laptops

[einsteinsdog]

My pc has a great big fan in the back but laptops dont why not? Presumably laptops generate the same amount of heat

[loudickson71]

Well not quite. Firstly, the processors will generally be slower. Secondly, they are designed to be mobile, so are more efficient. Thirdly, they do have a little fan, that does a decent job, PC's overkill a bit cos they have the space. Fourthly, laptops are thin, allowing more efficient removal of heat out of the machine.

[mibn2cweus]

loudickson71, how cool is that; great job! I would like to add that it is important to maintain good ventilation so don't let anything block the ventilation system.

[haysi06]

ahem my laptop frequently turns itsel off coz it overheats

[fuzzibear]

Lets not forget of course that laptops, being as portable as they are, we can always pop them into the fridge for a few minutes to cool them down, or hold them out of a moving car window to let the air cool it if a passanger in a car....

[gary baldy]

My apple i book is designed to disperse heat throughout the whole of the bottom panel. It gets very hot but its designed to and if you dont let air circulate underneath the little fan will kick in and if it that doesnt work and it gets too hot it will shut down. Dont know about other laptops though

[rojash]

Yes, "laptop" is a bit of a misnomer really, as if you put them on your lap, you block the air vents, and end up setting fire to your trousers.

[john91]

Isn't the main fan in a PC the power supply fan, which a laptop won't have as it works off batteries, or if you do use it from the mains the power supply is in the lead.

[rojash]

Well the biggest fan is in the power supply but in a modern computer it is there to ventilate the entire box, not just the power supply. In terms of importance, the main fan is the one on the processor which is the device that generates the most heat.

[B00]

Can rojash have three stars please for giving me the giggles with the mental image of his trousers on fire?

[Gef]

Every PC laptop I use has a fan but it does not run continuously. It just comes on when the processor is working hard. At home I use an iMac which has no fan but a large, well ventilated case.

[mibn2cweus]

My laptop has two fans. I discovered this when I got a "northbridge fan error, check it" message when booting up. A nudge set it free and I haven't had a problem since, (knock on wood).

[loudickson71]

Can we trust rojash's truthfulness if his pants are on fire?

[einsteinsdog]

Thanks for some good answers everyone

[mibn2cweus]

Thanks for some good questions einsteinsdog