The possible options for keeping my G51 cool

To ensure my new G51 has a long and healthy life I have spent much time researching possible cooling options which consist of additional active or passive cooling pads as well as applying modifications to the laptop itself.

Retailer Active and Passive Notebook Cooler

By far the easiest solution, yet unfortunately, possibly the least effective. We can see many reviews out there talking about wonderful laptop coolers. Some dropping temperatures by 10C or more. But due to the G51's native cooling, most products are not going to be as prominent.

Constructing a Custom Built Active or Passive Notebook Cooler

Instead of buying a notebook cooler from a retailer, another option would be to make one yourself. While it can be a lengthy process and possibly the most expensive depending on what materials you use, it does have the advantage of allowing your cooler to be custom built to correspond perfectly with the G51's cooling system. If well constructed you could easily find better results than retailer coolers will offer.

Creating New Air Exhausts

This could be simplified by saying "drill holes in the bottom of your laptop" which creates new passages for hot air to escape faster, thus resulting in a cooler laptop. It can be a fairly easy task once you decide where and how many holes you want to create. There is only issue with this solution and that is it will void the laptop's warranty. Luckily there is a simple way to get around that by purchasing an extra backplate and applying the drilling modification to that piece rather than the model's original. If ever needed to send in for repair you would simply put the original plate back on. Unfortunately, backplates for the G51 are in limited supply and may be difficult to get your hands on.

Interior Heatsink Modifications

By far the most advanced solution, yet most promising, would be opening your laptop and applying changes to improve interior cooling. This would include copper block, Arctic Silver 5, Thermopaste, or related items. While results will prove to be effective it will void the warranty and it will not be as easy to remove after applying in comparison to the backplate modification.

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Now I wouldn't call this a guide, per se, but something for the common users to look at and explore their options. A place for people to ask questions, or just to help myself out as I have yet to decide on a cooling method. I would be willing to explore all options, but I am obviously inexperienced as a first time laptop owner with little computer functionality knowledge.

Anyway, seeking advice.

 

These are all hardware options. One must also tweak and streamline at the software level to achieve a cooler G51. Software modding is just as important and momentus as hardware modding.

 

I have achieved pretty good results on my G71 by AS5 and enabling PowerMizer. Took off a good 10C across the board with no performance drop.

 

I've been browsing the Clevo forums and took a look at the many threads dedicated to the 860's HDD heat. Would that matrix controller thing also keep a G51 HDD cool?

 

The IMS driver contains the latest SATA controller drivers as well as the latest RAID drivers. If it is keeping the M860TU HDD temps at bay, then think of what it can do for the G51.