I’m thinking about buying a cooling pad for my Lenovo Legion 5i to possibly extend its lifespan. Does it really help maintain cooler temperatures during intense operations like gaming and thus, enhance the longevity of the laptop? I’m eager to hear if others have noticed any significant impact over time.
In my experience, it’s not essential. For a laptop to fail from heat, it would need to operate above 90°C for several years, likely more than five. So, rather than spending extra on cooling pads that make noise and add bulk, try these cost-effective methods. First, a simple aluminum stand for $5-$10 can significantly improve airflow. Second, undervolt both your GPU and CPU to reduce heat without losing performance. The most effective strategy, especially for Intel CPUs, is to limit the power using ThrottleStop for different scenarios, achieving great thermal management without performance loss. Trust the engineers, not the sales pitches.
@Keats
You mentioned setting a power limit with ThrottleStop can control heat without affecting performance. Could you explain more about this? I understand undervolting maintains performance by reducing power consumption, but does setting a power limit impact performance by reducing clock speeds?
@Hux
Setting a power limit does potentially lower clock speeds, but the impact on performance can be negligible depending on the game. For example, in less demanding games like World of Tanks, even with a power limit, temperatures stay manageable without sacrificing frames per second. For more intensive games, a reasonable power limit can still preserve good frame rates while significantly lowering temperatures compared to unrestricted settings.
Cooling pads like the Llano or IETS aim to enhance performance rather than save the laptop from wear. They provide more airflow which helps maintain higher boost clocks and improves FPS, meaning the thermal junction stays hot but the heat dissipates quicker. While good cooling pads do improve airflow effectively, I’m skeptical that they significantly extend the lifespan of the hardware components.
From my point of view, if a cooling pad keeps the laptop cooler, it could reduce the stress on fans, potentially prolonging their life.
Quinn said:
From my point of view, if a cooling pad keeps the laptop cooler, it could reduce the stress on fans, potentially prolonging their life.
Also, metals and components like GPU and CPU transistors degrade over time from high temperatures, directly affecting the laptop’s performance capabilities.
Simply improving airflow beneath your laptop can work wonders for temperature management. I use a small coaster to elevate the back of my laptop which significantly helps in cooling it down.
Yes.
Living in the Philippines, where the climate and dust levels are challenging, I’ve found cooling pads like the Llano and GT600 effective. They not only cool the laptop but also come with dust filters. Though my Intel HX processor doesn’t support undervolting, using the Llano v12 cooling pad allows me to game smoothly without overheating concerns.
Limiting frame rates in games can help reduce temperatures, making it a simple yet effective strategy for managing heat.
Val said:
Limiting frame rates in games can help reduce temperatures, making it a simple yet effective strategy for managing heat.
With a 240Hz display, I find capping the frame rate at 120fps in less demanding scenarios sufficient. It helps manage the laptop’s temperature without compromising much on the visual experience.
The Llano v12 cooling pad could improve the laptop’s lifespan by lowering temperatures by up to 10°C, demonstrating its effectiveness.
Using a cooling pad can help manage thermal throttling, maintaining better performance during gaming. Regular cleaning of vents and limiting battery charge can also contribute to prolonging your laptop’s life.