As technology continues to advance, laptops are becoming more powerful and, as a result, generate even more heat. This raises the question: do cooling pads work for gaming laptops? With countless options available, it’s essential to understand their effectiveness.
Join me as I explore the science behind laptop cooling pads and examine their advantages. I will also provide insights by putting a laptop cooling pad through its paces. So, let’s dive in and keep your laptop cool and running smooth!
Introduction: Do Cooling Pads Really Work?
Yes, cooling pads do work, they are designed to help dissipate heat generated by the graphics card and processor, thereby improving performance and extending their lifespan. I have owned several coolers, and they have all helped to reduce the temperatures of my gaming laptops by up to 10 degrees Celsius (50°F)

Cooling pads typically feature one fan and some have up to six fans and a ventilated surface, enabling better airflow and heat dissipation, which reduces the overall temperature of the device. However, the effectiveness of a cooling pad can vary depending on factors such as the design, the device’s existing cooling system, and the ambient temperature.
While a cooling pad may not always lead to a drastic temperature drop, they can still provide additional cooling support and improve the your overall experience.
Why You Should Use a Laptop Cooler?
Using a cooling pad with your laptop can offer several benefits that enhance the performance and longevity of your device. You might want to use a laptop cooler if you use your laptop for gaming or running intensive programmes like Adobe when heat is inevitable.
A laptop cooler will help to maintain optimal temperature’s by dissipating excess heat generated the hardware. This can prevent a laptop from overheating. Which can lead to damaging internal components and may also reduce its lifespan.
I Tested A Cooling Pad To See If They Really Work
To see if cooler pad really works for gaming laptops. I used my HP Omen 15 gaming laptop and my newer Razer Blade 15 notebook. Two very powerful portable computers with powerful hardware. But when running intensive applications generates heat.

The tests I ran, included running the AAA game, Call of Duty Warzone with and without using a laptop cooling pad. Without using the cooler, the CPU temperature hit 79 °C (174.2°F), and the NVidia GeForce RTX GPU temperature hit 83.9 °C (183.02°F).
While using the laptop cooler the CPU temperature dropped down to 72 °C (161.6°F). While the NVidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card temperature dropped down to 77.3 °C (171.14°F).


More Helpful Content: With the new Razer Blade 15, I use the Thermaltake laptop cooler. By far the best Razer Blade 15 cooling pad to date.
Average CPU Temperature | Average GPU Temperature | |
---|---|---|
Running COD Warzone w/o Cooler Pad | 76°C (168.8°F) | 82.4°C (180.32°F) |
Running COD Warzone with Cooler Pad | 68°C (154.4°F) | 76°C (168.8°F) |
Are Laptop Cooling Pads Worth It?
From the test results above, involving two gaming laptops. Using a cooling pad resulted in a significant reduction in CPU and GPU temperatures. Further supporting their effectiveness. So, yes, laptop cooling pads are worth considering.
Especially for those who use their laptops for gaming or running intensive programs. Cooling pads help maintain optimal temperatures by dissipating excess heat, and preventing overheating. They can also improve processing capabilities by preventing thermal throttling.
How Do Laptop Coolers Work?
Laptop coolers work by dissipating the heat generated by the hardware. Like the graphics card (GPU) and processor (CPU) which helps to improve airflow and prevents overheating. Additionally, most laptop cooling pads include fans with varying fan speeds. The fans help to increase air circulation around the device.
They also work hard at cooling the base of your laptop, and some will cool down the surface area too. As a result, your laptop is less likely to suffer from heat-related issues. Cooling stands are also great for cooling down iPads. Consoles, and external storage devices.
What Types of Laptop Cooling Pads are there?
There are several types of laptop cooling stands. Including active and passive cooling devices and they can feature multiple fans, while some have a single fan. While some are powered by USB, and others require an AC adapter. Some have built-in stands so you can prop up your laptop, and some offer RGB lighting.
What Are Active Cooling Stands?
Active coolers are laptop cooling solutions designed to dissipate heat from a laptop. They typically have one or more fans that help circulate air around the device. Designed to improve airflow and prevent damage from overheating.

The fans draw in cool air and direct it towards the laptop’s base. This helps to cool down the internal components, such as the CPU and GPU. Some active coolers have adjustable fan speeds. So users can better balance cooling performance with fan noise levels.
Active coolers often come with extra features. Like USB hubs, adjustable heights or angles for ergonomic benefits. Some even have RGB lighting for a personalized aesthetic. Active cooling pads are usually powered through a USB connection to the laptop itself. Although some models might need an external power source like an AC adapter.
What Are Passive Cooling Stands?
A passive laptop cooling pad is a device designed to help dissipate heat from a laptop. Passive coolers do not have built-in fans. Instead, they rely on materials with high thermal conductivity. Like aluminium or copper, to absorb and transfer heat away from the laptop. Passive cooling pads often have a ventilated or ridged surface to promote natural airflow.

An example of a passive laptop cooler pad is the Razer Chroma Stand. Made of a single piece of aluminium. This helps to elevate the laptop to improve ergonomics. And allows for better airflow under and around the device. Its design helps draw heat away from the laptop, while keeping it cooler during use.
The Benefits of a Laptop Cooling Pad?
The benefits of buying a laptop cooler certainly outweighs the cost. A laptop cooler not only helps regulate your laptop’s temperatures but also reduces the fan noise levels of your device. And those with adjustable height improve the laptop’s workable angle, potentially reducing neck strain.
Other benefits of using a laptop cooling pad include enjoying better performance from your CPU and GPU, resulting in more FPS. Additionally, the extra USB ports on some coolers can help charge or power other devices, like storage devices, headsets, or mice.
Cooling Pad Main Benefits
Helpful Content: I tested my new Razer Blade 15 gaming laptop to answer the question. Do Razer laptops overheat. Check it out here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Cooling Pads Work with Gaming Laptops?
Laptop cooling pads are an effective tool for cooling down a laptop. Their effectiveness will vary depending on the make and model of the cooler. However, most active or passive cooling pads will work with all gaming laptops. Nonetheless, you must choose one that is large enough to accommodate your laptops size.
How Much are Laptop Cooling Pads?
Laptop cooling pads can range in price from around $30 to $100. The price depends on the features, such as the number and type of fans, the size of the pad and whether the cooler includes a USB hub or other features like RGB elements.
Do Cooling Pads help with FPS?
A laptop cooling pad has the potential to boost your frame rates (FPS); however, the extent of improvement depends on various factors such as the laptop model, its internal hardware, and the settings employed in your games.
How Hot Should A Gaming Laptop Get?
Ideally, gaming laptops should not surpass temperatures of 90°C (194°F) during demanding tasks like gaming. To ensure optimal performance and longevity of the hardware, it is advisable to maintain temperatures below 80°C (176°F)
Should I buy A Laptop Cooler Pad?
If you use your laptop for gaming, video editing, or other resource-intensive tasks, investing in a laptop cooler pad could be a wise decision. As demonstrated in the tests above, using a cooling pad led to noticeable improvements in my gaming laptop’s performance by reducing CPU and GPU temperatures.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has answered your query, “do cooling pads work for laptops”. Clearly, you are not going to pull up trees but, a the best laptop cooling pad for a gaming laptop will help extend your laptop’s lifespan as it will help reduce the operating temperatures.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to drop a comment below. If you are feeling a little curious, subscribe to my email list to receive our latest content.
Thanks for reading, Cya Next Time!
More Content Here: See the Best Accessories For Gaming Laptops, or an in-depth guide: How Hot Should A Gaming Laptop Get.
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