Cooling Down: Effective Solutions for Gaming Laptops Running at 85°C

14 Nov, 2024
Posted by: HABIBI TECH

1. Elevate the Laptop for Better Airflow

Why It Works: Laptops often have ventilation openings at the bottom. Elevating the laptop allows for better airflow, as it prevents the hot air from recirculating around the device. Elevation also lets cooler air reach the vents more efficiently.
How to Implement: Use a laptop stand or even simple items like a small book under each corner to raise it slightly. Ideally, a laptop stand with a fan can add extra cooling.
Additional Tips: Look for stands with adjustable angles and materials that conduct heat away from the device.

2. Use a Cooling Pad

Why It Works: Cooling pads usually come with built-in fans that direct airflow directly at the laptop’s base, helping to reduce surface temperature.
How to Implement: Choose a cooling pad designed for gaming laptops, which typically need more airflow. Higher-end cooling pads allow fan speed adjustments and USB pass-through, which lets you plug in other devices.
Suggested Cooling Pads: Brands like Cooler Master, Thermaltake, and Havit are popular for gaming laptops and offer various models with multiple fan configurations.

3. Optimize Fan Settings

Why It Works: Most gaming laptops come with fan control software that allows you to customize the fan speed depending on the laptop’s temperature and workload. Higher fan speeds can dissipate heat faster.
How to Implement: Look in the laptop’s pre-installed software (e.g., Lenovo Vantage, Asus Armoury Crate, or Alienware Command Center). Set the fan mode to “Performance” or manually increase the speed.
Additional Tips: If your laptop doesn’t have fan control software, you might be able to adjust it in the BIOS or download third-party programs like SpeedFan (if compatible).

4. Lower Graphics and Processor Settings

Why It Works: High graphics settings increase workload on both GPU and CPU, causing more heat. Reducing these settings can ease the burden and keep temperatures down.
How to Implement: In the game’s graphics settings, try lowering options like resolution, shadows, anti-aliasing, and texture quality. You can also cap the frame rate to reduce stress on the GPU.
Additional Tips: Use software like MSI Afterburner or Razer Cortex to monitor GPU and CPU usage, and adjust settings based on real-time performance data.

5. Update BIOS and Drivers

Why It Works: Manufacturers release BIOS and driver updates to optimize performance, address bugs, and improve thermal management.
How to Implement: Visit your laptop manufacturer’s website, go to the “Support” or “Downloads” section, and find BIOS updates specific to your model. Follow instructions carefully, as BIOS updates are sensitive and can impact your system if done incorrectly.
Additional Tips: Ensure you’re updating graphics and chipset drivers from trusted sources like the laptop manufacturer’s site or directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.

6. Undervolt the CPU and GPU

Why It Works: Undervolting reduces the power going to the CPU and GPU without significantly impacting performance, which can lower temperatures and sometimes increase battery life.
How to Implement:
- Intel CPUs: Use Intel’s Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU) to gradually reduce the core voltage offset and test stability.
- AMD CPUs: Ryzen Controller is a third-party tool that can adjust settings for AMD CPUs, though it’s not officially supported by AMD.
Important Notes: Test each undervolt setting by running a demanding game or benchmark to ensure stability. Start with small voltage reductions and gradually adjust until you find the balance between temperature reduction and system stability.

7. Replace Thermal Paste on CPU and GPU

Why It Works: Thermal paste transfers heat from the CPU and GPU to the heat sinks, but it can dry out over time, reducing its effectiveness.
How to Implement: Disassemble the laptop carefully and clean the old thermal paste from the CPU and GPU. Apply a new, high-quality thermal paste (such as Arctic Silver 5 or Noctua NT-H1) in a thin, even layer.
Professional Help: If you’re not comfortable opening up your laptop, consider taking it to a professional technician, as disassembling laptops can be tricky and may void the warranty.

8. Clear Dust from Vents and Fans

Why It Works: Dust buildup in vents and fans restricts airflow, trapping heat inside the laptop and causing it to overheat.
How to Implement: Use compressed air to blow dust out of the vents and fan openings. If you’re comfortable with it, open up the back panel to remove dust from internal fans directly.
Additional Tips: Use short, controlled bursts of air when using compressed air to prevent damaging the fans. Avoid spinning the fans too fast, as this can damage the bearings.

9. Consider an External GPU

Why It Works: If your laptop is compatible with external GPUs (eGPUs), using one offloads graphics processing from the internal GPU, reducing the laptop’s temperature.
How to Implement: Purchase an eGPU enclosure and a compatible graphics card, and connect it to your laptop via Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C if supported.
Downside: This is a more expensive solution, and not all laptops support eGPUs. Check compatibility before investing.

10. Monitor Temperature and Performance

Why It Works: Regular monitoring allows you to see which games or applications are pushing your laptop to the limit and can give insights into thermal patterns.
How to Implement: Use software like HWMonitor, MSI Afterburner, or Core Temp to keep an eye on CPU and GPU temperatures. Aim to keep temperatures below 85°C to avoid thermal throttling.
Additional Tips: Configure alerts for high temperatures so you can take action if the temperature rises above safe levels.

11. General Tips and Tricks

Ambient Temperature: Keep the laptop in a cool, well-ventilated environment. High ambient temperatures will worsen cooling performance.
Close Background Programs: Running multiple applications in the background can increase CPU and GPU load. Close any non-essential programs while gaming.
Consider Reducing Power Mode: Set your laptop’s power mode to “Balanced” or “Battery Saver” instead of “Performance” when you don’t need maximum performance. This can reduce temperatures during non-gaming use.

When to Seek Professional Help

If these solutions don’t improve your laptop’s temperature, it may be worth taking it to a technician. Persistent high temperatures can cause long-term hardware damage, so it’s better to address the issue sooner rather than later.