Laptop cooling fan

Bubba · 24th May 2006

My laptop cooling fan keeps cycling, is that normal? I thought it should run all the time like my desktop PC?

**PeteC** · 24th May 2006

That is normal behaviour - the fan will run when the temperature of the processor reaches a certain level and cut out when the temperature is reduced. Mobile processors run much cooler than desktop processors and do not require constant fan cooling.

**Arie** · 24th May 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteC

Mobile processors run much cooler than desktop processors and do not require constant fan cooling.

No, they are capable of running much hotter, some as high as 100˚C/212˚F, so they do not require constant cooling...

**PeteC** · 24th May 2006

Thanks for the correction - live and learn

Bubba · 25th May 2006

Thanks for the responses, I feel better now.

**Rockster2U** · 25th May 2006

Maybe some are capable of running hotter but on the AMD side of the fence, they run at lower wattage and are thus designed to run cooler than their desktop counterparts. There are obvious differences between desktop cooling devices and laptop cooling devices so the bottom line may tip the scales back to an advantage for desktops, however, if a laptop CPU and a desktop CPU are run in the same hardware environment, the laptop cpu is going to generate less heat (again, from an AMD perspective - I'm an ignoramus when it comes to that other company's stuff).

You rolled over quickly on that one Pete - Mr. Churchill would admire your statesmanship.

**PeteC** · 25th May 2006

Quote:

again, from an AMD perspective - I'm an ignoramus when it comes to that other company's stuff.

Me too

**mattman** · 25th May 2006

I'll wade in.

Mobile processors were made for the confined space of a laptop configuration. Mobile processors can be successfully overclocked in a desktop setup with apparent ease,but I doubt you could run a desktop processor with the standard settings in a laptop.

My guess, mobile processors may be underclocked relatives of the desktop processors (that way they will run cooler).

I don't think you will find a laptop that can be "easily" overclocked...because they want an allowance for maximum processor capacity...without burning out from restricted cooling.

Matt

**Arie** · 25th May 2006

Both Intel Pentium M Processor with 2-MB L2 Cache and 533-MHz Front Side Bus and Intel® Core™ Duo Processor and Intel® Core™ Solo Processor on 65 nm manuals state:

Quote:

Regardless of enabling the automatic or on-demand modes, in the event of a catastrophic cooling failure, the
processor will automatically shut down when the silicon has reached a temperature of approximately 125 °C.

You can see (from the manual) that they are designed to run up to 100 °C

Was a bit more trouble finding AMD mobile temps, but located a data sheet for AMD Turion™ Mobile Technology which gives 95 °C as Max die temp.