I'm looking for cooling pads for two laptops. Here's a quote from Bill Bright on an old closed thread... I frequently recommend cooling pads, though I prefer a Notebook Cooling Pad w/ext. power supply. Pads that connect via the notebook's USB port draw even more power from an already overheated notebook and that seems counter-productive to me. That's what I want - a pad with external power. Bill's recommendation in that thread ( from Vantec) is no longer sold - at least not from Bill's source or anywhere else I looked. Anyone have any recommendations? One laptop is 13in and other is 17. Thank you, Len
Len, It's not what you asked for but I use a cake cooling rack to provide an air space beneath the laptop. They are popular in my area.
You can try some universal chargers for mobile phones. They can be connected to USB cables. But make sure that the input and output volts are same for both the charger and the cooling pad. I haven't tried this myself. Just a thought.
Is this close? It definitely has a power adapter, as well as being USB powered (appears as if you can use one or the other for power?): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834999415
Prius04's link is what I am looking for. I was not familiar with concept of undervolting. I did do some reading on it - would prefer to steer clear of that (primarily out of ignorance). The laptop has a switch that toggles between "speed" and "stamina". I never really thought about it and always had it set to speed - maybe that switch achieves a similar result. Brian - You're a high-tech kind of guy . I'm following your advice on a different laptop on which I have a separate keyboard and monitor. Seems to work well. The dish might be a problem if I were using the laptop keyboard - making it less stable. Sm1 - Interesting idea for the future. Never thought of that. Thank you for your responses!
Here's a good article: http://dottech.org/tipsntricks/21033/tip-buying-a-laptop-cooler-make-sure-you-get-the-proper-type/
Aigle - I've been having some heat problems on two laptops in our home - so I've become more aware of this issue. My son's laptop is almost never turned off - and I've noticed the fan seems to be racing quite a bit. I followed Brian K's recommendation for a cake dish - it seems to be helping. My wife's laptopwas running hot- it turns out she damaged the mother board by spilling some liquid on it. J_L - Very helpful article. Thank you. Len
My ears were ringing. Sorry my link led to a discontinued model. I have updated my canned text to that new VANTEC. The very nature of notebooks (very powerful electronics in tiny cases) prevents even the best notebook to provide good cooling through the case. This is a growing problem as users continue to replace their PCs with portable devices, then still expect them to perform all the same tasks. Unlike a PC case which can support several large fans, often front and back to provide good "flow" through the case, notebooks typically have few, and small fans that are incapable of moving the large amounts of air needed to keep the electronics properly cooled. And of course, PC cases can easily be opened, allowing easy access to thoroughly clean the interior of heat trapping dust. Notebook makers, sadly, do not provide easy access for that purpose. A cooling pad can help by keeping a steady supply of cooler air blowing on, and hopefully into the notebook. Also, a cooling pad help prevent the notebook from being used where it should NEVER be used, directly on your lap! If you always use your notebook at home with the notebook's power supply connected, you can get by with a USB powered pad. But then again, if you always use your notebook at home with the power supply connected, maybe you should be using a PC.
