[germainebull]

I understand that a working machine heats up due to the friction existing between moving parts.

Given that a laptop does not presumably have moving parts, why does it heat up after running for sometime?

[germainebull]

I can't believe no one has yet responded to my query.
I thought we had computer experts here.

Anyway, I'll still wait.

[oldbuddy]

Electronics do have moving parts, you just can't see them. Every wire, circuit and component has electricity flowing through it and that produces heat.

[hopeliner]

well computers nowadays do not heat up like the past. but they do heat up. every processing machine that uses electricity must heat up as all the processes running through it and the many applications we open consume electricity and this produces heat. this in turn heats up a laptop

[Angie10]

I agree with oldbuddy that they do have moving parts that we don't see. -and then of course we have the fan that I've been told cools down everything so that the device doesn't overheat. Eh, not that I'm an expert LOL But I do worry if my laptop starts to feel too warm, because I feel like something mustn't be right.

[germainebull]

Thanks @oldbuddy, @hoperliner, and @Angine10 for your sensible responses.

I'd not figured this out.

I'm now enlightened?

[cessy_08]

Electric current heats up and most of the parts inside the computer are metal. And how hot exactly is it? It should go warm but not too hot, otherwise, you might want to check if your machine's fan is working properly.

[Streamguy69]

My laptop heats up as well once in a while. I think if it is flat on a table top, it does this. of course it does not heat up when I have it on a shoe box I use

[chikitta]

Anything that has current passing through it generates heat even laptops you may not see it on the outside but the inside has wires and circuits

[sandhya rani]

Comparing normal PC, laptop is not suitable if you have to work for a long time continuously. Normal PC is reliable. Also its performance keep depreciating over the time. Charging capability also reduces. Low battery is also a reason.

[germainebull]

I think if it is flat on a table top, it does this. of course it does not heat up when I have it on a shoe box I use

This is an interesting idea.
I guess I'll need to devise an alternative spot for placing my laptop, other than on my table.

[haripriyavkl]

Like everyone said all electronic parts heats up due to the passage of electric current. If your laptop is warm it is fine but if it is getting hot you may want to check the problem.

[darkthorn]

All computers require electricity to function, electricity passes across circuits and through wires, it meets a natural degree of resistance. This resistance, like the friction of two hands rapidly rubbing together, creates heat. Some computer components require more electricity than others and consequently they reach higher temperatures inside.
Components like the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Graphics Processing Unit (GP), require a considerably electrical input and depending of the number of applications your are using they will produce more or less heat. Bellow you can find a list of computer components which generate most heat in a computer:

CPU - The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
GPU - The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Heat Sink - A heat sink is a thermally conductive device placed over a CPU or a GPU to absorb some of the heat that is being generated.
HDD - The hard disk drive (HDD) contains small discs that spin as information is written and accessed by other components.
ODD - The optical disc drive (ODD) can play CDs and/or DVDs.

So as you can see there is a lot of stuff who generates heat in a computer.

[IcyFirefly]

Now that you know why your laptop heats up, the next step is to try your best to prevent it.

* Don't put your laptop on your lap, or bed, or any place that blocking up the air way.
* Buy the air compression can and blow the dirt off, your keyboard cracks, the back of your laptop
* Get a cooling fan, you can find it on eBay for a very decent price
* Replace the thermal grease inside the computer, that if you know how and what to do with this part. Or take it to the store to pay them to do it for you.

I had the overheating problems with my two HPs, and I learned it the hard way!

[nakitakona]

Anything that is run by an electricity produces heat which an energy that makes any machine functions and works. Laptop is run by a battery pack which gets power from the electricity. That battery pack doesn't hold enough energy for a day or so of usage. Much usage of the laptop, the battery pack does much work or produce much heat. That is one of the reason. The other one is the battery back is already used up or old or there is a leak. Heat is automatically evident. That is why it is recommended that a fan is installed inside the laptop to minimize heat in the machine.

[oldbuddy]

I think if it is flat on a table top, it does this. of course it does not heat up when I have it on a shoe box I use

This is an interesting idea.
I guess I'll need to devise an alternative spot for placing my laptop, other than on my table.

When I click on my laptop while watching TV, I set it on a loose leaf binder, then put that on my lap. It works sweet for me and tips the keyboard just enough to make the minimal typing I do easier.

[kyuminette]

My laptop also heats up one reason, It is because I over use my laptop from working online.Usually, I do not shut it down till I m not finish working online that is why I always have a fan in front of my laptop.