Laptop cooling mats

timestar

I have been looking into getting one of these for my laptop (which sits on a flat, wooden desk). Has anyone tried those that come with fans (like the Targus one)? How noisy/effective are they?

Thanks!

Reluctant_spender

I have this one - http://www.akasa.co.uk/ My daughter is sat next to me on the laptop and I cannot hear it running.

I have to say that it is very quiet and does what it says. About £25 from PC World

Here's the link to PC World - https://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1158560268.1198777736@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccddaddmlkfhhfhcflgceggdhhmdfok.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=457543&category_oid=

albertross_2

waste of money imo, the fans inside the case do the cooling, so no need for one.

fwor

Ok, this is a moneysaving website, so here's my cheapskate solution:

From a piece of redundant Ikea furniture, I cut two shallow wedge shapes plus a bar to run across the back. Four screws hold it together, and the laptop sits on this with its rear end an inch off the desk. It runs so much cooler, the internal fan never cuts in now.

I do however use an external keyboard - so I don't care that it's sitting with its rear end in the air...

Riq

albertross wrote: »

waste of money imo, the fans inside the case do the cooling, so no need for one.

I echo this statement.

Definitely a waste of money.

Amalea

I have to disagree, my laptop was getting red hot (especially when playing games) until I got the Akasa cooler. Since then no problems and I don't have to worry how long I use it for. The main point of these is by keeping components cool it extends their life-and considering how much my laptop cost I'm not planning to replace it anytime soon!

sav_vas

Try this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thermaltake-R15ON01-IXOFT-Notebook-Cooler/dp/B000Q86230

It really works and no fans means no noise. I use O&O Drive LED to measure the hard drive temperature and without the mat it was >62 degrees centigrade; with the mat it is approx 56 degrees and the top of the laptop is noticeably cooler.

Donnie

I think the real rip off is the cost at PC World. They are around four or five pounds out here, in Asia.

wacko911

albertross wrote: »

waste of money imo, the fans inside the case do the cooling, so no need for one.

Bar playing the latest 3D games I have to agree - WASTE OF CASH. If you still want one try http://www.dealextreme.com/search.dx/search.laptop%20cooler#317 they have several for < £10 delivered (from China).

marksward

NOT a waste of money if you actually use a laptop on your lap or a soft surface. the vents the laptops fans draw air from get blocked if on your knee. Stops your nads getting fried too! You don't really need one with fans in. ALso like the fact that when you move the laptop round you are moving the stand not the laptop case itself so you don't twist the chassis.

I got the Akasa one as a gift last year and use it just as a stand and don't hook up the fans.

THe more airflow the laptop gets the less its internal fans need to work.

Get a cheapy one that looks comfy.

albertross_2

The OP stated that it is on a flat wooden desk, so the laptop will have no vents blocked up, and buying such a thing would be throwing money down the drain.

I can sit all day with a laptop on my lap, hardly gets warm, and the fan rarely comes on (windows update being the main culprit).

If heat was such a major problem, and internal cooling was insufficient, you would see these super cooling trays stacked high in every PC shop, and every office up and down the land. I have never seen one. Same applies to PC's with super duper fans and water cooling, totally OTT for the average user browsing the web.