85 and 1.5 volts.
So, if you use an old pentium 1 processor, it will work perfectly.
Stick a C2D, and it will fry and you will get very nasty smoke.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors

Third, for this project, the USB port will give 5volts at 100mA, as that is the maximum power for a single device.
A smart device, like an external HDD, can REQUEST the computer to give it more power, by asking to take additional places in the USB bus, to the max of 5 devices, or 500mA.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus#Power


Fourth, power is always proportional to voltage and current.
At 5v and 100mA, power is 0.5 watts.
A CPU can use over 130watts in normal use, so you will not be getting the +100c temperatures here because of how the heat is released normally.
It is because the transistors and such act as resistors, resisting the 0.5watt power and turning it to (some) heat.

Source(s) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watt%27s_law and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_CPU_power_dissipation

Unless you use an older CPU that can handle the 5volts, you will fry your CPU.
So try to find a Pentium 1 or such, do not try this with a C2D :)

[schumi23]

I would suggest to first try hooking it up to a plain 5volt power source.
Also, I would guess that older CPUs (which you are likly to be using) are much less power efficient and use much less power - so it would probably work.

The ideal for this would be to connect it to anold ATX power supply 5V output (and ther are many guides o, reusing them on here)

[archieburden]

people are saying they have done it with a pentium 1. and you can stop the computer shutting down forefully when it exeeds these temperatures and you can change allmost everything about it in the BIOS (i think)
and dont go so nerd rage ((:D)

[jakebaldwin]

Isn't the point of this to use a CPU that is already trashed? Just wondering....

[John_Edward]

Fry it in a wrong way, making it go up in flames.

[davelectronic]

Do you really want to connect that to a fully functioning pc's usb port, use a power resistor copper plate and tap the 5 volts atx rail, idea.

[archieburden]

everyone keeps trying to say its wrong but it worked for him so folow it exactley because then it might not work and you cant complain

[Computothought]

Nice presentation.

I first remember seeing this hack years ago with old amd and p1'schips.
http://liveweb.archive.org/http://rabidhardware.net/id=44
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/modding/2006/09/18/usb_hotplate_cooks_dinner/1
Could not find the oldest article.

[Nicola Tesla]

what are with all the usb cables?!

[Computothought]

Exactmundo, they are all being use for power to heat the cpu(s).

[ben_k]

USB ports can only supply 500 mA each at 5V, so just one would only be able to generate 2.5 watts of heat, at most, which is not enough to get anything very hot.

[Nicola Tesla]

i never knew a pc had some many usb ports...

[archieburden]

what if you were heating a little peice of metal with a low melting point (no, im not saying that it would melt) what was already warm?

[Heisenburg]

thanks

[Heisenburg]

Wouldn't the epoxy melt when heated???

[emilsegna]

Do anyone have pinout for Pentium 4 socket 775

[Computothought]

You might try the Intel web site as they usually have the details on all their cpu's.

[bhuot]

Check on the CPU itself, the model number and have it correspond to the page on that URL:
http://www.intel.com/support/processors/pentium4/sb/CS-029963.htm

[oanderson]

Did household hacker copy you?

[naufanmaker]

Is not hot (not working) i use a intel pentium w/mmx tech or my soldering pins are wrong (sorry my engish)

[ageorge-1]

I made mine with a Pentium 4, til now not fried! In place of the box I used a dead HDD and in place of the fan grill I used the metal cover of HDD!

[jamesona]

which are the correct pins for the p4? I've been trying AD22 and AD20, as per a datasheet I found, but it isn't working.

[DoctorLazar]

Pop corns! :DDDD

[matstermind]

my pentium 1 has numerous voltage amd ground pins, does it matter which ones i connect?

[rudipetya]

I made it for my leopard gecko, just some differences:
i used two CPU-s in collateral contact, and cellphone charger for the power. It's working! She loves it. THX! :)

[nakayanGD]

how to locate ground pins and voltage pins in Intel pentium 133

[deamonlord]

PLEASE can someone tell me which are the ground and voltage pins on a pentium 1 processor? I found a datasheet through google but it went over my head. If someone understands that techie language, please help me!

[RAMZI_PC]

hello
can i use an old CPU, like 368 one or 486

[nakayanGD]

how to locate the voltage pins?

[TRAXXX]

work good at 10v 1A :D hehehehe it s hot

[M4industries]

0.o How did you get 10v 1a from a standard USB port?

[nopalboy]

maybe with 2 usb ports

[jamster545]

I think he means he hooked it to a different power supply. That would blow that processor pretty quick, i'd think.

[Chu Guk]

Hey! does anyone round there know the voltage pins for an inteldx4 or an AMDk6? Great instructable, just have to solve this small problem!

[watermelonhead]

This is a great instructable! Awesome for college :D

[threepwood]

Hello! I Have an old amd duron 800 cpu, and I want to make that, but I have a little problem...: can´t find the voltage and ground pins. I´ve searched the datasheet, but all i could was lots of names and numbers... it would be very nice if anyone could help me! :) Thanks! (and sorry for mi english) ;)

[mr monoply33]

Pure awesomeness. I can make like 20 of these! My system is made from discarded parts of other systems, on top of that I fix older systems of a charity, so not only do I go though these and hard drives like candy, I get dead ones delivered to my door every so often too lol