Laptop [Cooling] Solutions

Chanus

So, I bought my first laptop... I'm trying not to roast my balls.

I'm fine for using it on a desk or something (I can just prop it up), but I need a product that would be comfortable to have in my lap and would allow it to stay cool enough to not blow up.

There appears to only be ventilation on the bottom, except for one vent on the back left side.

Any ideas Gents? Ladies?

Grid System

I avoid heat issues by throttling my laptop's power usage. Performance takes a hit, but it's a worthwhile trade-off.

Awk

I just use a book or a binder and its good enough.

Grid System wrote: »

I avoid heat issues by throttling my laptop's power usage. Performance takes a hit, but it's a worthwhile trade-off.

Havent thought of this but im definitely gonna try. Any specifics?

ronya

Try a large ring binder. Those three-inch ones are often large enough, even for 15" laptops, and the generous air gap prevents any roasting. It will also lift and tilt the keyboard for easier typing (adjust this to your preference).

If you're appropriating a binder just for this purpose, you could consider cutting a small hole underneath where the ventilator fan will be, and gluing non-slip pads to the surface.

If you need active cooling, there are indeed USB-powered laptop cooling pads, but these typically require a flat surface underneath anyway.

Chanus

Hmm... this DIY binder idea sounds promising... I'll see how that works out.

illig

Awk wrote: »

I just use a book or a binder and its good enough.

Grid System wrote: »

I avoid heat issues by throttling my laptop's power usage. Performance takes a hit, but it's a worthwhile trade-off.

Havent thought of this but im definitely gonna try. Any specifics?

QFT... especially if you're just browsing or whatever when it's on your lap, you don't need the full horsepower of the CPU/Video Card... you didn't say what OS you're using, but all Windows OSes have this in the "Power Options" in control panel (or similar)

my 2GHz Core 2 Duo runs at a frosty 900MHz in my lap... resulting in little to none ball tostage

if that doesn't work, then follow the advice above about the binder or some other hard surface... all laptops are able to cool themselves sufficiently on a hard surface... it's your legs/pants whatever blocking the air vents that's making it heat up

simply place the laptop on a hard board of some sort... binder (like above), cutting board, etc. will work... you really don't need to spend money on one of those fancy active coolers with fans

Chanus

Yeah, I'm running Windows 7 on it (it's new)... I turned off some of the stuff in Power Options, but didn't really get too involved in it... I'll look around more this evening.