Laptop Cooling Pad Suggestions?

[ChromWolf]

Hey guys,

I've got an MSI GX700E notebook (see sig) that I'm running as a desktop replacement. It's my primary system, so I do all my gaming on it; when WoW isn't loaded, I'd estimate it probably runs between 45-50c for CPU and 60-65c for GPU. Certainly not the coolest for a laptop, but it pretty much never gets warmer than that. However, when I've been playing WoW for more than a couple hours, it runs much hotter. Today, my laptop actually shut down entirely from the thermal override, so I let it cool it off. Later this evening after tabbing out of WoW, I think I clocked the GPU at over 90 celsius!! After tabbing out of WoW, I've normally seen it at at least 80c for the GPU (CPU temps usually hang around 5-10c under the GPU). Today was humid, but still...

I've been skimming similar threads, and see one great step would be to get it off the desk so it can have some airflow. I've tried that in the past and know that gets me maybe 5c I think (if that). I'd really like more.

Is a passive cooling pad enough, or would a system like mine benefit from one of the dual-fan cooling bases? Assuming a nice heat-conductive metal and twin fans, will I still want to get the laptop up for airflow, or rely on the fans and the metal to disperse the heat? Which is a good unit for a 17" model like mine?

The one I'm consider is linked below, but if anyone has alternative suggestions, I'm definitely willing to shop for the better unit to keep my baby cool. One with a couple built-in USB ports would be nice, but the link below includes a combo with a USB hub, so that works too. I don't really need anything fancy on that end, just a couple extra ports so I'm not wrangling cords.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834998492

If passive cooling is really the better way, do I want something metal so it conducts heat better, or is it just plain distance from the desk?

Also, FWIW, when not in use I have the lid closed (i.e. Stand By mode), so nothing should be running. Temp on awaken is like the system's been off (and, well, that makes sense to me :P )

Thoughts? Alternatives? ...Thanks in advance!

[glc]

If you've tried getting it up off the desk and the decrease is not enough, you need active cooling.

[Kov-Ice]

I've read that the cooling pads don't offer much benefit. Have you popped the keyboard off and given the works a few shots of compressed air? It doesn't take much in the way of dust to cause difficulties in such a confined space.

[XenaWP]

I dunno. We have one with 2 fans that blow air straight into the bottom of the case. The air exits out the sides. The air feels *very warm*. That has to be doing something ....