Computer Design

[jasonjannajerryjohn]

So I was thinking about this today, does anyone know why people put the fans on the bottom of the computer? I mean laptops. It just tends to be an annoyance because the computer overheats and occasionally turns off from it, but I'm sure there's some reason for it being there.

[Baragon]

My last computer (that I loved) had that problem and I used it until it was shutting off nearly every 5 minutes. It was sad.

[EK]

On my MacBook the vents are on the back of the bottom part not underneath it, the fans actually got caught up at one one point and my computer would get REALLY hot. There was a simple fix I found though, just punch (yeah, literally punch) the area above the keyboard

[bookworm]

Where else would you put it? Laptops have limited space by design.

[Laurie]

Where else would you put it? Laptops have limited space by design.

Exactly.

[J-man]

My laptop has a side vent and vents in the hinges of the screen, no bottom vents. Seriously though, laptops really aren't meant to actually literally sit on your lap, it's a bit of a misnomer tbh. I know a lot of people use them that way, but it's really not a good idea, they should be set on a surface like a table or something.

[EK]

Yeah my current laptop (a sony vaio) has side vents. Also, J-man, no way, I only put my computer on a surface in class, the rest of the time I'm chilling in the lazy boy with my laptop!

[Laurie]

My laptop sits on a desk.

[bookworm]

Yeah, the vents are on the sides. JJJJ was talking about the fan.

[KODY 105]

Fans large enough to provide enough cooling for the processor can't be facing the sides of a laptop. The intake or outflow can be on the side, but the only place with enough surface area for the other direction of airflow is the top or bottom of the laptop. Which makes me think, so why isn't the fan on the top, above the keyboard?

And originally I bet the intention was for laptops to be on a person's lap, before processors were fast enough to get this hot.