I know I should probably get an external cooling setup of some kind, but I am also curious about cleaning the laptop and what sort of accessories I should get for that. For example:
- Is a keyboard cover available / worth it? I’ve seen some people say that the keyboard is also a fan intake… But I really don’t want the keyboard to get greasy either and I usually AM using the laptop’s default keyboard
- Should I bother to get a screen protector of some kind?
- Is an external cooling setup (like a cooling pad) worth it?
- How should I actually clean the laptop (like, do I just use a can of pressurized air to blow out the vents)?
- How can I best prevent fingerprints / scratches? I’m assuming a case would make it get hot…
Thank you!
Anecdotally, the part that failed three times on my gaming laptop (an acer predator) was the power connector…
Interesting! I’ll keep an eye out. Do you know what caused the failures or was it just out of nowhere?
I think it was the barrel connector rotating and wearing from moving the laptop.
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It’s made to rotate. It isn’t made to be pulled sideways because the adapter and cable is too short to reach the ground on the way from the wall socket.
Am not a gamer. But i made a sort of platform for my laptop to sit on to keep it being flush on a surface esp like couch or bed where no air goes in. I found a coated metal wire thingamagig thats the right size, and used zip ties to add stoppers so it doesn’t slide off. Im sure you can buy something like this instead of make it out of garbage like i did.
Anyways one of the really useful side benefits is that i can clip the power cord to the platform so that there is no tension on the connectors. My power outlets sometimes in the opposite direction from the connector and if i dont use the platform thing it is always pulling.
Power connectors have been the number one preventable laptop killer in my experience.
The thing that kills the power connector is physical stress. As in force being applied sideways to the plug. If the plug is angled, make sure the cable isn’t pulling on the plug. And if it’s straight make sure the cable isn’t dragged sideways.
The problem with the connector breaking is that it’s either
- soldered to the motherboard, in which case you need to find someone who can solder (which is when I come in the picture) and can find a footprint compatible part, or
- part of an assembly with a cable, in which case you need to find the exact part on ebay.
Either way it’s a PITA if the connector breaks.
You can put a thin, soft cloth on the keyboard when closing the lid. On many of the super slim laptops, the screen can touch the keyboard when closed. That eventually leaves permanent rub marks on the screen.
Fans and vents should be blown out occasionally. Hold the fan blades still when blowing them out. Spinning them up to high speed with compressed air can damage them. If you have pets, you will need to clean the hair out more frequently.
A cooling pad can help if it gets excessively hot, but often just propping up the back so it can get more air flow will help out a lot.
Thank you!
Don’t drop it
😂 I think I have that one down-pat. Then again, I wanna make sure if I do accidentally drop it, I’m not suddenly laptop-less for the next two years saving up again lol
