How to Keep Laptops from Overheating
If there’s one thing that most laptops suffer from (apart from poor battery life), it’s overheating. Some laptops just can’t effectively distribute or remove the heat created by your hardware. The end result of this is a very hot piece of technology. Overheating may not seem like a big thing until you consider the problems created from this. When a laptop is not able to moderate its internal temperature, prolonged overheating can result in permanent damage to your hardware. Simple solutions are available which can help you avoid having to repair or even replace your laptop.
Tilt Your Laptop
Overheating is oftentimes caused by poor air circulation, or rather the laptop fan isn’t able to get airflow under the laptop. As this is where most of the overheating occurs, you should consider propping your laptop up at an angle. The best solution to this is to simply put a book or a docking station under your computer’s battery when you are sitting at a desk. This allows more air to flow under the laptop, which will help keep it significantly cooler. At the same time, ensure that whatever item you prop your laptop on doesn’t block the bottom fan for the laptop.
Buy a Cooling Mat
Some laptop reviews will suggest making use of a cooling mat. In some cases, the cooling systems in place on a laptop just aren’t enough to counterbalance the heat output, which means you need to accessorize. Cooling mats look like a simple prop to your laptop, but actually improve airflow under the laptop. In some cases, these mats may include fans of their own to provide additional heat removal. Depending on your needs, these mats can be a very cheap solution.
Avoid Soft Surfaces
Laptops are meant to be used no matter where we are, which means you may use your laptop while on the couch or in bed. While the mobility of this device is convenient, you should avoid putting your laptop on sofas, carpeting or pillows as this will block the vents on the bottom of your laptop. When and where possible, make use of a lap desk, tray table or even a wooden cutting board. You need a solid and flat surface to ensure proper airflow under the laptop.
Clean Out the Fan
This is the simplest solution and may create more of a difference than you’d expect. If you’ve had your laptop for a while, then dust buildup is not an uncommon thing to encounter. Over time, dust can build up in your laptop fan and prevent airflow from occurring. To fix this, you’ll simply want to purchase a can of compressed air to spray out the dust clogging your laptop fans. Be advised: do not use a vacuum for this purpose as it can cause excessive damage to sensitive components in your laptop.
Laptops are very powerful electronic devices, which means they tend to cause a lot of internal heat. Dispersing that heat allows laptops to live longer and perform better. By taking care of your laptop and implementing the following suggestions, you can make your laptop experience all the more positive.
