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Does your laptop hate you? Growling at you angrily whenever you’re
watching your favorite movie or playing a game? If it does then you
might not be giving it enough space to cool down. If laptop is running
hot, it’s not good for you or your precious gadget.Notebooks are
designed to pack the most in a limited amount of space. What happens
when you squeeze together a bunch of computer parts together in the size
of a small box? Everything either runs at sub-optimal capacity or
overheats. To solve that problem, laptop makers add heat vents and a
bunch of fans to keep everything running smoothly. Unfortunately for us
folks in Pakistan, the summer heat robs us of that convenience. Here’s
how you can keep your laptop cool and avoid overheating or damaging it.
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No Laps or Uneven Surfaces
Despite their name, laptops should not be placed on your lap while
you’re using them. It can potentially block the air vents, trapping the
heat inside your notebook.
The best option here is to use a laptop stand or placing something
underneath it to elevate the thing. You can use a small book for this
but make sure it doesn’t block the vents.
Alternatively you can also place it on a smooth flat surface. |
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Buy a Cooling Pad or Fan It
If the first option didn’t work out well you can buy a cooling pad
instead. If you’re the experimental type or on a budget (or both) you
can try making one. There are plenty of guides on YouTube for a DIY
cooling pad for laptops.
Another option is placing a standing/pedestal fan near your laptop if
you can’t buy/make a cooling pad. |
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Clean it Inside Out
Ah dust, the enemy of all things electronic.
Pakistanis are all too familiar with the menace of dust gathering on
stuff all the time. If dust gathers inside your laptop’s vents, fans it
can block the airflow.
Be sure to get your laptop cleaned by a laptop service person or from a
repair shop every once in a while. Once every two months should be
enough.
If you’re on a budget or can’t be bothered to go to a laptop repair
shop, you can try doing it yourself. Use a compressed can of air to
spray short bursts of air inside the vents. You can also use your mom’s
hairdryer for this too.
It is advised that you get it thoroughly cleaned out by an experienced
repairman though. |
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Check and Adjust Settings
Reducing the workload on your laptop can also help lower the
temperature. Changing your power plan to balanced or power saver
decreases the performance of your notebook which can also reduce heat
issues.
You can try other things as well such as:
Lowering your screen brightness
Unplugging unnecessary USB devices
Closing apps that use up CPU
An important thing to note here is that some laptops have a high
speed/loud fan by default. This doesn’t necessarily mean that your
laptop is overheating. If you get frequent crashes or abrupt shutdowns
coupled with high fan speed, then you may have a problem on your hands.
Monitoring the fan speed of your laptop can help in this case. Download
SpeedFan to monitor temperatures and fan speeds. |
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Leave it Idle
This one may be obvious but giving your laptop a rest can also help cool
it down. Frequently turning it off and on is not recommended. If you
turned on your laptop for a quick edit on Microsoft Word or for checking
your mail, you should leave it on for a while.
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