Why is there a need for laptop fans   by Alexg

in Computers / Laptops    (submitted 2011-12-12)

A laptop is usually a shrunk down version of the desktops every person grew up using. We still use desktops however laptops have replaced desktops in lots of areas. But there is merely a point up to which you mayminiaturize something. Moore's law which defined how many transistors you might fit on the microchip has thrown a task at processor manufacturers. One can find whispers of them having found a solution to it too. We are going to probably know it in the following generation of processors we come across in the market.

The processor creates a lot of heat while running of course, if this heat is simply not looked after it could damage the processor. The processors possess a thermal sensor built-in which shuts it down after the processor reaches dangerous amount of temperature. In a desktop tower there is usually a large amount of space that can help in dispersing off the heat that is generated by the processor. Generally a desktop might have more than one cooling fans. A laptop manufacturer does not possess that much space to use. Adding two fans would not only need more space but additionally consume more power and that is crucial because laptops are usually more often used on battery power which has limited charge.

A typical laptop would either employ a fan right over the processor or perhaps aluminum heat sink that absorbs heat from your processor this heat is transferred to a multitude of fin like structure having a fan right behind it. This fan sucks air from beneath the laptop and channels the cold air through the fins thus cooling it. However in addition to the air in addition, it sucks in dust which get deposited and with time increases on these fins. The dust buildup blocks the room between the fins thus the air sucked in by the fans is blocked too. This negates the heat dispersion capacity of the heat sink thus leading to heat buildup and power down of the processor.

This could be tackled by blowing compressed air through the side vent on your laptop this will likely dislodge the dust bunnies and unclog the heat sink.
The best way to prevent all this from happening is by using a laptop cooling pad. A laptop cooling pad has 2 or more built-in fans at the bottom the force cool air in to the vents under your laptop. This not merely helps keep the processor cool but in addition cools down the hard drive which happens to be another source of heat in a laptop. Cooling pads do not cost much and do not require a dedicated power socket for supply. They can be attached to a USB port on your laptop and will run silently. It will likewise protect your lap from the heat of the laptop. Thus a laptop cooling pad is actually a good investment to extend the life of the laptop.

About the Author

Alex is a Laptop and computer hardware expert. Read his views about how a Laptop fan Helps cool your laptop. A Laptop fan can protect it from damage due to heat.