AC powered or USB? (Notebook Coolers)

Hi there,

After looking through most of the reviews of different laptop coolers, and the ones people seem to recommend, I've noticed a trend (correct me if I'm wrong) of recommendations for USB powered coolers.

I would be interested to know people's opinions. Does the additional power required to run the fans via USB make any measurable difference in terms of additional heat output when compared powering the cooler from the mains?

Cheers,

Jon

 

My cooler is USB or AC powered, but it's on AC all the time because I also use it as a USB hub.

 

The answer actually depends on your cooler's specs. For instance, I'm using a Thermaltake Massive 23 ST whose specs are as follow:

Dimension: 360(L) x 300(W) 52(H) mm
Material: Plastic + Metal Mesh
Fan Dimension: 200x20 mm
Rated Voltage: 5V
Started Voltage: 3.5V
Rated Output: 0.25A
Fan Speed: 600 +/- 200 RPM
Max. Air Flow: 57 CFM
Max. Air Pressure: 0.37 mmH20
Noise: 17 dBA
Accessorry: USB to Power Cable
Weight: 0.89 kg

With such standard specs, the additional heat output is actually very very very minimal. My Thermaltake's USB plugged directly to my notebook would be just the same as plugging a 512MB - 8GB thumb drives or a mouse to my notebook's USB port(s). This is because most notebook coolers have a starting 3.5 to a max of 5 standard voltage which is just the same as the energy consumption of mouse, thumb drives, USB lamps and electric fans, etc. 3.5-5 volts isn't that much high in terms of consuming energy enough to contribute to the additional heat your notebook is emitting. Moreover, if your cooler has an additional USB port to fill the slot of your notebook's USB port, then you won't have any problems of the "additional heat output" your notebook may emit.

Hence, ease your worries of the "additional heat" that your notebook may additionally emit if you directly plug your cooler to your notebook's USB port (^^,)

On the contrary, if you're using high-powered notebook coolers for long gaming, then I suggest you use the AC power because they really consume a lot of energy depending on their RPM (rotation per minute) and voltage. So much so if you customise your cooling fan, like what others with their Zalman, Cryo, Cooler Master, etc., the more energy consumption will they drain from your notebook which is then seen from your notebook's additional heat output. Thus, in this case, use the AC power instead

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Hope this helped

 

Think about the vents location and added pressure on the laptop fan.. as well..

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5206152#post5206152

The Zalman or a similar vent layout would work for and HDX.. but the 4 fan design on the corners.. to some of the double fan layouts high twords the back of the laptop (screen hinge ='s back).

Maybe we can discuss power 5v verse 12v and layout as it is as important.

IMHO.

Be well, JW

 

Noise - that is my biggest issue with notebook coolers.

cheers ...

 

If you would prefer AC over USB, but your cooler only has USB, just buy one of those transformers that plug into a wall socket but has a USB port. They are common for mobile phones now. Some small surge protectors have them as well.

 

Hey Jon,

If you're planning to purchase a cooling fan for your Dell Inspiron 9400/E1705; you're going to need a pretty big one for a 17" so I recommend either the Zalman NC2000, Antec Notebook Cooler 200, or the NZXT Cryo LX.

Based on reviews I've read, the Zalman and Antec coolers have not had any significant reported cases of malfunctioning from USB power. The Cryo LX, however, has had some negative reports. Some Macbook Pro users say that ther notebooks had trouble powering the Cryo LX. But it's good though that NZXT provides free AC adapters for their notebook coolers now, so you can source power directly from an outlet.

Like others have mentioned, it really depends on your cooler and notebook specs. I use a CM Notepal Color Infinite for my XPS m1530 and usually power it through USB. I've only powered it via USB wall adapter twice, but I find it more convenient powering it through USB. My XPS has not experienced any additional heat output from doing so...

 

If you really want to check whether or not the "additional heat" that notebooks emit if cooling fans are either USB or AC-powered is a myth, try using a HWMonitor or HDTune or SiW to quantify your clarification

 

Hmm, thanks for the replies everybody.

Yes, I'm planing on using it with my 9400, and I'm probably going to end up getting the Zalman 2000, thanks for the additional recomendation.

I was thinking about those, seems like it could be a good fall-back if using USB does produce excess heat.

Fair points. I sometimes have it on for a couple of hours playing the odd game. One of the main times it really heats up, though it does so anyway generally but at a slower rate. (Browsing the internet ect)

True, the heat vent positioning on E1705 is a something I've been thinking about a lot, it seems unusual based on the different coolers I've looked at, which seem to tend towards having the fans more towards the middle. The Zalman 2000 would be perfect if the fans were slightly higher - but that would cut out smaller notebooks from the target market share I suppose.

What would be the added pressure on the fans at the back, the fact that there wouldn't be a gap like there is currently?

Is there much difference between 5v and 12v?

And cute dogs.

The E1705 fans can get pretty loud when they're both going full pelt, I can probably deal with anything quieter.


Jon

 

You can also try Thermaltake Massive 23 CS:

I bought the Massive 23 ST but the CS is better which looks like this:

Try checking these links:

#1
#2
#3

They're worth the try! There is a gaming team is Taiwan called Team Thermaltake. Apparently, the Massive 23 CS can handle their GAMING NEEDS! It just means that Thermaltake's fans are good too! Check my review on my Massive CS some time next month. I am just a bit busy now with school works