Laptops Are Not Designed for Mining
The fact that laptops are not designed for mining means they should not be used for it. And this is not just manufacturer advice; the design of computers makes this a terrible notion.
Desktop computers, particularly mid-tower and full-tower models, give ample breathing room for components. Having this space is essential. Mining cryptocurrencies is a computationally intensive operation that can take your entire GPU while processing transactions and analyzing data, generating a great deal of heat.
Desktop GPUs utilize active cooling, such as fans or water cooling, to dissipate the heat they generate. In addition, the computer chassis offers ample interior space and strong intake/exhaust fans for heat dissipation.
Laptops, especially gaming laptops, have a substantially slimmer footprint and significantly less inside space than desktop computers. The internal fans are also considerably smaller and weaker. Gaming laptops are powerful enough for regular tasks and can run some games without breaking a sweat. In contrast, mining is a considerably more demanding occupation. Keep in mind that mining is a 24-hour activity and that you are placing a significant amount of load on your laptop.
Laptop-Based Mining Is Expensive
Laptop GPUs are usually weaker and more expensive than desktop GPUs, which is one of the key obstacles to mining on laptops. There is a reason why gaming laptops are still available but GPUs remain scarce: miners are not interested in laptops.
Your investment will break even after five years. Your laptop’s cooling capacity is likely insufficient to adequately remove heat, and your computer will be thermally throttled to keep up. And that’s not even taking into account the cost of electricity associated with having a laptop on a charger that draws power from your wall 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You would be better off purchasing high-quality mining equipment or a desktop PC with your money. GPUs are still uncommon, so if you’re going to mine, it’s better to purchase them from scalpers than to use a gaming laptop.
The E-Waste Predicament
We have shown that forcing your laptop to mine cryptocurrency may hasten its demise, but what happens after it dies? You may be able to rescue a fried laptop, but the majority of mining laptops end up in landfills as electronic garbage.
Once a GPU has been ruined through mining, it is typically irreparable and must be discarded. With proper heat management, the average lifespan of a mining GPU is roughly half of what it would be under normal conditions. The same is true of laptops: depending on the model, a repair may be possible, but in most situations, the laptop is dead and will be added to the e-waste statistics that continue to rise.
You can also damage other components, which vary in severity from repairable to irreparable. Regardless of the circumstance, everything ends up in landfills much sooner than it should.