How To Keep Your Laptop from Overheating

Today's modern laptops outperform even the best laptops from last year. However, users often find it tough, if not impossible, to keep them cool under fire. Laptops are getting smaller and smaller. Laptop CPUs and graphics processors are getting faster and faster. The problem becomes how to keep processors from overheating in such a small space. Desktops rarely have this problem, as a modern PC tower case offers plenty of space for air flow and cooling fans. Aside from trying to stuff a desktop computer and monitor into your briefcase, here are a few solutions to try:

1. Check internal fans. Modern laptops usually have several fans--one for drawing cool air into the machine, one for cooling the main processor, and sometimes another for cooling the graphics processor. These fans are constantly running, and accumulate dust, lint, and other undesirable gunk floating in the air. All of these things pose a threat to your laptop's well-being, as they hinder its ability to cool down. Use a can of compressed air to blow all this stuff out the air vents and make your computer happy and again cool again.

   If this doesn't work, try installing some fan diagnostic software to check the status of your laptop's fans. Applications like Speedfan tell you how hot various laptop components are and whether or not the fans are working. If a fan fails, stop using your computer and get it replaced immediately to prevent any damage to your system.

2. Give your computer some props. Try propping your laptop up a bit to increase air circulation. You can buy a laptop stand almost anywhere. For the budget conscious, try using a metal ruler and two large erasers. Stick an eraser on each end of the ruler and use that as a stand. The additional height gained will provide extra space for increased air flow.
3. Check BIOS settings. Before your computer starts up the OS, there should be a startup screen that gives you an option to enter the BIOS setup menu. Look around there for options on configuring your fans and laptop temperature settings.
4. Software updates from manufacturer. Check with the manufacturer of your laptop for any updates or patches. Often times they have BIOS updates or other OS updates that will alter your fan's behaviors (i.e., making them run faster or more often).
5. Buy a cooling pad. If these simple fixes don't work, it's time to buy some extra hardware. Try purchasing a cooling pad and place it under the laptop. A laptop cooling pad is made of special material which draws heat away from your laptop. These work best with laptops that do not have fans, as the pad may block the fan's ventilation ports on the bottom of the machine.
6. Buy external cooling fans. Add some extra fans to provide more cooling. Most external laptop fans are built into a laptop stand. The added height from the stand along with the extra cooling power should do the trick.

And never ever use a laptop on a bed, pillow, blanket, etc! Doing this can block the air ports and, in the event of a serious overheating problem, could possibly cause a fire!