So the MBP's back side is aluminum, but it is thermally isolated from the cooling system to avoid burning your lap, since the CPU hits 100 degrees regularly with the cooling system probably at somewhere like 80 degrees.
However, I've been thinking of removing the insulation and actually thermally couple the heat pipe with the back panel. This way you effectively gain a large surface area for cooling in the form of the back panel. I'm estimating at peak heat, the increased surface area should give you just under 10w of passive cooling, since both the iPad Pro and the 12" MacBook are cooled entirely like this.
This could be done by simply opening up the panel and stick some silicone thermal pads on the heat pipe so that they are slightly higher than the rubber insulation. There is no mechanism to detect if the pack panel has been opened so you don't even void your warranty provided you remove the thermal pads before sending it in for repairs.
Obviously, doing this will make the under side really hot all the time and unsuitable for lap operation. But you can just put a case on it, which will negate the cooling benefits and gives back the ability to use it on your lap.
However, I've been thinking of removing the insulation and actually thermally couple the heat pipe with the back panel. This way you effectively gain a large surface area for cooling in the form of the back panel. I'm estimating at peak heat, the increased surface area should give you just under 10w of passive cooling, since both the iPad Pro and the 12" MacBook are cooled entirely like this.
This could be done by simply opening up the panel and stick some silicone thermal pads on the heat pipe so that they are slightly higher than the rubber insulation. There is no mechanism to detect if the pack panel has been opened so you don't even void your warranty provided you remove the thermal pads before sending it in for repairs.
Obviously, doing this will make the under side really hot all the time and unsuitable for lap operation. But you can just put a case on it, which will negate the cooling benefits and gives back the ability to use it on your lap.
