Exposing laptop's fan assembly => major drop in temps
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 7:50 pm
As we all know, heat production is one of the disadvantages with folding on a laptop. I wanted to reduce the CPU temperatures of my laptop, and I tried a few things that seemed like they might work. I dedusted the machine and replaced the thermal paste, but the temps didn't change significantly. As an experiment, I tried removing the back panel, which exposed the copper cooling pipes, the fan assembly, and the radiators. After carefully putting it back on the desk and plugging everything back in, I turned it on and F@h started up as normal. After half an hour, the temps had stabilized at a far lower temperature than before. I gradually added to the SMP:N number until I was using all four of the CPU cores. To my surprise, the temps at SMP:4 were now roughly the same as they had been at SMP:1 before I removed that panel. I thus tentatively suggest that anyone folding on a laptop consider this as a possible cooling option.
A couple things are necessary for this to work:
1) the laptop must have a removable back panel that exposes these cooling components. Fortunately, I have a ASUS N61V model that was well engineered and is capable of these kinds of tricks.
2) The laptop should be stationary most of the time. Obviously removing the back panel is not a good idea if you're going to support it on your knees.
3) There must be a sufficient amount of space under the laptop for air to flow in, as there's likely little to be gained by removing the panel if the top of the desk takes its place. Fancy cooling pads would work, but if you're cheap then I find that three empty rolls of electrical tape are a sufficient alternative. The cardboard tubes are just the right height IMO.
There's a couple of advantages that come out of removing this back panel:
1) Lower temperatures. I attribute this mainly to better airflow, though the warm cooling pipes are also better able to radiate.
2) Less fan noise. Obviously lower temperatures means the fan isn't going to spin as fast, but the air has less turbulence because it no longer has to squeeze through the air intakes and swirl around all the inner components. The fan is able to easily take in air and blow it straight through the radiators.
I removed the panels yesterday, so I have yet to see if more dust is a disadvantage to this, but so far this idea appears to be largely successful. I wish I had thought of this months ago.
A couple things are necessary for this to work:
1) the laptop must have a removable back panel that exposes these cooling components. Fortunately, I have a ASUS N61V model that was well engineered and is capable of these kinds of tricks.
2) The laptop should be stationary most of the time. Obviously removing the back panel is not a good idea if you're going to support it on your knees.
3) There must be a sufficient amount of space under the laptop for air to flow in, as there's likely little to be gained by removing the panel if the top of the desk takes its place. Fancy cooling pads would work, but if you're cheap then I find that three empty rolls of electrical tape are a sufficient alternative. The cardboard tubes are just the right height IMO.
There's a couple of advantages that come out of removing this back panel:
1) Lower temperatures. I attribute this mainly to better airflow, though the warm cooling pipes are also better able to radiate.
2) Less fan noise. Obviously lower temperatures means the fan isn't going to spin as fast, but the air has less turbulence because it no longer has to squeeze through the air intakes and swirl around all the inner components. The fan is able to easily take in air and blow it straight through the radiators.
I removed the panels yesterday, so I have yet to see if more dust is a disadvantage to this, but so far this idea appears to be largely successful. I wish I had thought of this months ago.