VERY basic notebook question - don't laugh!

I wasn't exactly sure where to post this question, but here goes:

I am really a first time notebook owner...I've always owned desktops. I'm the type of guy that likes to leave his computer on at all times, all day and night, downloading files, idling in IRC, etc. I recently purchased a dell e1705 which I am using as a desktop replacement. What I'm wondering is whether it is bad to leave a notebook on at all times. Sorry for the very simple question, but I want to make sure that I don't cause harm to my laptop by leaving it on for such long periods of time. Thanks for your help.

 

Well if you leave it on 24/7 it would be a good idea to get a laptop cooler. I have the I9300 and it is fine if I leave it on all the time.

My cooler is here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834999336

It is awesome because the notebook hangs over the edge so the fans have plenty of space to get air. Also, this cools the Ram slots. It is also aluminum which displaces heat very well.

That is one of the main things I would recommend.

Hope this helps.

 

It's fine but remember to clean the vents(compressed air), as well as USAFdude mentioned, something to dissapate heat, since laptops are smaller and have less ways to do that.

 

Yeah it is okay to leave your laptop on all the time. I have a cooling pad that I use all the time at my desk. It helps alot. More so for overnighters.
Tim

 

since you have a big 17" notebook, i wouldn't worry too much about it. just make sure it has good airflow and is on a nice, hard, flat, non-heat-retentive surface.

if it seems to be running hot or you live in a warmer climate, go with a cooling pad.

if you had a smaller 12" notebook, i would have recommended not leaving it on 24/7.

 

Any notebook that can't be ran at full power for three or more days without dying, I don't want. Any notebook that can't make it at least 24hrs at full power is a piece of ****.

 

One of my previous notebooks, a 10" Fujitsu Lifebook P5020D, I had left on several times for around 24 hours straight with no cooling pad or anything like that and no problems either. But I always left it running around 24 hours consecituvely max, not sure if it would survive for longer than that.

 

Yep, fine, I usually have my laptop on a chill pad though....I bought a targus one from bestbuy, and the quality of it is kind of ****py...I'd reccomend one of the nice ones off newegg

 

I've never used a cooler. I do make sure the laptop is sitting so the vents are free though.

does that newegg cooler blow the right way? or do you just flip the fans if it doesn't?

 

You only possibly need a cooler if you frequently leave your laptop for hours doing intensive tasks, with the CPU at 100% usage. If its idling or downloading files, it will never heat up.

 

I'm not sure about the Bytecc mentioned by USAFDude02, but I had to turn the fans around in my LapCool2, seen here at newegg.com.

Not a big deal though...five minutes and a small phillips head screwdriver.

I definite recommend a cooler though, because my Acer's fan used to turn on with regularity, and now it only comes on when I'm running the machine pretty hard.

 

so... the consensus of this thread is that notebooks are able to stay on 24/7 with a decent cooling mechanism if any right? ...like I use my desktop (also 24/7) for a constant download of torrents whenever I'm away?

 

That's what the machines are designed to do. The only problem I have experienced is dust on the intake vents but I'm careful eversince. Yet, I would not leave a laptop on for a long time in a warm room so that the fan kicks off regularly; I try to keep it relatively cool.
I often leave my L2000 (14'') on for 24 to 48 hours downloading. As for my ZV6000 (15''), I've heard people say it has no problems encoding movies for days (100% CPU usage that is) but I don't have the guts to do it.