[Sarc]

I own a Rev. B 12 inch PBG4. On a normal day it can get hot (browsing, music, office), with heavy usage (video playback, 3D graphics, games), it can get over 62C.

This is uncomfortable by itself, but then I find out that it also reduces your battery's life span

So that got me thinking, how can I cool down the powerbook.

Here's what I came up with, hope some MacNN'ers can come up with something better/more efficient (and please correct me if I'm wrong on something).

The powerbooks are made of aluminum and (when the fan is not working) is cooled down by contact with cooler air. Because of the color, aluminum doesn't irradiate heat.

1st Method) Put the powerbook on top of a black, metal plate and on top of a stand.
Metal is better at conducting heat than air, so a metal plate would heat itself evenly, increasing the surface of contact with air, and it by being black it would also irradiate heat, cooling the computer even more.

2nd Method) Build a stand, pretty much as this guy did and add a couple of silent PC blowers (like the ones used on the G5).

3rd Method) Build a watercooler. (Overkill)

Cheers

[Charles Bouldin]

Originally posted by Sarc:
I own a Rev. B 12 inch PBG4. On a normal day it can get hot (browsing, music, office), with heavy usage (video playback, 3D graphics, games), it can get over 62C.

This is uncomfortable by itself, but then I find out that it also reduces your battery's life span

So that got me thinking, how can I cool down the powerbook.

Here's what I came up with, hope some MacNN'ers can come up with something better/more efficient (and please correct me if I'm wrong on something).

The powerbooks are made of aluminum and (when the fan is not working) is cooled down by contact with cooler air. Because of the color, aluminum doesn't irradiate heat.

1st Method) Put the powerbook on top of a black, metal plate and on top of a stand.
Metal is better at conducting heat than air, so a metal plate would heat itself evenly, increasing the surface of contact with air, and it by being black it would also irradiate heat, cooling the computer even more.

2nd Method) Build a stand, pretty much as this guy did and add a couple of silent PC blowers (like the ones used on the G5).

3rd Method) Build a watercooler. (Overkill)

Cheers

I think I can give the definitive reply on this. Methods:

1. For cheap, you can't beat the "granite tile" approach.
http://lonestar.texas.net/~jsavidge/passivecooling/
I tried this with a $4 granite tile from Home Depot and it makes a big improvement. Only usable at a desk, obviously.

2. For active methods, the sadly discontinued iPerch Plus works well.
http://www.applelinks.com/news/gifs/...plus_3_240.jpg
MacMice may still have some in stock.

3. For lap and portable use, you can't beat the thermodynamic approach of "phase change material". This is a laptop pad filled with a water/solute mixture that "melts" at about 80 F. Light enough to carry with you.
http://www.climator.com/passivecooling.html

At this point, I use the iPerch at the desk, the climator for portable use. Both work well.

[MRTrauffer]

at work, my pb sits atop a traveler's coolpad and i have a little fan blowing cool air from the back!

[typoon]

I have the cooling pad by Targus. It's got 2 fans spinning and it shoots air out the back. I think the new one has 3 fans