Laptop Nerd Question
 

Well, because when it rains, it must pour, both my laptop and my sisters laptop broke this week. She is not in school, but I have a thousand and one papers to write by the end of the semester so I'm upset. Fortunately, neither is a big problem but I want something to use until the end of the semester. Her computer has a windows issue and one of my fans stopped working so now my laptop just gets super hot if its on for more than half hour or so. What I'm asking is, how good are those cooling ports with the fans that your laptop sits on? can i get by using one of those until summer time when i can have it repaired? i don't mind turning it off every so often to let if cool but i just want something to make it more usable. what do you guys think?

It will certainly help, but I dunno how much. I've never used one, I just try to keep my laptops set down in such a way that they have plenty of space around them for circulation.

- Justin

what surface do you have your laptop on when it overheats? if you can raise it up off whatever you have it on, thatll help some.

tried it. but it doesn't help any cause the fan isn't turning on. i'm wondering if the fans on teh cooling pad thing will suck the hot air out

What brand / model laptop is it?

- Justin

sony vaio vgn-c140g

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-VGN-C140G.../dp/B000J45EX0

Hmm....can't find any "how-to's" for taking it apart....I was gonna suggest just getting another fan and replacing it yourself. If you can do a heads/cam swap, you can take a laptop apart - just gotta take your time and either remember or label everything as you take it apart.

- Justin

i've used one in the past, and it worked rather well
i didn't get the one that covers the whole portion underneath the laptop but what i have blows cool air under the laptop while raising it some. (like a wedge)

& to answer your question about sucking hot air out, i wouldn't think so.. they essentially just supply the laptop's factory fan with cool air and better circulation underneath

thats not a bad idea. the laptop has all the screws labeled to take it apart. would it require any soldering? are fans universal?

Most laptop cooling fans that I've seen are a set size with a universal connector, but I've never taken a Vaio apart, so I can't say for sure. Best bet would be to find a laptop / notebook forum and post up there and ask. You could also try contacting Sony, but they would likely tell you not to take it apart, or try to sell you some crazy-expensive "sony brand" fan, that you might not need.

I'm spoiled - I found this right after I got my Powerbook: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/Powe...c-Board/63/16/

- Justin

i'll do that. thanks justin. i'll start ripping it apart this week. might as well throw in some more memory while i'm in there too :)

thank you guys. its all fixed. i called sony cause they are the only ones who carry it, and they charged me my first born but i found a similar manual to what justin posted up and i got the new fan in in less than 5 minutes. i'm happy as heck right now. thanks so much.

w00t, glad to hear Jake.

What did they charge for the fan?

- Justin

82 for fan, 12 for overnight shipping and about 7 for tax for the grand total of $102 :shock:

but i really can't complain cause i was ready to pay someone ~$300 to do it and i now have the manual to really fix anything i want on the computer which is awesome!

:w00t: yay for jake!

:jake: <~ not a hijack. just a jake.

Dear sweet Jesus.....$82 for a FAN?!?!?

Sigh...I guess you're right though - better than the $300 you were gonna spend.

- Justin