Using a laptop motherboard for cheap HTPC & retro gaming on my TV

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I've been seeing these Dell Inspiron 7405 motherboards for sale at under $30. A lot of folks have said they were able to power it with a 65 Watt USB C charger. Since it has HDMI out, I think it would output to my TV ok. The 4500u processor is also capable of up to Switch emulation, so I could enjoy a lot of retro gaming on it.

The only real challenge I see is that I would need some sort of cpu heatsink to put on it.

Are there any other problems that I might run into trying this?

 

[igor_kavinski]

Question - Guess!

If you have come across anything similar, what were the specs of that?

forums.anandtech.com

I got a Frankenlaptop too. That's the type of fan/heatsink you should be looking for. The kid who built this told me that he got all the parts from Amazon.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Most of the cpu heatsinks for this sort of thing are really, really offset. (obviously because it needed to be this way for the laptop) Is there any way we could install a huge, non-offset heatsink directly on one of these?

I mean, it's basically a slab of metal with the drill holes in the right place, and fins attached to it.....

 

[igor_kavinski]

The CPU has no IHS I think. So if you try to put a normal heatsink on it, tightening the screws may be very tricky. It could be possible to crush the naked die.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

The CPU has no IHS I think. So if you try to put a normal heatsink on it, tightening the screws may be very tricky. It could be possible to crush the naked die.

Huh, I wonder if anyone makes a base plate that would work well to make certain that the laptop cpu is not crushed before adding the heatsink? I think I have a 1 ounce copper round lying around from coin collecting - wonder if that would work if I drilled holes with a drill press?

 

[igor_kavinski]

Drill??? That sounds too scary for me

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Drill??? That sounds too scary for me

Oh, I just meant drilling a few holes into a copper round, not the board!

 

[igor_kavinski]

After mounting this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/166555223442

on the laptop CPU, I think you can put anything else you want on the heatsink.

Also found this:

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Do you think it would be worth buying this barrel power adapter for about 7 bucks to free up the USB C port?

https://www.amazon.com/PHONSUN-Power-Cable-Inspiron-CN-0N8R4T/dp/B0B6G3FBQW

I was originally thinking of using USB C power for the unit, but I think I would rather have that freed up, if possible.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Should be fine though never used one.