Saturday, May 8, 2010

Why Laptop Computers Get Very Hot

Why Laptop Computers Get Very Hot

By IK JohnsonThe popularity of Laptop computers continues to increase every day. It is a fact that most people buying computers for business or private use do prefer laptops to desktop computers. Laptop computers have many advantages over desktop computers. Apart from the obvious, being smaller in size and having the CPU and screen attached as one unit, it can be easily moved from place to place. They are also very light in weight and come in a variety of sleek designs, shapes and sizes.

The reason why they get hot:

The feature that make the laptop a very versatile and much popular product, its small size, is also a cause of the major draw back it has, it gets hot with use.

The reason why this happens is a simple one. Every machine that does work produces energy in one form or the other. The laptop is no exception, and because most of the components are small and customers are forever demanding faster processors in their laptops, they tend to generate a lot of heat as they process information very quickly.

Ways by which laptop manufacturers disperse the heat:

The laptop's CPU is housed in a tight compartment and the generated will damage the unit if not dispersed. Engineers came up with several ways to disperse the heat produced by the device that comes with every laptop you manufactured.

They include:

- A Fan
- Strategically situated vents
- A heat sink to draw the heat out to cooler parts of the laptop.

Even though all these features help disperse the heat produced by the computer unit, the heat does build up with prolonged use. Having an overloaded, overworked and very hot notebook on your lap is a recipe for disaster. The laptop could crash, the heat could damage your skin and for men there is the risk of infertility due to heat exposure to the genital area.

To learn more on how to make your laptop faster, protect yourself, keep your laptop cooler and get FREE tips on how to prevent laptop problems visit Laptop cooler review [http://www.laptopcoolerreview.com/] to start giving your laptop the care it deserves.




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=IK_Johnson


http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Laptop-Computers-Get-Very-Hot&id=2768002

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Getting the Right 17 Inch Notebook Cooler

By IK JohnsonNotebooks come in different makes, shapes and sizes. There are laptops, notebooks and Macs. Some are large with 17 inch screens while some are average with 15 inch screens or smaller. Most notebooks have the common problem of the computer becoming too hot, compromising performance and making it difficult to use the laptop on your lap, where it really belongs.

To keep your notebook cool and be able to use it on your lap without getting heat burn and overheating your unit, it is advisable to use a laptop cooling pad. Notebook pads come in a variety of shapes and sizes, just like notebook computers.

To invest in a lap pad it is important you have an idea of the size that will be ideal for your computer. 15 inch laptops are more affordable than 17 inch screen laptops and therefore, there are more 15 inch screen laptops in the market. This discrepancy also shows up in lap pads, with more lap pads made for 15 inch notebooks than 17 inch units.

You can use a lap pad made for 15 inch laptops, for smaller computers like netbooks too, but not for a 17 inch screen laptop. This is because the left and right edges of the laptop tend to spill out at the sides and with prolonged use the purpose of heat dissipation is defeated as the heat will still get to your lap.

However, a lap pad made for computers with 17 inch screens have more versatile use for the following reasons:-

- They give you more leg room so your knees are not locked together

- You can use it with a 17 inch laptop and anything below

- The 17 inch pads have a wider base and therefore provide more support for your notebook

- And students can use for other purposes like a lap table for their books

Just like every popular product in the market there are many varieties out there making it tough to decide on which one that is ideal for your laptop and the activities you engage in. For example, game players need a lap pad that will keep their laptop cool and be comfortable for them as they spend hours with their laptop on their lap.

We have put together a review of top laptop coolers and pads to guide you make the right decision. Visit [http://www.laptopcoolerreview.com/index.html] to get our FREE report on how to keep your laptop cooler.




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=IK_Johnson


http://EzineArticles.com/?Getting-the-Right-17-Inch-Notebook-Cooler&id=2768483

Monday, May 3, 2010

Common Laptop Problems Solved

By IK Johnson


Every piece of equipment, now and then develops one problem or the other. Some are due to wear and tear, misuse, prolonged use or the problem just shows up from no where. Some of the problems a laptop could come down with are serious, but a few are very common and easy to fix, and they include:-

- The laptop is too hot
- The laptop is too slow
- No response at all

For example a laptop might not come on because the battery has completely discharged while the user thought it was plugged in, in which case you recharge the battery and problem solved. In a situation where the problem is beyond that you should consider sending your laptop to an expert to trouble shoot, pinpoint the problem and fit it.

Another very common problem is the laptop being too hot. Ideally, a laptop is expected to produce some heat, but sometimes it gets so hot that you cannot use or touch the computer without some discomfort. Solutions for a hot laptop include keeping it clean. Make sure that the vents by the side of the computer are not clogged with lint or debris, so that when the inbuilt fan in the system come on to cool it down, it can blow the hot air out through the vents. Use canned air to blow out debris from hard to reach surfaces. Make sure the laptop is turned off before doing this. Also blow out dirt from the keyboard and keep the screen clean.

Another way to disperse the heat from your laptop is to invest in a laptop pad. There are several out there in the market, and if you get the best one for your computer, it will keep the temperature down and most of all let you use the laptop on your lap without discomfort.

Another very common problem is the laptop being too slow. Your laptop does not process information as fast as it used to and this can be very frustrating. It could be a serious problem causing it, but most of the time it is not. The solution could be as easy as getting rid of some files.

To learn more on how to make your laptop faster, protect yourself, keep your laptop cooler and get FREE tips on how to prevent laptop problems visit Laptop cooler review [http://www.laptopcoolerreview.com/] to start giving your laptop the care it deserves.




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=IK_Johnson


http://EzineArticles.com/?Common-Laptop-Problems-Solved&id=2768450




Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Increase Laptop Runtime

Low battery life is, besides overheating, one of the most annoying things of high end laptops. If you buy a 17" Laptop, you usually end up regretting it once you hit the road. Nearly every middle class latop with such a big screen has one big minus: the uptime. The battery usually ends at the 2 hour mark, and you have to look for a power supply afterwards, or buy a better computer from the start, which is probably out of our budget. So what can we do, if we don't have the money to buy an overly expensive latop with a super battery? We can get ourself an external power supply via USB. Those things are great. There are different types, ranging from the size of a big mp3 player, such as an ipod to pads that have the size of your notebook.

I loved my 17" Laptop, but I was so pissed as it only lasted 2 hours once I was on the road, and especially if you want to go outside when the weather is nice, you are seriously handicapped.

That's why I got myself an external power supply. It gives my laptop a few extra hours, even though I have to carry more weight, which I don't care too much about. I want a bit of more flexiblity so I can enjoy the spring and summer, while I write on a park bench. Probably a 15" laptop would be better for this, or maybe a netbook, but still I am more productive with the extra pixels on my screen than I would be on a small netbook.

So at the end of the day you always have to decide what is important: Horsepower or endurance? Low weight? If you don't want to carry around heavy equipment get a smaller notebook, if you don't mind, simply get some extra batteries that will increase your runtime by the hours.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Fix laptop problems

Owning a laptop for more than 10 years does not make me a pro computer geek, but it sure offered me my fare share of problems. The biggest and most common laptop problem I have been running into is overheating. Since the netbook days you might think that overheating is an issue of the past, but there are still loads of people who want a subsitute for a desktop computer. Once a computer has a certain amount of power, it develops heat.
Laptops are notoriously known for overheating, it's just a built in feature. The small space that has to hold up all the components of the notebook produces a lot of heat. Now the better and bigger your notebook is, for example one of those nifty alienware products, the more dangerous it becomes. There are always the warning signs below a laptop informing you that a laptop should never be placed on your lap. You are not in a strip club recieving a lapdance anyways.
The more heat, the faster your laptop will die. Yep, heat kills your laptop, as it puts a lot stress on your mainboard, gfx card, the memory and what else you can find in there. The best thing you can do is to greatly reduce the heat your notebook produces.
How can you reduce your notebook temperature? First of all, you can reduce the workload you do with your laptop. Which is probably no option for most of us, as we intend to WORK on a laptop, and not sit there and watch an empty desktop.
A great way that helped me give me laptop a few extra months, even though I later learned that 1 of the fans in the laptop broke down, was a notebook cooler.
A notbook cooler is a device, that you place under your notebook. It's usually some cold metal with a few fans transporting the hot air it produces. Now you might think, this is something fancy, I don't need this. I want some easy solution. But there might be none other besides working less with your laptop. It's easy and simple to get a notebook cooler, place your laptop on it, plug it in and see the temperature of your notebook decline.
Once I got myself such a net tool my notebook started working again pretty well, before I was not even able to play the simplest game without my laptop slowing down considerably, after I got myself the cooler I was able to play without problems.
So what can you take from this? Always place your laptop on a hard underground, as those soft and fuzzy surfaces will end up destroying your fans and increasing the heat load on your laptop. In case your laptop already gets to hot and you have performance problems, there is a very big chance, that a laptop cooler will help you prevent further damage and increase your performance.