Cooling a laptop?

Does anyone have any advice on how to kee pa laptop cool?

My Toshiba Sattelite has its fan intake at the bottom of the machine, and thus if I'm using any flat surface as a table the fan can't suck in air as efficiently.

I tried to get around this by leaning the laptop backwards, but that eventually destroyed my power cord...

Any advice? Ice packs don't quite work.

I'd suggest using a book or something to raise the bottom (where it gets the hottest). Be careful not to move the laptop much, in case it scratches the harddrive. It might be best to prop it up and use an external mouse and keyboard.

This works for using a laptop on a desk, but I've yet to find a cure for the "crotch-burning" of using it on the go.

laptop fan design is so retarded . Let's put it on the bottom! What about the term "laptop" don't they understand?

Hack McSlash said:

I'd suggest using a book or something to raise the bottom (where it gets the hottest). Be careful not to move the laptop much, in case it scratches the harddrive. It might be best to prop it up and use an external mouse and keyboard.

Click to expand...

Yeah, that's one way I do it. It doesn't work so well if, say, I'm trying to use it while in bed.

13 Spider Bloody Chain said:

Hack McSlash said:

I'd suggest using a book or something to raise the bottom (where it gets the hottest). Be careful not to move the laptop much, in case it scratches the harddrive. It might be best to prop it up and use an external mouse and keyboard.

Click to expand...

Yeah, that's one way I do it. It doesn't work so well if, say, I'm trying to use it while in bed.

Click to expand...

True, still havent found a way that it wont' roast your nuts when actually on the lap for long-periods of time. Don't put it on a pillow, though, because that restricts air even more.

I use a shelf for mine, they're excellent for keeping the laptop elevated so it can cool down properly, works both on tables and on your lap (difficult to use on-the-go obviously)

This is the best I've found so far, it can be secured to the table and it's just the right size:


But with slight modifications any should do.

Mage246 said:

laptop fan design is so retarded . Let's put it on the bottom! What about the term "laptop" don't they understand?

Click to expand...

"I know, let's make a computer that crashes due to overheating and keeps your laps warm on cold winter nights!"

Heh, I'm suprised the whole "Dell's Explosive Laptop Batteries" promotion didn't result in better buisness. When you know the heat that comes off of a laptop can warm a small family, and/or scorch their genitals, you know you have a good product.

Thank you very much for bringing this up, I have no experience with laptops. My fiance' is soon to get a laptop. She is disabled and in bed most of the time and is very sensitive to heat, this would have been a problem the first day after getting the laptop. I now know to search for some accessory to deal with this ahead of time.

I got started and found these products. I will keep looking into this too.

http://reviews.cnet.com/LapWorks_Laptop_Desk_2_0/4505-6459_7-30632180.html
http://www.dormbuys.com/index.php?action=item&id=34
http://www.dormbuys.com/index.php?action=item&id=34 (This is for thin people only though I think)
http://www.concept-car.co.uk/shop/online/products/Antec+Notebook+Cooler+-+Cooling+System+For+NotebooksElectronics.php
http://store.coolerguys.com/840556014461.html (this looks pretty good)

I may have to fashion my own device somehow, at least I know what I will be dealing with though, thanks again.

Mage246 said:

laptop fan design is so retarded . Let's put it on the bottom! What about the term "laptop" don't they understand?

Click to expand...

I agree, you're not meant to place it on your lap, or any soft surface, eg. Sofas, Beds, etc. I own a Vaio and i really like it cuz the cooling exaust is on the side, and it's still not bulky, the FJ series is for Students, if you get a chance to buy a laptop, buy the FJ one, but not so much on the performance, it can still run M&B though.

Use it next to a ventilation shaft. Thats all I can think of.

Theres something you can buy at your local best buy thats meant just to cool your laptop. Its a sort of tilted stand, that lets all of the heat vent out. It works pretty well, and I use it. Since the laptop I use is fairly big, it overheats very quickly.