Is it a bad idea to run a laptop with the lid closed?

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Is it a bad idea to run a laptop with the lid closed?

Rikkitic

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#267994 22-Feb-2020 13:14

I have an old Asus laptop I am using experimentally to run Mint on an external monitor. The keyboard is stuffed so I am using it with an air mouse. I want to run it with the lid closed. Is this a bad idea in general or is it unlikely to cause overheating problems?

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sqishy

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#2425367 22-Feb-2020 13:21

Most laptops run fine with lid closed just ensure the side, underneath or rear vents are not blocked. You may sometime hear a fan kick in.

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#2425421 22-Feb-2020 13:37

Most laptop venting is from the sides and/or bottom, so it's not normally an issue - it's more a matter of ensuring none of the vents are blocked wherever you do have it positioned. It may actually allow better cooling as you could also turn the laptop upside down (thin laptops, like the one I'm using now - an HP Spectre 360 - will typically only have vents on the bottom).

Edit: sorry, that's what happens when I open a bunch of threads and take a while to get to them! Guess my only value-add is the suggestion that they can be used upside down!

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#2425426 22-Feb-2020 13:47

Im using mine right now with lid closed. As others mentioned, generally long as air can get to sides/underneath, youre all good.

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Rikkitic

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#2425432 22-Feb-2020 14:26

Thanks everyone.

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#2425455 22-Feb-2020 15:25

depends on the airflow. some modern laptops are designed to have air flowing when the lid is in the open position.

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#2425578 22-Feb-2020 19:26

I use my work laptop, surface laptop i7, closed 100 percent of the time without problems.

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K8Toledo

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#2425584 22-Feb-2020 20:00

Rikkitic:

I have an old Asus laptop I am using experimentally to run Mint on an external monitor. The keyboard is stuffed so I am using it with an air mouse. I want to run it with the lid closed. Is this a bad idea in general or is it unlikely to cause overheating problems?

It's perfectly OK, also quite normal when connected to a docking station.

K8Toledo

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#2425590 22-Feb-2020 20:21

Batman:

depends on the airflow. some modern laptops are designed to have air flowing when the lid is in the open position.

This would require the CPU HS/F to exhaust through the keyboard.... I've never seen a keyboard with an exhaust grill.

Mind you, I've never seen a man eat his own head either...:P

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#2425594 22-Feb-2020 20:50

K8Toledo:

This would require the CPU HS/F to exhaust through the keyboard.... I've never seen a keyboard with an exhaust grill.

Mind you, I've never seen a man eat his own head either...:P

i have seen laptops with exhaust coming out of the hinges. lid shut hinges obstruct the vent. lid open hinges move out of the way of the vent. there is much to learn, my friend.

but of course you don't need to have airflow. airflow is overrated. every mac/apple computer owner knows that. as long as the fans spin the BIOS will throttle the CPU and it will still work. every mac/apple computer owner knows that.

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#2434019 7-Mar-2020 02:32

My laptop is always closed at work, but i really think that there is no difference.

I would like to know if anybody can say to me is it okay if i keep my laptop on the charger all the time?

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#2434085 7-Mar-2020 10:36

Ademir:

My laptop is always closed at work, but i really think that there is no difference.

I would like to know if anybody can say to me is it okay if i keep my laptop on the charger all the time?

Not when you're traveling around with it. Best to unplug it then.

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#2434092 7-Mar-2020 10:55

Ademir:
My laptop is always closed at work, but i really think that there is no difference.

I would like to know if anybody can say to me is it okay if i keep my laptop on the charger all the time?

One widely held view is a battery needs to be drained regularly to help it retain its capacity. I'd always unplugged my laptop from to time while I was using it to do this then I discovered that it had power/battery management software which automatically does this during normal operations.

YMMV. Mine is a Dell I don't remember whether it was a Windows feature or a Dell feature.

There is no doubt my battery life has reduced over the years, the laptop is about 7 years old has the original battery and will still give a couple of hours of battery only operation.

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