Is it possible to cool a laptop to the point where the fan is rarely used if at all?

[valis]

The drives are probably in audible at normal recording levels since they're in the case (an SSD should always be always inaudible in consumer models). My MacBook Pro can ramp the fans up quite a bit, a thermal pad does help and even with a fan on the laptop cooler they tend to be larger and lower rpm and thus generate less "offensive" noise than a laptop's fan. Also different laptops will not only have different thermal dissipation with different cases & internal layouts etc meaning different fan speeds under a given load (even with the same CPU). They also have potential to have the FANS tuned to reduce tonal noises, as in the very latest MacBook Pros (read up 2012 MBP reviews to see what they did). So you might want personal access to test a given model under load or a good return policy...

[Masaaki]

Fans in laptops are small and spin fast, so they will make some noise no matter what. Most models change fan speed depending on the CPU load, so if you are recording with many tracks of VSTi or FX plugs are engaged, then your laptop will make some noise. One thing is reduce these CPU load when you record, but sometimes that's not possible. The best solution is to use an external monitor, connected via a long cable from the laptop's video out(digital cable is better for long run), and put your laptop far away from microphones. If you have a screen or something, put it in front or in between. Then use wireless keyboard/trackball to control the DAW rec arming. My favorite one is IOGEAR's:

Newegg.com - IOGEAR GKM561R Black 2.4GHz Wireless HTPC Multimedia Keyboard with Laser Trackball and Scroll Wheel

This one works pretty good, even from 8-10m far away from the computer. I also use this for my home theater living room.

I know you need to have external monitors, long XLR cable for mics, etc, but it's easier and more effective than trying to reduce fan noise at the source.

[Psychlist1972]

Originally Posted by Masaaki

Fans in laptops are small and spin fast, so they will make some noise no matter what. Most models change fan speed depending on the CPU load, so if you are recording with many tracks of VSTi or FX plugs are engaged, then your laptop will make some noise. One thing is reduce these CPU load when you record, but sometimes that's not possible. The best solution is to use an external monitor, connected via a long cable from the laptop's video out(digital cable is better for long run), and put your laptop far away from microphones. If you have a screen or something, put it in front or in between. Then use wireless keyboard/trackball to control the DAW rec arming. My favorite one is IOGEAR's:

I completely agree with this. Short of extreme chemical measures, you just can't passively cool a laptop that's doing real-time audio processing.

I'm building a new home office in another room soon. My PC is water cooled and has large fans on the radiator, but still makes some noise (and a fair bit of heat). For both reasons, I'm going to put it on the other side of the wall I build. I'm going to add pass-throughs for the important cabling (which is just USB, firewire, and video these days) and enjoy the silence.

Even a small laptop cranking away adds a fair bit of heat to a small room. Keeping it out of there means less cooling, which means less noise/energy etc.

Also, unless you *really* want a laptop/notebook/whatever, just get something desktop so you get better cooling from the start. Portable devices and all-in-ones make a lot of compromises just to keep chips from melting.

Pete

[risemymuffins]

Thanks everyone. Looks like the only solution is to put the laptop outside the room I'm recording in.

[jupiter8]

Mineral Oil Submerged Computer; Our Most Popular Custom PC

You can submerge the whole thing in mineral oil. It'll be kinda messy with a laptop though.

[dubmunkey]

Originally Posted by Psychlist1972

I completely agree with this. Short of extreme chemical measures, you just can't passively cool a laptop that's doing real-time audio processing.

I'm building a new home office in another room soon. My PC is water cooled and has large fans on the radiator, but still makes some noise (and a fair bit of heat). For both reasons, I'm going to put it on the other side of the wall I build. I'm going to add pass-throughs for the important cabling (which is just USB, firewire, and video these days) and enjoy the silence.

Even a small laptop cranking away adds a fair bit of heat to a small room. Keeping it out of there means less cooling.....

This is what i did. Perhaps you can get a second monitor for your lappy and do the same.

Years and years ago i used regularly disconnect the fan on my pc....of course i forgot to reconnect it one day...bye bye CPU! !:eek:

[ciperlone]

Originally Posted by risemymuffins

Thanks everyone. Looks like the only solution is to put the laptop outside the room I'm recording in.

I agree. But you can connect a keyboard, mouse and monitor to your laptop, and have them in your recording room, they don't create noize

[rksguit]

Iv'e got a $9.95 "twin usb fans",with their own little "metal not plastic" frame mounted underneath my dell xps L502x [april 2011]and they make a HUGE difference in wether the internal fan comes on,in fact the internal almost never turns on,and Iv'e had it this way almost since new.

The other day the internal started turning on,and I thought "oh here we go" 1 year old and its full of dust already,but I was showing someone the fans the day before and forgot to turn the switch back on.

They use 1 usb port,but there is a port,as part of the frame,so I don't lose the use of it[in fact it's where I have my Lexar 32GB stick].

I was surprised as anyone,that it made a difference,as all I did was position the fans over some venting on the underside,and a bit of duct tape,all is cool,the exhaust on THIS model is on the left side.

These fans are on all the time and are almost totally silent[unlike the internal]but recording with this has been a breeze[!]
RK

PS The 750GB Seagate ST9750420AS 7,200rpm HDD is utterly silent on this model,unfortunately in dells infinite wisdom the 2012 model has a 5,400 rpm drive.

[piper]

If you make a duct from flexible dryer vent, then you can put a 120mm fan at the end and run it with 5v. It will run nearly silent and draw air through the laptop. If you can draw enough air the internal fan should not be required.

[popmann]

You guys need a to adjust thinking.

TRACKING...audio? You can't do that with a MBAir why? If it weren't for the PIA of file transfer, why not with an ipad?

Tracking audio require next to no CPU.

The drive is the noisiest thing and the bottleneck as track counts and sample rates go up...(SSD=solves both)

So, maybe you don't want to use the same 1.8ghz dual core to mix...not that you can't do a fine job with that...but, need silent portable tracking solution? Add USB IO. Done.

[Tom C]

In terms of keeping the laptop cool, here are my thoughts:

(I have a Macbook Pro, firewire interface, which causes the MBP to run pretty hot sometimes.)

A tray underneath the laptop with USB fan(s) - makes a little difference, but not much.

Heat dissipation pad underneath the laptop - makes a little more difference, but the laptop tends to slide around on the pad.

What's made the biggest difference for me is having my laptop sitting on a couple small strips of wood to create an air space underneath, then I have one of those little fans they sell at Target, situated so it's blowing air underneath. I just turn it off when I'm tracking. Far and away, this has given me the most cooling. It's a bit of a hassle, but really no more than the first two options, and it works much better.

I've got to think that having the laptop running cooler should preserve its lifespan as well.

[Goddard]

One thing I've found which can greatly reduce the noise of a laptop's cooling fan(s) is to replace the stock thermal pads with an application of a good nano-diamond thermal compound (e.g. Icy 7 or Antec Formula 7).

This stuff works to transfer heat away from the cpu and chipset (and onboard discrete graphics chip, if any) into the laptop's heatsink much better than the stock thermal pads which laptop makers typically employ and even better than other thermal compounds, so that the chips run much cooler with the fan(s) running at lowest (= quietest) speed. without the temperature sensors tripping and the fan(s) ramping up in speed (and generating more noise) even when the system is put under load.

[SabreChris]

Notebooks are getting quieter all the time. Surprisingly quiet.

When demoing a new notebook, download and run something like 3dmark to see how loud it will get.

[Masaaki]

I remember my first SONY VAIO 505 back in 1998 didn't have a fan.
I had a firewire PC card, and connected to an M-Audio interface or something, and it worked pretty nice for 2-4ch tracking. At that time, I wasn't worried about the noise of the laptop, because it was completely silent, except for a little bit whining of the internal hard drive. Technology advances to solve one problem, but creates another problem.

[avebr]

Originally Posted by popmann

You guys need a to adjust thinking.
TRACKING...audio? You can't do that with a MBAir why? If it weren't for the PIA of file transfer, why not with an ipad?
Tracking audio require next to no CPU.(...)

I agree! I've got an HP TX1410US (AMD Turion 64 X 2 Dual Core TL-64), which is my second DAW and current backup DAW. This AMD can get hot very easy with little use, and the fans are very noise.

For recording, I've always used Notebook Hardware Control to undervoltage the CPU (so this HP goes to 800MHz). It's WIN XP SP3 very DAW optmized, with DPC figures peaking to 10-12 maximum.

With this I could record literally "at the side of" chamber groups and orchestras totally silent, with channel counts of 8 to 22-24, no glitches.

But also no plugins, no processing, bigger buffers/latency...

When I *had* to use it to edit and mix (no more), it usually got very hot (near 80C!) and noisy...

All the best,
Ave.

[Melgueil]

Track with an MBA in the same room. Here is what I did (and it is dead quiet).

I run the MBA in clamshell mode to an Apple Thunderbolt display. Using a wireless mouse and keyboard, the MBA goes under the mix desk, in a stand that allows for it to be in a vertical position (this allows the fan to vent naturally facing down or up depending on the orientation). In front of it leaning at a 45° angle between it and the wall is an old mini bass trap that I built. I then fill the sides (they are basically exposed triangles) with a single sheet of foam.

This may sound convoluted but it takes two minutes to put in place, allows for adequate natural ventilation and absolutely zero fan noise - silent.

Cdlt