Windows 7: What Cooling Pad Should I Get?

I'm using an hp pavilion dv3-2310ea notebook pc. I've noticed my temperatures rising a lot when i play high gfx games so i think a cooling pad would be best. Which pad would be the best for the laptop i'm using?

I have noticed and used two different types. There is one for my wife's macbook: Thermapak - Heatshift Cooler for 15" Apple® MacBook® - White - HS15C
I have noticed that it draws heat away, but does not do well over long periods of time.

And then there is the type with fans. I got at Walmart that was inexpensive, and I would advise against this since it was very uneffective.

If you get one, expect to spend some money and read reviews for it.

Also look to see where the fans are on your computer. You might be blocking the vents if they are on the bottom. you can use a lapboard to raise it up so it gets proper cooling.

i have found that a great cooling pad is a kitchen plate under the laptop, my dv6519tx now runs 10deg celcius above ambient temps when browsing, and never gets too hot when gaming.

Interesting home remedy. Makes sense though...

What an innovative idea. Thanks for sharing. Just don't use the good china!

If anyone ever decides to buy a cooling pad I can highly recommend the one offered by Antec. Three year warranty, two high performance fans, pass-thru USB connector so you don't lose use of the USB port, and usually available in the US for under $25. at most major computer stores.

http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=NzI=

Along the same lines, I use my laptop on a smooth, flat surface. When there isn't a suitable surface available (like when I use my laptop while lounging on the bed) I place it on a small piece of plywood.

The key is to allow unrestricted airflow to the vents on the sides/bottom.

My personal opinion is that if a cooling pad is needed then there is something wrong, either a poor design or maybe dust/lint is clogging the vents or fan shroud. A cooling pad is just a bandaid for the real problem.

My notebook temperature was around 65 - 70 celsius when i was gaming. Is that a dangerous temperature? It's only a month old so i do't see how the fans could be clogged. I had to put it on high performance power plan in order for the game to run smoothly, which i realise raises the temperature.

Well, with my wife's macbook pro, it was poor design. Cram a metal case full of high quality components and use the case as a heat-sink.... Yeah that thing gets hot and it has no fans. My computer is a gaming laptop so it has proper cooling. For your computer, it is an entertainment computer: HP Pavilion dv3-2310ea Entertainment Notebook PC (VY348EA) specifications - HP Home & Home Office products

So the card and specs are meant for "entertainment" This mainly means movies.... The graphics card is for movies, but it has 512 dedicated Graphics so it can game, its just not meant for long-term gaming. It probably doesn't have very good heat-dispersion so a cooling pad would be the best "solution".

The other solution from "bandaid" would be medication? not sure about metaphore. This can probably be set through the power options instead of High Performance choose Best? or Office? Im not sure which....

You can use CPU-Z and GPU-Z to monitor the mhz of each processors while changing the Power Plan.

CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting

GPU-Z Video card GPU Information Utility

I'm trying the kitchen plate idea and it's running at 70 celsius. Is there a cooling pad specifically made for my notebook model? I looked but couldn't see anything.

I have braved the battlefield of testing notebook coolers. So far, I have found:

If you like typing at an angle:

Newegg.com - KINAMAX President Notebook Cooler Pad w/3 Built-in 60mm Fans for Laptops Model FAN-NTP3

If you like typing flat:

Newegg.com - Thermaltake Notebook Cooler Model R14PF04

If you need something very portable:

Buy.com - Kinyo ArtDio CF-201 Mini Folding Notebook Cooler Pad w/2 60mm Blue LED Fans (Blue)