The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    CPU fan push or pull air?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by jibberjabbers, Oct 20, 2008.

  1. jibberjabbers

    jibberjabbers Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    92
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    When the CPU fans kicks in, it feels like it's pushing air out? Is that right? Or, is it pulling air in?

    Reason I ask is, I am thinking about purchasing a notebook cooler. And it would kind of defeat the purpose if the 2 fans contradict one another.

    ie. CPU fan pushing air out, and notebook cooler pushing air in...
     
    jibberjabbers, Oct 20, 2008
    #1
  2. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,092
    Messages:
    12,975
    Likes Received:
    201
    Trophy Points:
    481
    The CPU fan sucks here in from the bottom and pushes air out on the sides for most notebooks. Visit the NBR Cooling Central for some advice! :)
     
    Johnny T, Oct 20, 2008
    #2
  3. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

    Reputations:
    4,412
    Messages:
    8,077
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    205
    some notebooks actually blow the air out of the bottom. A few of the older IBM thinkpads and hp's did that.
    The best way to know, is to stick a post it to the back of the computer near the vent, and see which way the post it moves. If it moves away from the system, you can determine which way the air flow is moving.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Oct 20, 2008
    #3
  4. ramgen

    ramgen -- Morgan Stanley --

    Reputations:
    513
    Messages:
    1,322
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Most of the recent laptops pull cold air from the bottom and pushes it through the fins of the heat sink and the hot air (exhaust) exits the system from the side...
     
    ramgen, Oct 20, 2008
    #4
  5. checkmait

    checkmait Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    136
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    That method definitely beats my licked index finger strategy ;D
     
    checkmait, Oct 20, 2008
    #5
  6. bAsem

    bAsem Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    110
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    it sucks air in the bottom and vents it in the side .. keep a circulation going .. that's why they say don't put a lappy on a bed for long times .. coz it will suffocate and overheat like a mofo
     
    bAsem, Oct 20, 2008
    #6
  7. t30power

    t30power Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    190
    Messages:
    778
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I've left numerous hours my Thinkpads T42p and T61 and had no issues. But Thinkpads T series do not have a vent underneath the laptop.
     
    t30power, Oct 22, 2008
    #7
  8. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,092
    Messages:
    12,975
    Likes Received:
    201
    Trophy Points:
    481
    On my 8510p, there is an air intake on the bottom, but also, directly above the fan, the bottom of the keyboard is not covered unlike the rest of the keyboard, so the air can go in through there too.
     
    Johnny T, Oct 22, 2008
    #8
  9. wojtek_pl

    wojtek_pl Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    19
    Messages:
    127
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I would say that the answer to initial question is: that depends on the laptop design.
    Mine sucks cold air from the bottom and it exits from the back.
     
    wojtek_pl, Oct 22, 2008
    #9