A Lesson in How to Find Laptop Temperature
If you’ve ever tried to work for a while with your notebook computer in your lap you know that laptops get hot. It does make sense; there’s a lot going on in your machine! Processors and hard drives generate a great deal of heat, especially when they are working on particularly challenging tasks such as running your graphics-heavy game or playing a DVD. This isn’t any secret from manufacturers, but making a smaller computer means providing less room for fans and cooling functionality. What that means in the end is that laptop users need to pay extra attention and know how to find laptop temperature to maintain it properly. Before even learning how to find laptop temperature, though, you can take a few common-sense steps to avoid heat-caused issues.
The Power of Placement
We love our laptops because they’re totally flexible and can work absolutely anywhere. Which is mostly true. It’s also true, however, that whether you’re at home or on an airplane, you need to make sure that you’ve got your laptop in a position that keeps it at a good temperature. It’s all too easy to sit your laptop on a towel or pillow or even your lap, blocking its vents and causing it to overheat. If you like to sit with your notebook in your lap, using a lap desk allows you to keep your machine (and lap) safe and cool.
It’s critical that you never block your laptop’s vents. Keep your laptop on surfaces that allow your laptop to stand on its own tiny plastic feet; these feet keep the machine raised off the surface enough that it can ventilate itself through the bottom. Avoid putting your machine in a drawer or any other closed area that lacks good ventilation. Also, keep other objects out of the area directly around your computer.
How to Find Laptop Temperature
Are images of taking your laptop’s temperature “the hard way” playing through your mind? Fortunately, there needn’t be any thermometers to stick anywhere. Most laptops come with a heat sensor inside, which means that you just need a way to see the measurements it’s making. There are programs out there that will give you access to this information, including the free MobileMeter.
So you’ve installed the program, are seeing the number…now what does it mean? It gets a little trickier here because there is no hard and fast rule saying at what temperature a laptop should operate. It depends upon each individual machine and what functions it is performing when you take the measurement. If your machine is acting as it should, not processing anything too strenuous, and everything seems to be in order, you can use the measurement at that moment as a baseline. If you’re not sure whether things are as they should be, here are a couple numbers to keep in mind. At 80º, things are getting hot, especially if the computer is at a low activity level. Seeing 90º is cause for concern. At this level of heat, laptops generally shut down automatically or start working at a snail’s pace.
It’s Hot – Now What?
If you find that your laptop is overheated, make sure that it’s in a good position, the room is cool, and there’s nothing near your computer that could be transferring extra heat to it. If these actions don’t help, it may be time to take your machine in for repair. The fan or another part may need to be replaced, which is no easy feat.
One external and simple way you can lower your computer’s temperature is to add some extra cooling power to your setup with a laptop cooling fan. The fan is easy to install, connects to your USB port, and can help maintain a cooler temperature to protect your computer.
Allowing your laptop to continue to operate while overheated will mean slow performance, unexpected shut-downs, and shorter life for your battery. Keeping your computer in good shape and helping your laptop battery to last longer depends upon your machine operating at the right temperature.
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