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A laptop/notebook cooler, cooling pad, cooler pad or chill mat is an accessory for
laptop A laptop, laptop computer, or notebook computer is a small, portable personal computer (PC) with a screen and alphanumeric keyboard. Laptops typically have a clam shell form factor with the screen mounted on the inside of the upper li ...
computers intended to reduce their
operating temperature An operating temperature is the allowable temperature range of the local ambient environment at which an electrical or mechanical device operates. The device will operate effectively within a specified temperature range which varies based on the de ...
when the laptop is unable to sufficiently cool itself. Laptop coolers are intended to protect both the laptop from overheating and the user from suffering heat related discomfort. A cooling pad may house active or passive cooling methods and rests beneath the laptop. Active coolers move air or liquid to direct heat away from the laptop quickly, while passive methods may rely on thermally conductive materials or increasing passive airflow.


Active coolers

Active coolers use small
fans Fan commonly refers to: * Fan (machine), a machine for producing airflow, often used for cooling ** Hand fan, an implement held and waved by hand to move air for cooling * Fan (person), short for fanatic; an enthusiast or supporter, especially wit ...
to generate additional airflow around the body of the laptop.John Wiley & Sons (2012). Teach Yourself VISUALLY Laptops
Page 41
.
This helps convect heat away from the device. The number of laptop cooler fans usually ranges from 1 to 6. Coolers typically run on power drawn through one of the laptop's USB ports. Additionally, many cooler pads come with a built-in
USB hub Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables, connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply (interfacing) between computers, peripherals and other computers. A broad ...
, so as not to consume one of the laptop's often limited number of USB ports. Some active coolers draw heat from the underside of the computer; others work in the opposite way – by blowing cool air towards the machine. The fan speed is adjusted manually or automatically on certain models and on others stays at a fixed speed. Poorly designed coolers may use fans which draw more current than allowed by the USB standard. Without correct protection, such devices can cause damage to the USB power supply. Inside the laptop, the USB power-supply has to output an additional amount of
watt The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantify the rate of energy transfer. The watt is named after James ...
s for the USB-powered fan, thus generating a small amount of additional heat. This additional heat generation is usually insignificant in relation to the amount of heat a fan moves away from the laptop. Some high-end active coolers have blowers instead of fans, with
filters Filter, filtering or filters may refer to: Science and technology Computing * Filter (higher-order function), in functional programming * Filter (software), a computer program to process a data stream * Filter (video), a software component that ...
to stop dust from entering the laptop, and have
seals Seals may refer to: * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to impress an emblem, used as a means of a ...
between the cooler and laptop surfaces to prevent recirculation of hot air from entering the laptop.


Passive coolers

Typically, a conductive cooling pad allows for the cooling of a laptop without using any power. These "pads" are normally filled with an organic salt compound that allows them to absorb the heat from the laptop. They are good for a limited amount of time from around 6–8 hours of cooling. Other designs are simply a pad that elevates the laptop so that the fans in the laptop are allowed greater airflow. Conductive cooling pads are not advisable for laptops that have fan vents built into the underside; the cooling pad blocks the vents, leading to overheating or premature system failure. The best way to determine if a cooling pad would be suitable for a particular laptop would be to look for air vents or fan vents on the laptop. If they are on the side and not on the bottom, it is usually safe to use the cooler pad; otherwise, it may not be safe to use a conductive cooler pad.


Multi-surface cooler

A multi-surface cooler is a sub-type of passive cooler. It allows airflow both between the laptop base and cooler, and between the base of the cooler and the user's lap. These laptop coolers are suitable for laptops that have vents on the underside. The multi-surface cooling design typically works on any surface without blocking any vents. This makes them suitable for use on desk, lap, uneven/soft surfaces (couch, bed/duvet, carpet) and outdoors. Some laptop coolers also feature lights that are activated along with the operation of the cooling fans.


Multipurpose coolers

Recent advancements have resulted in coolers that are multipurpose and serve as portable workspaces. Features can include card readers for various forms of media such as key drives,
memory card A memory card is an electronic data storage device used for storing digital information, typically using flash memory. These are commonly used in digital portable electronic devices. They allow adding memory to such devices using a card in a so ...
s, and 2.5" laptop
hard disk drive A hard disk drive (HDD), hard disk, hard drive, or fixed disk is an electro-mechanical data storage device that stores and retrieves digital data using magnetic storage with one or more rigid rapidly rotating platters coated with mag ...
s. They can come with lighting systems, collapsible legs, writing pad areas, slots for books or tablets, and other extra compartments so as to serve as an all-in-one, portable desk. However, these extended designs can make the cooling stands too heavy to be carried conveniently or for a prolonged period of time.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laptop Cooler Computer hardware cooling
Cooler A cooler, portable ice chest, ice box, cool box, chilly bin (in New Zealand), or esky ( Australia) is an insulated box used to keep food or drink cool. Ice cubes are most commonly placed in it to help the contents inside stay cool. Ice packs a ...