Cool Your Laptop With a USB Fan and Heatsink
Keep your laptop or desktop computer cool with a USB CPU fan with heatsink. These CPU cooling fans are powered by USB ports to keep cool air flowing over vital components. USB cooling fans are external to your computer and can be added or removed as you need them.
Why is keeping a CPU cool important?Computer components give off heat when they are in operation. The more demand that is put on a computer, the more heat it will generate. Overheating can cause expensive components like the processor or motherboard to be permanently damaged.
Every system contains a cooling system to keep the components at proper operating temperatures, but sometimes the built-in system is not enough. Additional solutions, like cooling fans that connect to your computer via USB, can be installed; they use heatsinks to draw heat off of the components while a fan blows cool air over it. Normally, these coolers connect directly to the motherboard or the system's power supply. USB cooling fans are powered by one of the system's USB ports and cool the computer from the outside by blowing cold air on or into the case.
What different form factors do these items come in?USB fans come in a variety of designs for use with both laptop and desktop PCs. Each of these models connects to the computer via a USB A port.
- Basic models can be attached to a desktop case's grille with screws. These devices can be configured to act as an exhaust fan by blowing hot air away from a system or as an intake by pulling cooler air in.
- Freestanding units can be placed on or close to a computer.
- Laptop cooling pads are designed as a CPU cooler that blows air up and into the computer's case. They may feature multiple fans or one large fan. Cooling pads can be used to create ventilation under a laptop when it is being used on a lap or soft furniture. The pads of these devices can also act as large heatsinks.
- Some fans attach directly to the USB port without a cable. These devices use direct contact with the computer to push cool air into it.
- Speed selector switch
- Software speed controls
- Power cable winder
- PC power supply adapter
- RGB lighting
- Adjustable stand
The most common sizes are 80mm and 120mm, as measured along any of the fan's sides. Some cooling pads feature fans as large as 200 mm. See the manufacturer site for details.