A cooling assembly for cooling a processor includes a heat sink base defining a first area and a second area, a plurality of heat sink fins extending from the first area, a thermoelectric cooling module having a cold side and hot side, wherein the cold side is in contact with the second area, and a heat sink module in contact with the hot side. In use, a method includes monitoring a processor parameter selected from processor power consumption and processor temperature, and causing airflow across the plurality of heat sink fins and the heat sink module. The method further includes powering on the thermoelectric cooling module in response to the processor parameter having a value greater than a first threshold value, and powering off the thermoelectric cooling module in response to the processor parameter having a value less than a second threshold value.