Laptop Cooling?

[Cabin Fever]

I was told by a couple of people to "be sure to use a laptop cooling fan", to prevent my laptops from over heating. They are on ~16hrs/day. In the past 18 months, I've gone through 4 cooling fans (~$40/each), between the two laptops. Both are dead, again, and I'm wondering if they are really necessary? 

[shawnhu]

Lol. Laptop cooling fans are for people that don't ever clean their laptop heatsinks.

[NFA-ADK]

Just make sure the bottom of the laptop has air.  Many people who take them to bed or on a couch cause the cpu to overheat.  They have little "feet" to keep them off a flat surface, this amount of space is needed to keep the fan working properly...  All the vents are on the bottom of the laptop, this area is key to keeping it cool.  Keep it clean and in a room with carpet those vents should be cleaned monthly if needed...  Dust is a computer fans enemy... 

 

Otherwise a cooling pad/fan will work/help. 
Get a intel they run cooler than the AMD processor... 

If they are stationary computers consider replacing with a desktop, they run cooler and are cheaper...  You can try to put more thermal grease but only if you really know what you are doing!

[Cabin Fever]

Just make sure the bottom of the laptop has air.  Many people who take them to bed or on a couch cause the cpu to overheat.  They have little "feet" to keep them off a flat surface, this amount of space is needed to keep the fan working properly...  All the vents are on the bottom of the laptop, this area is key to keeping it cool.  Keep it clean and in a room with carpet those vents should be cleaned monthly if needed...  Dust is a computer fans enemy... 

 

Otherwise a cooling pad/fan will work/help. 

Get a intel they run cooler than the AMD processor... 

If they are stationary computers consider replacing with a desktop, they run cooler and are cheaper...  You can try to put more thermal grease but only if you really know what you are doing!

Thanks for the info. I guess even a dead cooling fan base (concaved shaped) is still keeping the laptop up off the couch, bed, carpet, etc..., so the laptop can breath/cool.

[shawnhu]

Compressed air and give it a shot from the bottom vents while its running. You'll shoot out 70% of the dust. You can also go from the heatsinks vents on the side, but that's a little more tricky. <br /><br />Compressed air can be purchased at any computer store. I think Home Depot may have them as well. You can use shop air if you have a compressor at home.

[Lawdwaz]

Define "compressed air".

Seems as though I have an abundance of that, somewhat close to the laptop............(grin)

[wdswtr]

Great way to blow up a power supply is blowing air into it when its running.  Always, always clean with power off, battery removed and unplugged.  I cant even count how many power supplies I have replaced for customers because they did not follow these simple steps in cleaning.  Almost always the same story, I was blowing compressed air in the vents and then I heard a POP and now the computer doesnt work. 

Edited July 27, 2013 by wdswtr

[shawnhu]

Great way to blow up a power supply is blowing air into it when its running. Always, always clean with power off, battery removed and unplugged. I cant even count how many power supplies I have replaced for customers because they did not follow these simple steps in cleaning. Almost always the same story, I was blowing compressed air in the vents and then I heard a POP and now the computer doesnt work.

Blowing regular air into the power supply does not destroy it. Spraying liquid CO2 in it while running or hot, will.

[wdswtr]

Its the dust that is blown into them from compressed air that is holding a static charge that will blow up a power supply.  If you been doing this with power on your extremely lucky.

[WNYBuckHunter]

You should not be blowing dust in or out of a computer while its turned on. It can create static electricity, and you will end up damaging your fan bearings or brushes. Pretty simple to just turn it off first.