Laptop coolers are available in a few different varieties. There are coolers that have fans. These powered coolers have two to four fans that work to cool the laptop. The unit is placed underneath the laptop. It can be plugged in via a USB port. Some coolers are actually gel mats that are placed underneath the laptop. These mats contain a gel that absorbs the heat from the laptop. Still another kind of cooler just raises the laptop, letting airflow underneath of it.

Getting the correct laptop cooler for your laptop might take some research. All coolers are not built equally. Some coolers might not be compatible with your laptop. If your laptop manufacturer has recommendations for which type of cooler to use, then follow those recommendations. Make sure to also ascertain where the actual vents and coolers that are built into the laptop are located. Finding a laptop cooler that will be compatible with the placement of those vents will make a difference when it comes to cooling it down.

Laptop coolers that have fans work by creating airflow. They can push cooler air into the intake vents. Laptop coolers are available in plastic or metal. Plastic fans are less expensive. Metal fans tend to be pricier, but since they are a little sturdier that is to be expected. Since metal is a heat conducer, it stands to reason that a metal fan can more efficiently cool a laptop as opposed to a plastic fan.

Another type of laptop cooler is a laptop cooler pad. These pads consist of a liquid or gel-like substance that can cool a laptop considerably. They sit directly underneath the laptop and can lower the operating temperature. Some of them need to be reactivated at certain intervals. This can be done by taking it out from underneath the laptop and shaking it. That “wakes up” the liquid or gel crystals, so that it can keep the computer from heating up too much.

Another bonus to using gel cooling pads is that they require no power supply. There are cooler pads on the market that do not require any refrigeration or any type of maintenance. They are stylish, slip resistant and will sit directly underneath your computer and barely be noticeable at all. All that you’ll notice is the extreme heat reduction and a more efficient laptop.

Laptop coolers can be a valuable tool for extending the life of your laptop. Finding the right one will depend on what type of laptop you have. Price and materials of laptop coolers vary. Doing some research ahead of time can help you find the one that is most compatible for yourself and your laptop.