In recent years, technology has rapidly changed for good. The laptop of today is quite different than the laptops decades ago. Back then, laptops were only for traveling business people and for hackers in movies. They were not only big in size, but they were pretty slow in performance too.
Now with the rapid growth in technology, they have become more compact and more powerful by eliminating the usage of many hardware components. Unfortunately, many people may assume that fans are also one of those unnecessary components as the latest laptops are designed in a way not to overheat.
However, even after the rapid growth in technology, fans remain an essential hardware component of a laptop. It is one of the ways in which the laptop cools itself to prevent it from glitching out or failing. Without a fan, the laptop’s internal components could overheat, resulting in significant damage or, in the worst-case scenario, permanent failure.
However, some laptops can work perfectly fine without a fan. Scroll down to find answers to all your laptop fan queries.
Can you use a laptop without a fan?
The fan is not a hardware component that makes the laptop functional. Instead, it ensures that a laptop does not glitch or lag and increases its lifespan. Therefore, without a fan, a laptop might be able to work. However, it will not be able to give its best performance.
After an extended period, both the CPU and GPU of the laptop will overheat, causing permanent damage to the machine’s internal components. Modern laptops have more efficient and less noise-producing fans. As a result, they will only get loud when the laptop detects heavy processes such as gaming, video editing, and many others.
Are there any fanless laptops available in the market?
Manufacturers have developed fanless laptops for people who cannot concentrate on their work because of the constant weird noises their laptop’s fan makes or clean the fan multiple times during the day.
Usually, these laptops are smaller and do not consume a lot of power. However, these laptops for not intended to be used for heavy applications. Therefore, if you plan to do gaming, video editing, or live streaming on your fanless laptop, you would be making a huge mistake.
These laptops do not have any cooling system to keep the unit cool. Therefore, running heavy applications on such laptops means putting all the internal components at huge risk. However, simple tasks such as email checking, making PowerPoint presentations, or online chatting will not cause your system to overheat.
How long can a laptop run without a fan?
A laptop can work without a fan for some period. However, there is no specific time determinate as it depends on various factors. For example, if you perform heavy tasks on your laptops, such as gaming, video editing, and live streaming, the laptop will overheat after a short period. However, simple tasks such as scrolling down your Instagram feed or replying to your emails will not make your system shut down due to overheating.
According to most experts, you can run the CPU for between 30 secs to 1 minute without any fan if it reaches a temperature between 60 to 80°C. If you have a high-powered processor working in your laptop without a cooling system, it might work well for a day, and then it will be dead. It will not happen immediately and may take an hour to fail. However, when it stops, it will definitely be permanent damage.
How to cool a laptop without a fan?
Is your laptop running too hot? Even if you have a cooling system in place, your laptop can still become overheated. Broken fan, dusty vents, or decreased fan speed – many factors can make your laptop overheated.
Before you head out to get it fixed or the fan replaced, here are a few tips on how to keep your laptop running cool without a fan:
Use your laptop on a desk or table
According to many experts, your laptop’s lifespan depends on its placement. While placing your laptop on your lap and binge-watch your favorite movie might seem a great idea, it is definitely not recommended, especially when your laptop lacks a properly functioning cooling system.
By doing so, you are transferring your body heat to the laptop, making it more overheated. Therefore, the best approach would be to place it on the desk or table, especially if you plan to do some CPU-intensive tasks.
Battery charger replacement
While cleaning out your laptop regularly can be a good laptop maintenance practice, there are still other things that you might want to check to keep your laptop running cool. If your laptop has suddenly developed overheating issues, you might be tempted to replace the faulty fan. However, it can be your battery charger that needs replacement.
If a fan is broken or not working properly, it will make a lot of noise. Grinding or rattling noises can be a sure sign of the presence of a faulty fan. However, if there is no noise, but your laptop’s fan is still not working, it is your battery charger that needs replacement.
The best approach to keep your laptop running cool without a fan would be not to charge it while you are using it. Charging your laptop at night will ensure that your laptop runs cooler during the day.
Can a cooling pad replace the fan?
Cooling pads are designed as a flat insert placed between your laptop and work surface (legs, mattress, table, or desk). It draws heat from the most heated components of the laptop and directs it away. With cooling pads, you can easily drop the temperature of your overheated laptop by several degrees.
However, it is still not a replacement for a fan. They are more for you and your legs than for the laptop’s internal components. It might be able to reduce the temperature of your overheated laptop, but the internal components will remain at a huge risk. Therefore, it is better to use it temporarily till you get your faulty fan fixed or replaced.
If you’re planning to get a cooling pad for your laptop, check this out:
