For the last 6 months, I have been using "Core Temp" to monitor my CPU temperature.(On my Dell laptop)
With ambient air temps anywhere between 16°C and 33°C.
The CPU temp would always rise to around 51°C, then the internal fan would cut in, and drop the temp to 41°C.

Using my 3 fan cooling pad, the temp stays at between 55°C and 60°C.
I tried running the fans in the opposite direction, and get around a constant 57°C.
Go figure?
I tried about a dozen times over 3 days and get the same results!

I can only guess it messes up with the (designed) internal airflow!

Cooling pads are not a myth. I have one captured right here under my laptop. I have emailed the United Cooling Pad Research Society and they are sending an investigator out. Keeping my CPU and Laptop internals cool during long sessions can only help and not hurt. Unless the data is sent to a different dimension.

Otherwise, my $2,000 laptop will last longer as temperature is the achilles heel of electronics. That's what the NASA scientists told me for my Venus probe equipment anyway. A tin foil hat helps too.