# Running laptop cooler

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-laptop-cooler/370977>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 31, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-laptop-cooler/370977 "2006-08-31T19:58:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-laptop-cooler/370977/1 "2006-08-31T19:58:15Z")

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While I am on the subject, is there any tricks to help my laptop run cooler?

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-laptop-cooler/370977/2 "2006-08-31T20:14:23Z")

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Don’t sit it on your lap.

The inexpensive method is to place it on a hard surface, specifically to increase airflow under the machine. You can buy simple cradles that lift it off of a desk to increase the airflow. You can buy laptop cradles that have fans in them to pull away the heat. Some cradles are even minature heat sinks to increase the heat transfer.

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-laptop-cooler/370977/3 "2006-08-31T20:16:21Z")

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[QUOTE=dauerbach]  
While I am on the subject, is there any tricks to help my laptop run cooler?  
[/QUOTE]

A [laptop cooler](http://www.officemax.com/max/solutions/product/prodBlock.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&prodBlockOID=537353870&expansionOID=-536895313) is probably what your looking for. 😃

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**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-laptop-cooler/370977/4 "2006-08-31T20:27:05Z")

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[QUOTE=Duckster]  
The inexpensive method is to place it on a hard surface…  
[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I use a breakfast-in-bed type tray with the legs folded in and it works great.

I think the reason my last laptop went wonky is because it overheated too many times, from setting it on the couch.

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-laptop-cooler/370977/5 "2006-08-31T21:07:25Z")

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The industry’s been mildly attempting to rename the things as “notebooks” instead of “laptops” because the things are running warmer and warmer, and it’s actually not a good idea to use one on your lap for a long time.

My PowerBook becomes uncomfortably warm on the lap after just 15 or so minutes - not sure if that’s because it really is that hot, or because the entire body is aluminum, so it conducts heat out faster than a plastic case.