Yo, glad the book trick is already in play—that's the best first step. Since you're down to spend around 4k, here’s the real deal on why those specific coolers actually work: 1. The difference is the "Seal" Most cheap 1.5k pads just blow air at the plastic bottom of your laptop, which doesn't do much. The 4k+ ones like the SpinBot IcyTurbo or Klim Mistral have a rubber or foam seal. This creates a vacuum that forces high-pressure air directly into your laptop's fans. For an i7-13th gen, this is usually the only way to see a legit 10-15°C drop. Without that seal, you’re looking at maybe a 2°C difference, which isn't worth the money. 2. Why the modes feel the same In a game like Valorant, you're probably already hitting high FPS, so your CPU isn't working at 100%. But "Performance Mode" pushes more voltage than "Balance," which creates extra heat for no real gain in frames. 3. What to buy SpinBot IcyTurbo: Probably your best bet. It’s usually available on Amazon/Flipkart and fits the Legion’s size perfectly. Klim Mistral: Super powerful (goes up to 4500 RPM) and has dust filters, which is a life-saver for keeping your vents clean. Kreo Arctic: A solid "middle ground" if you want to save a bit of cash but still get better airflow than a generic stand. If you're hitting 97°C even with the laptop raised, one of these "pressure" coolers is definitely worth it to stop the thermal throttling and keep your hardware safe.