Laptop Getting Hot

[dbTraveler]

Hi-

I brought my laptop over from the U.S. and I keep it plugged in most of the time. It seems to be Hotter to the touch the it ever did back in the States. I am afraid the I am damaging my computer. What can i do to solve this problem? Is there a converter that I can get?

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

[Tywais]

If you are using it most of the time as a desktop replacement then you can get a laptop cooler.

Jedicool

[Lost in LOS]

you can go to a computer shop like tukcom etc and get a fan platform that sits under the laptop and plugs into it. not expensive

[sensei]

Check where the vent is and make sure that no external fans are blowing air INTO that direction. Happened to me once. The computer's vent is on the left side and I had a fan on the same side. The hot air was pushed back and can't get out.

[d0ndela]

As the above posters have said: Get a laptop cooler.

There are literally hundreds of different models available in Thailand because it's such a big problem with laptops in the heat (and from my experience especially with HP laptops).

When you go looking for a laptop cooler the thing to look for is that the placement of the fan(s) on the cooling pad equals the air outtakes under your laptop, this will give the best result.

They come in all priceranges, anywhere from around 100 THB to a couple of thousand. I don't use one myself, but I have sold several of them and from the feedback I hear from the customers the biggest difference between the expensive and the cheap ones is the design.

Running a computer that is glowing hot all the time also reduces the life-time of the laptop quite a bit. The lower temperature your components run at the longer they last (of course this might not be true when the temperature gets really low )

Edit: Just saw the above post about the fan blowing into the computer, I would only recommend to buy any cooler where the fan(s) all blow away from the laptop.

Edited July 8, 2009 by d0ndela

[tomyamgoong]

additionally, on a regular basis, use some compressed air aerosol to blow away any dust that may clog the intakes.

[astral]

Make sure it is stilling on a hard surface.

Many laptops suck air from below and a soft surface restricts the flow.

For continuous use a desktop is better.

Hot computers can suffer from cpu and disk failures.

[verydumbubba]

Depending on age - if +6 months - its full of dust bunnies, which will kill your CPU.

If canned air does not improve it disposition immediately, take it apart to clean professionally.

You will also need thermal paste to reseat the CPU/HS

If it gets hot under both a/c & not, its dirt. It simply takes longer to overheat in the a/c.

There are plenty hotspots all over the world where laptops run.

I often use a small fan at my pool, it cools the both of us.

Mine run ave <42'C 24/7

Bubba

[dbTraveler]

Thank you all very much for all your replies!

Just for my clarification.... I did not have this problem with my laptop heating in the States. Is this happening because the power output from Thai power outlets are different?

[losworld]

I doubt it is due to the Thai power grid. It may just be a bit warmer in the room where you are working or you may be running it more hours. I'd do a few things to try and cool it down before getting the fan.

1) check to ensure that you are not running a lot of background programs or that you have a virus that is causing your processor to needlessly run

2) look online for free software to control your fan on your computer - I recall I had this installed on my windows based system and it helped

3) if you are ambitious you could take your laptop apart and apply thermal greased to the processor than reinsert it. Many laptop manufacturers did not do this properly.

I currently have a mac and it seems to run a fair amount cooler than my windows system but I think what also helps quite a bit is that I have a plastic hard case around the computer that provides a space between my lap and the computer itself. I know when I had the windows I did not have this and the dam thing would burn my legs and cook my family jewels.

[verydumbubba]

No - power packs are universal - output is generally <12VDC

It might be coincidence or that you didnt pay it enough heed.

Try the fan trick - its a no-brainer. I would clean it properly though.

If you have a bunch of aps open, given that the net is slow as dirt here, that will greatly exacerbate

power draw. Try with browser off.

Bubba

[RKASA]

What % of CPU is running when all applications are off.  Start each application you normlly have on all the time and see where it jumps up.  Java script can be going wild they due that.  I had a P2P program that would go nuts in the background.  I don't run AC ever and sometimes its hot as 38, but if ya lift the back of the laptop off the table I use a little block of wood and make sure the vent is clear it should be fine even under heavy loads.  You're not leaving it run in the hot sun light?   Is the fan coming on all the time or on and off.  Find out whats running the dog out of the CPU.  laptop coolers are a joke, you should just fix the problem.  I use mine 24/7 torrents everything its my e mail center on the local network and the only PC on 24/7 so its always downloading etc..  (because it has built in barrary backuop)  If its getting hot there is something wrong most likely an application you added after getting here.  If its getting hot and its not the temp of the cpu thats rising, its just the laptop itself, then see if the battary is not starting to act up.  Your power brick if the same one as in the states maybe putting out a bit more could happen, but it should be handling that.  Does it get hot on battary use only or does the battary run down faster then before.  That would mean somethings running in the PC that didn't run before.

[tomartoh]

If you want to keep a check of the temperature then HD Tune is a useful piece of software.

My Lenovo runs hot since i moved my desk into another room. I have lifted it clear of the desk a couple of inches on a stand which has been a big help in reducing temp.

[longball53098]

I did not see any mention of cleaning out the fan. Most laptops allow the end user to easily remove the fan from the case for a good cleaning. I clean mine at lest every 2 to 3 months. Depends on where you use the machine. Also I noticed the area under the center of my keyboard was getting very hot. This is where on my Dell the graphics card is located and it has it's own fan. In my case I had to disassemble the top and take off the keyboard to get to the card and fan for cleaning.

So bottom line is if you have not done any housekeeping for some time I would try that as another help to keep things cooler.

[Rigsby]

Here is a program that monitors CPU temperature. A useful utility if you've an overheating laptop :-

http://lifehacker.com/5302910/real-temp-mo...ting-laptop-cpu

[craig]

I use one of the fan stands that plugs into a usb port and blows air up to the laptop...I further placed the stand on top of inch high objects (erasers) to lift the fan stand and computer up and allow more air flow under the computer...there are no objects around the laptop that would restrict airflow and I have a standing fan directed at me and the laptop. This seems to work OK...

[BigSnake]

To Much Porn No just kidding, Laptop cooler are ready available at most Computer Shops and other outlet that sell computers accessories, with a little luck you might even see some at your local Big C, or other larger retailers.

[dbTraveler]

I now know that I am getting to much power coming out of the wall socket. I know this because I have pluged my computer in at a friends house without my computer getting to hot.

Now considering my landlord will not fix the problem, is there such a device that I can buy that I can plug my computer into and will regulate the power coming from the wall socket.

Hope I explained well enough?

Thanks!

[d0ndela]

There are the UPS'es they would do the job for you, but they do more than what you actually need, so the 2000 baht the cheapest ones cost is most likely not worth it.

There are alot of surge products available in Thailand for the same reason you mention: the power line is so unstable. Now I can't read Thai, but from looking at the pictures some of the products here looks like they might be right for you.

[RKASA]

If its not a problem when you plug in someplace else, then anything you plug in where it was, will be getting abused in its place.  If the power is really to high its the power company that needs to fix it.  If you can put a meter to the outlet you can inform the power company about the level with the address.  They would need to fix that.  Outside of that you would need a variac transformer to control the power level yourself and protect any UPS or PC that uses it.

[longball53098]

A quick check with a volt meter will answer the "too much voltage" question. And if its too much at that socket then it will be too much at other sockets and lights. Do you have issues with other things? Like lights burning out?

I am curious if you're laptop uses the typical power brick to transform the AC to a lower input for the PC. This transformer is fixed to use a range of voltages from say 105 volts to 240 volts AC at 50/60 cycles. The output usually is fixed to a much lower voltage and in many cases it's a DC voltage. You could also check the output of the transformers voltage using you're socket. See what the socket voltage is at you're socket then when at another location where you say it's cooler check the output voltage there on the socket and the transformer output. Maybe this will give a clue as to what is going on.

Do they make laptops with a direct connection of AC to the laptop? If so then I could understand the PC getting hotter in a location with a higher than normal socket voltage as the PC transformer would be working much harder to convert the AC to the DC needed for operation and this would generate more heat.

Good luck getting the PEA to lower the voltage at you're location if thats a problem.

[verydumbubba]

I dont blame your landlord - there is nothing to fix.

Bubba