hot n sweaty laptop

[chef]

I currently have the following 2 yr old laptop:

Toshiba Satellite Pro A120-161

Key Features
-Intel® Centrino® Core™2 Duo Processor T7400 @ 2.16Ghz
-2 x 2Gb 667MHz SODIMM RAM
-120 GB Hard Disk Drive + 320Gb portable HD
-15.4" WXGA TFT display
-Windows XP® Professional
-weighs 2.8kg

the problem is the fan is whirring almost constantly unless I turn down the processor speed to 50-60%, cooling is set to Battery Optimised rather than High Performance (always on). The laptop is on a riser so there is air getting to the underside of it.

the office i'm in is almost silent and now it's just f##king me off that there is this constant high pitch sound from the fan.

I'm thinking of 2 solutions:

1) buy a laptop cooling device, such as Vantec Lapcool (although you cant find them in the Uk anywhere), must be usb powered and quiet, any suggestions?

or

2) new laptop time, something that is:
- around £1,200-£1500
- 4gb RAM
- 15" Widescreen
- weight <= 2.8kg
- min 120Gb HD
- runs quietly

[ft101]

Check all the vents are clear and no build up of bumfluff and crud?

[DimPrawn]

2) new laptop time, something that is:
- around £1,200-£1500
- 4gb RAM
- 15" Widescreen
- weight <= 2.8kg
- min 120Gb HD
- runs quietly

I bought a Dell 17XX (17 inch screen) Dual Core Intel 2ghz with 4GB RAM, Vista Business some huge HDD (250GB I think) for £500 on one of their special offers (half price RAM and no delivery charge).

Quiet as a mouse and cheap as chips!

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dells...0917126A&s=bsd

[TykeMerc]

Chef this has all the hallmarks of a laptop full of dust and fluff, if you're capable of using a screwdriver and common sense you can usually remove the fan assembly and maybe get at the heatsinks to remove the dust.

I haven't taken a Toshiba to bits in quite a while, but I would be surprised if there aren't a few simple access panels to allow you to get at the fan. Turn the laptop upside down and utilise the mark 1 eyeball method on the base and rear spine.

Alternatively sell it to me for a fiver and I'll fix it in 10 mins

[ft101]

Or try canned air.

Or sell it to me for £10

[Bluebird]

put in fridge when not in use.

[blacjac]

Or try canned air.

Or sell it to me for £10

Used this many times, get one with a straw to use as a nozzle (a la WD40) and shove it in all the vents on the lappy.
Works a treat

[ft101]

Used this many times, get one with a straw to use as a nozzle (a la WD40) and shove it in all the vents on the lappy.
Works a treat

Except be sure not to use Wd40!!

[TykeMerc]

And hope to hell that you don't blow the crud into a congealed lump onto the motherboard with condensation all over it.
Only ever use a compressed air duster on bits you've taken out first.

I'll go to £15 quid btw Chef

[chef]

ahh yes, the obvious, i didn't think of that, i'll go purchase some canned air and give under the keyboard keys a blast while i'm at it..

thanks all