Tips for Reducing LCD Heat
I recently purchased a Dell 24” LCD to replace my budget 22” Acer monitor. I’m very much enjoying my new Dell monitor, which handles colors way better than my Acer ever could, but I have noticed my Dell emits a ton of heat.
Sitting at my desk, I can actually feel the heat that the monitor puts off. I never had this problem with the Acer, but Acer was also smaller and not nearly as bright as the Dell. Luckily, I’ve found some ways to reduce the LCD heat.
Distance: Having this massive monitor means you can have a little space between your face and the screen. The old 17” CRT monitor is way gone and now you can give your face (and eyes) a rest. I’ve moved my monitor about 2-2 ½ feet away from where I’m sitting. So far this has helped reduce the heat, although after using the LCD for a couple hours straight I still notice the warmth.
Height: My desk has a heightened platform that I used to put my external hard drive on, but for the sake of room (and heat), I’ve put my monitor on top of it. Having the monitor higher has put most of the emitted heat over my head. I couldn’t have done this with my last monitor because of the poor viewing angle.
Brightness: Like a said before, the Dell is leaps and bounds brighter than the Acer. Having a brighter monitor makes pictures pop and makes text legible. The downside of having a brighter monitor is the heat. The brighter the monitor, the more heat it will give off. Looking at my monitor settings, my brightness is at 50/100, which seems low. I couldn’t imagine having the LCD at maximum brightness; I’d have a tan in a couple hours.
The easiest way to reduce LCD heat is to have constant air circulation by your workstation. If you’re not near an air vent, open a window. If you don’t have air conditioning or aren’t near a window, buy a cheap desk fan. Local office supply stores, like Staples, sell them for under $20.
One more thing, don’t put any misting devices near your monitor or computer. It may seem like a good idea, but it’s stupid. Now I’m not saying this to say it. I have actually seen (“cough” a family member “cough”) using a misting device at their computer. Enough water can ruin your monitor and short out your computer. Follow the tips above and you’ll be much cooler than you’re past monitor setup. I know I am.
Tags: acer, brightness, dell, distance, heat, LCD, monitor, new, reduce, tips