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Please read EMAIL FAQs first: Comments, suggestions, and questions to Joe Citarella, Skip MacWilliam, or Ed Stroligo

"Laptop Cooler Mod"
Joe Citarella - 3/1/08


SUMMARY: Simple gasket can drop laptop temps.

The most common complaint about laptops is heat.

Not surprising considering the extremely small footprint for CPU coolers. One add-on that many laptop users purchase is a laptop cooler - we have reviewed many different models. Almost all use an active fan to cool the laptop's back, where some heat is dissipated.

However, I think what's more effective is to get airflow into the CPU/GPU vents directly - seems to me that's where most of the heat originates and enhanced cooling should pay more dividends. Here's a pic of my Asus laptop and the Jetart cooler I use:

Pic

Notice the disconnect? The laptop's intake vents do not line up with the laptop cooler's fans. This is OK for back cooling but not for enhancing airflow into the CPU/GPU fans.

Necessity being the mother of invention, I cut some foam to make a gasket, the purpose of which is to form a plenum so that airflow goes into the fans' intake vents. I used double sided tape to affix the foam gasket to the laptop cooler:

Pic

CONCLUSIONS

I was able to knock 2ºC with the simple gasket mod. The big "DUH!" - make sure if you do this that the gasket DOES NOT cover the intake vents! A very simple way to make sure - turn on the laptop cooler's fans and feel for airflow coming out of the vents - if you don't smoke¹, wet your lips and almost kiss the exit vent - you'll feel the airflow.

¹For smokers: Place the cigarette tip by the exit vent and watch the smoke.

Email Joe


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