Laptop heating is one of the crucial issues that most users encounter. It is a common problem for almost all laptop models and brands. This issue highlights the need to have a cooling pad placed below your device, contributing to its longevity.
Laptop cooling pads are designed in such a way that they not only reduce the heating of your laptops but also increase their efficiency and working speed. Moreover, they provide you with facilities not available on the laptops themselves.
What is a Laptop Cooling Pad?
A good laptop cooling pad is a small device that can improve the efficiency of your laptop. It provides optimal airflow for removing the heat generated by laptops, especially during movie marathons and extended gaming sessions. Most of them are designed with extra cooling fans to increase air circulation through the ventilation area on your laptop.
Why Laptop Turns Hot?
As we all know, laptops generate a lot of heat, and it is the cheapest laptop cooling pad that can keep them cool. It happens due to two reasons:
- First, most laptops now use processors having integrated graphics cards that produce more heat than those with dedicated GPUs.
- A second primary reason for heating is hard drives such as mechanical and SSD, which emit a lot of heat due to increased read/write activity.
Gaming laptops are even hotter due to the high-end graphics they possess inbuilt.
As the CPU maintains the temperature around 80°C, if it is running at 1.8 GHz with no active cooling throttling at 60%, the process of thermal throttling begins.
Thermal throttling is a process that turns off the CPU for a short time or limits its speed to prevent overheating. It happens due to the high temperature inside the laptop casing. It also results in decreased performance of your system.
The active cooling pad is designed to circulate cool air inside the laptop with the help of a cooling fan, thereby reducing its heating. They are designed so that the working efficiency of laptops is maintained even at high temperatures.
Once the cooling pad turned on, the average CPU temperature drops instantly and stops the throttling.
How Does A Laptop Cooling Pad Work?
Laptop cooling pads are considered the most reliable and efficient means of providing an added layer of cooling for your laptops. They work by siphoning off some hot air from under the lid and taking it out, thus lowering the overall temperature of the device and allowing it to function smoothly.
These laptop coolers have two cooling fans attached to them. One fan is placed on the bottom of the pad, which takes away some heat from inside, whereas another fan is attached to the backside that provides an extra push of cool air through the vents present on your laptop.
Laptop cooling pads are different from laptop stands because they don’t just elevate your laptops for better airflow; instead, they provide a stable base and other cooling facilities.
Things To Consider While Choosing A Laptop Cooling Pad:
When you go out to buy laptop cooling pads, there are some factors that you must take into account before purchasing one for yourself. These factors include, but are not limited to:
Size
The size of the cooling pad that you must choose depends on the thickness of your laptop. These are available in various sizes, and selecting a universal size would only lead to disappointment as it won’t fit your laptop.
Construction
The best cooling pads have aluminum constructions because they conduct heat exceptionally well. Apart from this, the ports should be USB powered for convenience.
Fans
Different laptops produce different amounts of heat. For a gaming laptop, a cooling pad with more fans will be required to prevent overheating, and thus it is advisable to purchase pads with at least 2 fans installed in them. Also, you have an option to choose different fan speeds in a good cooling pad.
Height
The height of the cooling pad also varies from one model to another. It differs as per the weight of the laptop. If you are planning to buy your cooling pad online, you should pay attention to the specs mentioned on the product page so as not to be disappointed with its performance afterward.
What are the Benefits of Using a Laptop Cooling Pad?
Some of the benefits that you can enjoy by using this device include:
Prevention of Laptop Overheating
A laptop is prone to severe problems when it is frequently overheated. Cooling pads are a great way to lower the laptop temperature.
Prolongs the Life of Your Laptop
A cooling pad is an accessory that will prolong your laptop’s life. When you play games or watch movies for a prolonged period, your device heats up and fails to function correctly due to overheating. A cooling pad works as a remedy in such cases by removing the trapped heat from within and thus extending the working time of your laptops.
Cooling Pads Prevent Damage to Internal Components
When the internal components like CPU, Hard Disk, or RAM of your laptop get overheated, they start malfunctioning and damage them. For instance, if your CPU overheats, then you might notice stuttering while playing graphics-intensive games or watching movies.
It can further lead to permanent hardware failure of these components and even reduce their life span. Cooling pads are the only solution to this problem as they remove some of the heat that is trapped within and thus, protect your laptop from internal damage.
Increase Productivity by Allowing You to Work for Longer Periods
When your laptop temperature is under control, you can work on it for an extended period without worrying about software and hardware issues. It allows you to finish all of your essential tasks within the scheduled time frame and thus helps in improving your productivity.
Easy to use
All you need is to place your laptop over the cooling pad, and you are all set to go! These cooling pads are easy to use and don’t require any software installation.
How to use Laptop Cooling Pads?
There are two basic steps when it comes to using these cooling pads that include:
Attach your laptop with the cooling pad by using adhesive or Velcro straps provided along with them in the package. Plugin your laptop’s USB port and connect it with the cooling pad.
Ensure that the cooling pad is switched on before using it for the best results.
Where can I buy a Laptop Cooling Pad?
These pads are available as an accessory along with laptops themselves or as a separate product. They can be bought from any electronic store nearby, or you can also order them online.
What Are The Drawbacks Of Using A Laptop Cooling Pad?
Some of the cons that come with this accessory include:
Requirement of a USB Port
For this accessory to work, the laptop must have a free USB port for connection with it. If not, you can purchase any USB hub available in the market.
You Can’t Use Your Laptop While it is Charging.
These cooling pads are designed to remove heat from your device and not charge it. Thus, you cannot use them while your device is plugged in and charging.
How to Identify the Right Laptop Cooling Pad for Me?
There are several factors that you should keep in mind before purchasing one. These include:
Size of Your Laptop
The size of this pad is measured according to the size of your laptop. Thus, you must select one that perfectly fits your device before purchasing it.
Supporting Portability
These cooling pads are compatible with laptops and desktops weighing up to 20lb only. You need to confirm this feature before buying one for yourself if you require portability while using them.
Power Source
These cooling pads are used with standard power outlets, while others require USB hardware to function. You need to consider this feature carefully before choosing one for yourself.
Built-in USB hubs in cooling pads
Some of these cooling pads come along with a USB hub built-in. It means that you don’t have to purchase one separately for your laptop and can use it directly.
Things to Remember While Using Laptop Cooling Pads:
While using these pads, make sure that the fan side is always facing upwards, allowing air circulation from underneath.
- It allows your laptop to stay cool for a more extended period.
- Since these cooling pads do not have any installation procedure, you need to ensure that they are placed in an area where they can quickly draw air.
- Do not place them near any electronic device or heavy machinery as the electromagnetic field might damage these products.
- Do not place any liquids or moist objects on the cooling pads as this might damage them and also cause harm to your device.
- You should check these cooling pads before purchasing them for their quality. Ensure that the USB cable is long enough to be easily inserted into your laptop while still leaving some space between it and other electric appliances.
- These cooling pads come in various sizes and designs so that you can choose one depending on your preferences and the budget available to you.
- You should always purchase these cooling pads directly from the manufacturer or dealers who offer high-quality products for sale. Do not buy them at lower prices as these often harm the device and also cause damage to the owner.
Are There Any Guidelines on How To Use Them?
Yes, there are some valuable tips that you should keep in mind while using them:
- Try not to put them in a location where they obstruct the ventilation ports and decrease airflow.
- Connect your laptop directly to these pads because using them through USB can slow down their performance.
- Check out the available space on your table before buying one, as it should not take too much space for convenient usage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Laptop cooling pads worth it?
There is no doubt that these cooling pads work effectively and remove all the excess heat trapped within your laptop. Thus, they serve their purpose well and are worth investing in.
Do laptop cooling pads harm my device?
These accessories are designed to protect your laptop from internal damage by removing some of its extra heat. Thus, you can use them safely without worrying about any damage to your device.
When Should I Use A Cooling Pad?
If your laptop is overheating and experiencing any performance issues due to it, you should use a cooling pad.