Laptop cooling pads

BlkY2k

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Messages
583
Santa brought me a new laptop for Christmas and it has been seeing quite a bit of use lately. It seems to me that the fan runs alot. Maybe it just me, never really used one that much. I`m wondering if I should pickup a cooling pad for it. Does anybody here run one? If so any particular type, or brand? Tigerdirect has a list a mile long, kinda confusing. Running a Gateway, nv55c, core i3, 4 gigs of ram. This fan seems to cycle about once a min. or so. Thanks
 

642mx

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Apr 19, 2008
Messages
1,588
Re: Laptop cooling pads

I don't use one anymore... My Gateway laptop made it about 4 years with one... my Toshiba is almost that old and I never used one with it. I don't think it makes any difference on how long they last.
 

sublauxation

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Joined
Oct 13, 2008
Messages
1,317
Re: Laptop cooling pads

My laptop is going on 4 years. I fried 1 battery which is either due to misuse and abuse or the fact that when used on a soft surface such as a bed they can get very very hot. I've never used a cooling pad and honestly the inconvenience would probably mean I wouldn't use one even if I had it.
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,752
Re: Laptop cooling pads

The wife and several friends use this one.

Wife kept hers on the night stand next to the bed, so QUIET fans were important.
These are quiet compared to several others we tried.

Also, open sides ensure great airflow even if you place it on a blanket or sofa.

Really works well to keep the heat level down on her MacBook Pro.

$40 I think.



http://www.walmart.com/ip/Targus-17-Laptop-Chill-Mat/14979792








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BlkY2k

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Messages
583
Re: Laptop cooling pads

Thanks for the ideas guys. I wouldnt have thought to get one but this fan seems to run alot.
 

erie_guy

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jan 16, 2007
Messages
269
Re: Laptop cooling pads

I suggest this one, because it has no fans or noise and lets the laptop easily circulate air under the body of the laptop. We have used one for the last 5 years and would not now want a powered/fan unit. Go to www.Xpad4Laptop.com I believe they were about $20 or so.

erie_guy
Port Clinton, oh
 

southkogs

Moderator
Staff member
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Jul 7, 2010
Messages
14,968
Re: Laptop cooling pads

Kinda' funny, but I use an old lap-size wooden drafting board. No fans, but it keeps the heat off my lap, and gives me a little deck space in the easy chair.
 

BlkY2k

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Messages
583
Re: Laptop cooling pads

Hey I used to have one of those floating around somewhere, Ill have to look. Thanks for the idea.
 

r.j.dawg

Ensign
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
993
Re: Laptop cooling pads

The wife and several friends use this one.

Wife kept hers on the night stand next to the bed, so QUIET fans were important.
These are quiet compared to several others we tried.

Also, open sides ensure great airflow even if you place it on a blanket or sofa.

Really works well to keep the heat level down on her MacBook Pro.

$40 I think.



http://www.walmart.com/ip/Targus-17-Laptop-Chill-Mat/14979792

That's a good idea. I had a USB powered one with my old lap top and didn't like the fan noise. I have an Asus i7 with 16GB ram and the fan runs all the time.
 

dolluper

Captain
Joined
Jul 19, 2004
Messages
3,904
Re: Laptop cooling pads

Fans running alot is good .....ifin it was a Dell carp you would have to install sofeware to get them to run instead of burning up....I hate Dells for that.....found that problem out years ago and they haven't fixed it yet
 

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: Laptop cooling pads

I fried 1 battery which is either due to misuse and abuse or the fact that when used on a soft surface such as a bed they can get very very hot.
My step-daughter wrecked her first laptop this way.
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,581
Re: Laptop cooling pads

Another good use for laptop fans are underneath DVR's. Since most DVR's have USB plugs in the back of them and since the DCR's run 24/7, the laptop pad helps keep them cool.
 

MTboatguy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Messages
8,988
Re: Laptop cooling pads

As a person, that currently has 6 laptops running in the living room, two in the computer room and one in the bedroom, me thinks you are way to worried, I have never bought a chillpad..
 

Ian_D

Cadet
Joined
Jan 1, 2012
Messages
12
Re: Laptop cooling pads

Laptop will be fine providing you dont block the fan vents (ie laptop on bedding etc).

Best thing to do with laptops is every few months give the air vents a quick blast with compressed air - they tend to clog up with dust, which causes them to run hotter than normal, and eventually overheat. If you dont have an air compressor, you can buy small air cans from DIY shops for a few quid.

As a person, that currently has 6 laptops running in the living room, two in the computer room and one in the bedroom, me thinks you are way to worried, I have never bought a chillpad..

Yikes, I thought i was bad with the amount of Laptops / PC's I have running! :eek:
 

MTboatguy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Messages
8,988
Re: Laptop cooling pads

Each one has it own use, the majority of them have to do with my wife's business, but two of them do duties as media centers. You are right, a blast of air, goes a long ways to keeping them running. I love the fact that laptops have become reasonable to purchase, back in the desktop days, it was horrible!


Laptop will be fine providing you dont block the fan vents (ie laptop on bedding etc).

Best thing to do with laptops is every few months give the air vents a quick blast with compressed air - they tend to clog up with dust, which causes them to run hotter than normal, and eventually overheat. If you dont have an air compressor, you can buy small air cans from DIY shops for a few quid.



Yikes, I thought i was bad with the amount of Laptops / PC's I have running! :eek:
 

espeed09

Cadet
Joined
Jul 27, 2011
Messages
10
Re: Laptop cooling pads

I have a cheap Belkin laptop cooler I picked up from Target. I actually use it to keep the heat off of me. Laptops get hot, that's what resistors with electricity do, but there is no reason to burn my lap. I don't know why I wasted the money on one with a fan...I never have its fan on; like I said, I just use it to keep the heat off of me (should have just purchased a lap board). I also give the laptop some space for its own fan to do its thing. Leaving a computer on carpet or a bed is a bad idea.
 

jay_merrill

Vice Admiral
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
5,653
Re: Laptop cooling pads

I use one for my laptop and don't find it to be inconvenient at all. Setting up the laptop takes a minute or so longer, but it doesn't bother me. The chillpad definitely makes the machine run cooler and since heat is the enemy of anything electronic, its worth it to me to use the thing.
 
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