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Hello,

I suppose this isn't really a photography equipment question per se, but I'm looking for a laptop cooling pad for my 16" MBP. I find it gets hot when doing a lot of image processing. I bought a $30 unit with three fans and pretty LED lights, but the amount of air pushed by the three large fans is surprisingly minuscule. I've looked on Amazon, and most seem to have decent ratings, but when you drill down into the reviews, it seems to be a common complaint that they don't push much air or help with a hot running laptop. 
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Moved to digital topics

I think they mainly cool your lap, rather than the laptop itself?   I think it's wishful thinking to hope that blowing a bit of air over the back of the laptop will do anything much- it might cool the outer skin somewhat but the heat from the CPU is transferred to air inside the case not directly to the case.  The driving force for heat transfer is temperature difference and there is little temperature difference between the case and the air coming into the laptop.  The air that has been through the CPU cooler is hotter but that is being ducted outside any way and cooling that won't help you.  Here's an article on the subject:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/rahilbhaga ... ea343f5e1b

What you need to do is increase the volume of air going through the laptop.  Something like this might work:  https://www.laptopcoolerguide.com/best- ... an-cooler/

but it seems like it needs a conventional side exhaust cooling port to attach to and would be way too unattractive to attach to a Mac

Thanks Chris, I'll check out those links. Maybe I'll have to rest it on a block of ice for now. lol

Occasionally, my MBP gets hot and fans ramp up (especially when doing something with intense GPU usage). I have a cheap laptop "cooler" similar to the picture above - 2 small fans. It works well. I can watch the temp come down when I turn on the "cooler." It doesn't bring the temps down to usual operating temps, but it drops it 20-30°. So, don't discount that cooling option.
YMMV

For what it's worth...I put a hot laptop on a cake cooler- a wire rack from the kitchen. No blower involved. It helps some. Quick and cheap!