How do you measure your laptop's cooling performance?

1 Why cooling matters

Your laptop generates heat when it runs various processes and applications. The heat is dissipated by the cooling system, which usually consists of a fan, a heat sink, and thermal paste. The cooling system prevents your laptop from reaching temperatures that could harm its performance or lifespan. However, the cooling system can also degrade over time, due to dust buildup, fan wear, or thermal paste drying out. That's why it's important to measure your laptop's cooling performance regularly and take preventive measures if needed.

2 How to measure temperature

The most basic way to measure your laptop's cooling performance is to check its temperature. You can use a software tool that monitors the temperature of your CPU, GPU, and other components. Some examples of such tools are HWMonitor, SpeedFan, or Core Temp. You can download and install them for free from their official websites. Once you run the tool, you will see the current, minimum, and maximum temperatures of your laptop's components. You can also see the temperature changes over time in a graph or a log.

3 How to measure fan speed

Another way to measure your laptop's cooling performance is to check its fan speed. The fan speed indicates how fast the fan is spinning to cool down your laptop. You can use the same software tools that monitor the temperature to also monitor the fan speed. You will see the fan speed in RPM (revolutions per minute) or percentage of the maximum speed. You can also adjust the fan speed manually or automatically using some tools, such as SpeedFan or MSI Afterburner. However, be careful not to set the fan speed too high or too low, as it could affect your laptop's noise level or temperature.

4 How to measure airflow

A third way to measure your laptop's cooling performance is to check its airflow. The airflow refers to the amount of air that passes through your laptop's vents and fan. The airflow affects how efficiently your laptop can dissipate heat. You can measure the airflow using a simple device called an anemometer. An anemometer is a device that measures the speed and direction of the wind. You can buy a cheap anemometer online or from a hardware store. To use it, you need to place it near your laptop's exhaust vent and turn it on. You will see the airflow in CFM (cubic feet per minute) or m/s (meters per second).

5 How to benchmark performance

A fourth way to measure your laptop's cooling performance is to benchmark its performance. Benchmarking is a process of testing your laptop's speed, stability, and power consumption under various workloads. You can use a software tool that runs a series of tests and gives you a score or a rating. Some examples of such tools are Cinebench, 3DMark, or PCMark. You can download and install them for free from their official websites. Once you run the tool, you will see how your laptop performs in different scenarios, such as gaming, video editing, or web browsing. You can also compare your results with other laptops or the recommended standards.

6 How to improve cooling performance

If you find that your laptop's cooling performance is not satisfactory, there are some steps you can take to improve it. Cleaning your laptop regularly can help remove dust and dirt which can clog the vents and fan, reducing the airflow and increasing the temperature. You can use a soft brush, a compressed air can, or a vacuum cleaner to do this. Additionally, you may want to replace the thermal paste which fills the gaps between components and the heat sink, improving heat transfer. Over time, this paste may dry out or crack, reducing its effectiveness. You can buy new thermal paste online or from a computer store and apply it yourself. Lastly, you could use a cooling pad which sits under your laptop and provides extra fans or vents to increase the airflow and lower the temperature of your laptop. However, make sure to check size, shape, and power requirements before buying one.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?