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Resolved Question

Powerbook as desktop?

Sep 5, 2011 6:54AM PDT

I plan to use my older G4 Powerbook as my new "desktop computer" as soon as the ol' PC dies (shouldn't be long). Are there any cooling or overheating issues I should know about if I leave the Powerbook's lid closed and work solely on an external monitor? I'm planning to use a dual-fan "chill pad" under the Powerbook to help ease it into retirement on my desk. Any thoughts?
Thanks

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Not really
Sep 5, 2011 9:09AM PDT

Not really. One thing you can certainly say about the PPC chips, was that they were extremely power efficient. It took Intel years to get even close. But if you're worried about it, just pop the latch and leave the display up enough so that there's a small gap for heat to escape, but not enough that the internal display turns on.

Those laptop cooling pads are typically worthless. Maybe even worse than worthless. Heat RISES, so what good is putting downward facing fans on the BOTTOM of the unit? They are a waste of time IMO. What little good they might do just isn't worth it.

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G4 set to cool
Sep 7, 2011 4:41AM PDT

Thanks for the quick response. I'll probably put a small rubber block of some kind right at the latch (to keep the heat-seeking cats in the house from jumping on the lid and closing it). Mixed feelings on the chill pad...the G4's aluminum case seems noticebly cooler when I'm using the laptop with the chill pad in the car (as the passenger!) Thanks again for the info.

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That's the nice thing about aluminum
Sep 7, 2011 10:55AM PDT

That's the nice thing about aluminum: It's an excellent conductor of heat. That's why Apple started using it. It turns the entire case into a giant heat spreader.

And another point on the cooling pads... If we remember our basic thermodynamics, the final form of all energy is heat, and we have yet to devise a single machine, no matter how simple or complex, that is 100% efficient. That means they ALL have waste heat, which is why your computer heats up in the first place, and why those cooling pads will be contributing to the problem in some small way. IMO, at the best of times they do little to no good, and are just a waste of a perfectly good USB port. Still, they are unlikely to do any real harm to the unit either, so it's up to you ultimately, but I wouldn't waste the money or USB port on them for anything I own. No need to prove P.T. Barnum right about there being a sucker born every minute.

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more thoughts on P.T. Barnum
Sep 7, 2011 12:25PM PDT

Good point about thermodynamics. The fans no doubt ARE adding to the problem because of the increased power draw at the USB port. To minimize that problem I often run the fans through a powered USB hub when I'm at my desk. I got the cooling pad on sale for only 15 bucks (regular price $40), but I don't know if that disproves P.T. Barnum's observation... Actually, when I take a closer look, the fans look like they may only last a few months. No sign of ball bearings or any quality engineering...oh no, P.T. was right!