Laptop cooler recommendations and how to set up gaminglaptop

[dtmwerks]

I was recommended a Lenovo laptop here several months ago. I bought a y500 but it has since been replaced due to a factory flaw and I now have a Lenovo Ideapad Y510-59370001

http://shop.lenovo.com/ca/en/laptops/id ... #customize

Can someone recommend how to get this mildly gaming ready? I plan to play games on steam mostly such as skyrim and oblivion but haven't yet because it already gets too hot just from normal use.

The things I need help with are...(keep in mind i'm not that saavy with computer tech):


1.What to do with the ultrabay? I don't even know how to take it off yet alone what to put in there. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there's extra space to put in either an extra graphics card, hard drive, or fan? I read on the forums that the fan does nothing though.


2. Laptop fan/cooler: there are so many...the main heat blows out from the back left, and that's also where it gets the hottest if it makes a difference. There are also some that tilt the laptop. Any recommendations?


3.Software to install to monitor temperature: If it's not an install and ready to go software, i'm lost ): ... I tried installing one on my original lenovo and it just fluctuated wildly and inaccurately. I have to calibrate it?


4. SSD drive. It comes with a 24gb ssd drive along with a 1tb I believe. I suppose I could put just the games there, or I might just buy a 256gb ssd. 5400rpm kind of slow. Is it easy to swap out the hard drive?

Anything else I'm missing? I know this isn't the best place for tech help, but I always get such good help on these forums.

[Teh Time Rider]

Try to elevate it to fix the heat problem. Or use a laptop cooling pad.
I've heard good things about this one in particular. However, I've never tried it myself.

[dzio]

@3. I'm using AIDA for monitoring temperature (you can get a free trial version here). From what I can tell, it's pretty accurate with my desktop computer, but I don't know how well it deals with laptops.

[dtmwerks]

Try to elevate it to fix the heat problem. Or use a laptop cooling pad.
I've heard good things about this one in particular. However, I've never tried it myself.

Wow looks really good, I had no idea some fans could even do that (move the fans around). My laptop is a 15.6 laptop, should I get the 15 inch...17 inch...or 19 inch? bigger the better? i'd only consider the 19 inch over 17 inch cause it has more fans...

Also, I don't use amazon much, is there warranty for this you think? I'm worried that about 5%+ had defective fans after couple weeks.

edit: is this cooling laptop stand better? or this that amount of elevation unnecessary and the angle in the normal u3 enough?

[Teh Time Rider]

Honestly, I've never run into problems myself, but I'll try to let you know what I've heard to help for cooling.
Get your laptop at least 1 cm off the desk. You can use anything you want to, just make sure to get it elevated.
You can (I by no means recommend this) pull out the heatsink and dust it off with compressed air. NOTE: Be comfortable with installing custom fans before attempting this.

Now from the fans, and I'm no expert in this. Yours probably looks a little ridiculously high off the ground, but it does have warranty. However, I can't see the price. Also, the CM one you posted would seem to be a better size for you, and even though it only has 2 fans, so does the 17 inch U3. So from what I can see here, it would be a good idea to get the CM, even if it is slightly more expsnive. I'd still wait for someone else's input though, I'm by no means an expert in this.