NZXT Cryo LX Review

I was curious, how many people run their Cryo LX on the computer power or on a wall-power usb port?

 

not sure where u read that review from, but my cryo LX has yielded some really nice results, for me. i would have MUCH better full load temps if i had the A09 bios. durin full load, my fans barely even kick in.

i would highly recommend the cryo LX as a top choice for the m1730. u could even drill some holes and further cool yur HDD and wifi card areas.

i have mine connected via wall-powered USB hub. the cooler's fans run about the same speed/power from what i can tell, but i just really like to baby my systems. i try to reduce stress where i can.

these are my temps after my notebook had been on for about 6-7 hours. i powered it down for about 30 mins. then did some light browsin and counterstriked for about 45 mins:

 

I'm at:

48c
42c
47c
60c
40c

I've just been browsing on Firefox.

Those temps are with the Cryo LX and dual-monitor going (don't know if it makes a diff)

houstoned:

i'd like to throw a noob Q out as well...

how do i get those purdy little round buttons at the bottom of the screen? haha.

 

object dock.

u can also goto their site and download more icons to further customize yur dock.

edit: also, try to push yur notebook back a bit so yur front vents get more cooling. on my m1530 i push my notebook back til the "feet" sit flush with the back of the cooler and to the right some. all the vents/fans are on the left half of the notebook.

 

yay....apple buttons. can't wait.


I have the XPS in the same exact spot.

 

Writing my buyers guide and for some darn reason cannot remember the fan control on the NZXT. Any insight please >.< stupid friend took his with him to africa ...

Also not related but does anyone know fan size for the belkin f5l001? no dice anywhere

 

Looking at that pic makes me think that laptop would benefit from the cryo more then any other as the vents are exactly where the fans are in the cryo. Its almost like they were made for each other.

Its just a rheostat/dial that lessens or raises resistance in the circuit.

 

the cryo LX is actually designed FOR high-end/gaming notebooks. pretty much all powerful notebooks, with dedicated GPUs, will have vents/fans towards the rear.

 

You think the Cryo LX or the NC2000 would be good for this (dv9700t)?

 

the cryo LX would cover the bottom of yur notebook without a problem. i got mine for $79 shipped a few months back, but there is a high demand and low supply right now. if u don't mind spendin a bit extra then the cryo LX is the way to go. especially if u do lots of gamin.

 

well i ordered NC2000 for this notebook gonna get it after few days

 

The great thing about the cryo is that the chassis conducts heat and helps dissipate it away from the laptop. If you have a metal chassis like my vostro it will help more then you would think.

 

my brother says he gets 10C drops in temps with the NC2000

 

Anyone know if it is safe to plug the DC-usb into an adapter and plug the usb-usb cable to the laptop? Or should I just plan to buy a usb hub? And are there any performance lost when connecting an external HD to one of the generic usb port on the NZXT?

 

what kind of laptop will u be usin?

i, personally, have my cryo LX connected to a wall powered USB hub. keep in mind that the more things yur mother board is powerin, the more stress u will be puttin on it over time. a wall powered USB hub can be had for a few dollars, and will take away alot of stress from the mother board. think of it as a "cheap insurance."

 

I'm using the M1530 and the usb hubs are more like $20 at least =(

 

i'm usin the cryo LX with my m1530 too.

u can find a 3-4 port USB hub for $5-$10 usd. if u'r not in any kind of rush, i would recommend watchin slickdeals. they have really cheap USB hubs from time to time, or check out the clearance section at newegg. i'm sure u'll find somethin cheap.

honestly, $10-$20 bucks for extended notebook life is very much worth it. i've tested the cooler while plugged into my m1530, other notebooks, my desktop, and my USB hub. they are all able to run the cooler fine, so u should be fine for the time being.

 

you could always buy an adapter if the units has a dc plug and then set the amount of power that is need for it to work

but i like the idea of alittle insurance if you don't know what your doing.

 

Ok I have a couple of questions about this cooler. First of all, does it work well with cooling a HP Dv7?? Seond of all, do the fans blow air up or suck air out from underneath?? And are they easily reversible? For my DV7 it is between this and the Zalman at this point.

Thanks

 

It's interesting, you'll hear a lot of people tell you different, some will say the fan blows up, some will say the fan blows down, some will say it can be reversed (but no one will say how). The fans interestingly enough are powered more by the usb than by the dc plug. In fact, I can have just my usb plug in without the dc, and the cooler will seem to be just as powerful. If I put just the dc in, only the middle fan spins, and just barely...

If I put just the dc in and look at the middle fan, it's moving so slowly that I can see which direction its going, and for sure it is going clockwise, and given the tilt of the blades, that should push air upwards. However, if you feel the bottom of the cooler vs the top, it will feel like air is being blown out the bottom.

I can't figure it out.

 

Hi, just wondering if a laptop cooler will help my laptop's fans from reving up every couple of minutes, like when I had a 5796. (Planing on returning my 5796 for a ocz whitebook)

 

Is anyone here using this cooler with an AC adaptor? I'm using the NZXT on my M1530 right now and haven't noticed any temperature decreases. I'm wondering if this is because my laptop is having to generate even more heat just to power this thing. I tried using my 5V 1000 mAH AC to USB adapter, but it doesn't seem to be giving the cooler enough power to run at full power. Does anyone have any recommendations on which adapter to get?

 

this will differ from notebook to notebook. different bios will have different thermal control settings. but to answer yur question, yes. when i am usin my notebook with the cryo LX, i will VERY rarely hear my GPU fan kick on high. the fans will come on once in a while, but it'll be on a quieter/slow speed. when i play tf2 without my cooler, the fans will kick on high pretty often.

power shouldn't be yur problem. i, too, am powerin my cryo LX with a 5v AC-powered USB hub. rule of thumb: the larger the fan's diameter = the lower it's operation RPM. the thing about the cryo LX is that it has a huge surface. u just need to reposition yur m1530 to where it can get optimal cooling since the cryo LX is alot bigger than the notebook itself. try to center yur m1530 then slide it back to where the back feet are flush with the back of the cooler. then slide it slowly to the right til u feel the feet catch. i found that, that is the best position for optimal coolin and notebook stability. also check to see if all 3 of yur fans are runnin correctly.

 

houstoned, are your fans spinning slower when using the AC power usb hub as opposed to being directly plugged into your laptop? When using my 5V 1000 mah ac adaptor, the fans spin slower (using the highest power setting) than when plugged into my laptop directly (on the lowest setting).

 

thats odd. i've tested the cooler out with my desktop downstairs, 3 different laptops of mine (xps m1530, 14" toshiba satellite with integrated gpu, a very crappy 15" HP i was usin temporarily), and my AC-powered USB hub. i haven't seen any difference in speeds. i actually bought the USB hub just to power my cooler. helps prolong my mother board's lifespan. i like to baby all of my stuff, so i never have it runnin via notebook's usb.

try to test the cooler out with a couple of more sources. like when a buddy comes over or try to plug it into a desktop. see if there are any differences in fan speed. what kind of usb hub are u usin? it could just be the usb hub.

 

Ah, I see. Well, that settles it, I will be getting this cooler. Thanks for your reply houstoned. The fans reving up REALLY bugs me.

 

no problem at all.

the cryo LX might be a bit expensive right now cuz of the supply and demand. but if u are willing to spend a little extra money, this is a very sound investment. u will find that this cooler not only cools, but can be used in many different ways.

 

Oh, and one other thing, I recall reading comments from various members stating that a model with an on/off button was in the works. If it's true, I think I'll wait for that, even though I know I can simply unplug the usb cable to disconnect power. XD

 

i forgot who i've seen mention the rumors about a cryo LX revision, but i have mentioned it a few times also. it has been at least 4-5 months without any word of it, so i'd probably cancel that rumor out. i run mine thru a USB hub to reduce any wear and tear from my USB ports.

 

houstoned, I'm using this right now

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...031106&p_id=3540&seq=1&format=3#specification

It's rated at 5V at 1000 mah which should meet the power requirement for the NZXT cryo right? if not, can you link me to the usb hub that you're using?

 

what u'r usin is a USB to AC converter. i don't really have any experience with those products, so i can't really speak on it. sorry about that.

i use this USB hub from azio. 3-4 port USB hubs are pretty cheap. u can get one for $10-20 usd and this one has downstreaming (?can't remember the correct term?) capabilities. it can charge yur ipod, phone, etc.

 

I have a major interest, will it be normal to charge it from an outlet with 18/24V? When 12V seems OK. If anyone tried that, let us know.

 

I can confirm Diablo's numbers.I have the toshiba x205-sli6. It works wonders on my laptop.

 

yah it has a ver good cooling power and looks very attractive too.It has Good ergonomic angle, Noticeable cooling performance with lots of airflow, Lightweight, aluminum construction, USB expansion hub and adjustable fan speed features, Sturdy feel and generous rubber finish. Its Awesome !!

 

hey guys! i was wondering what is the direction of the fan on the cryo lx on stock? does it blow air towards the laptop or blows air away? thanks!

 

Upwards ....

 

upwards.. so u mean blowing air towards the laptop?

btw.. i was wondering is there a correct way to put a dell xps 1730 on the cryo lx ?cause from what ive been doing its either i put the 2 top feet of the laptop on top of the rubber part of the cryo which makes it a lil elevated from the cryo. so when u look at the side view.. theres more gap between the xps 1730 and the cryo.. the other way i put my xps 1730 on the cryo lx is i put the 2 top feet of the xps 1730 beside the rubber part of the cryo then when u look at the side view. the xps 1730 is much closer to the cryo.. what i mean is that there is not much gap between the xps 1730 and the cryo lx..

so was wondering how xps 1730 owners place there laptop on the cryo.. thanks!

 

that is the beauty of the cryo LX's cooling surface. it is very big. that means u can move yur laptop around to get optimal coolin, and still not have to hang the laptop off the cooler.

what i recommend is to push the laptop as far back as u want/can. then slidin the laptop either left or right til u feel it kind of "fit/lock" into place. slide it to where the GPU/CPU area is more towards the middle cuz thats where the most cooling would be. the area opposite of the GPU vent/fan shouldn't have any vents or openings, so just play around with the positioning a little bit.

 

well wat i did is i placed the two top feet of my xps beside the rubber portion of the cryo lx and slide it down a bit so that the vent for the gpu/cpu would be on top of the fans..

im tempted to change the stock fans to a slighly better 120mm fans.. so that it would push more air...then get a dc to usb adapter too

whats the stock direction of the cryo lx? pushes air towards the laptop?

btw.. for xps owners.. is it ok for the notebook coolers to push air towards the laptop? it wouldnt counter the air flow of the fans built-in in our xps system?

also. was wondering why is there 2 3 pin connector underneath the cryo lx.. the other one is use for the fans right.. i was wondering the other 3pin connection is for? ive read from other ppl saying that when u plug the fan to the other 3 pin connector.. it changes the direction of the fan? is this true? what do they mean it changes direction of the fan? so what happens?

 

i power my cryo LX via a wall-powered USB hub. that way i don't put any stress on my motherboard.

i would recommend sliding the laptop as far back on the cooler as u can. then slide the laptop towards the right til it stops cuz yur GPU's are on the top left side.

and yes the fans push air up towards the laptop. the laptop's fans blow upwards or at the components. the cooler pushes air up to provide additional cool air to help the laptop's fans cool yur components. if u do decide to replace the fans with aftermarket ones, try not to skimp out too much. u have to consider the possible noise increase from cheaper fans. u might have to modify the fan plug cuz the one on the cryo LX isn't the normal plug found in most fans.

as for the plug that supposedly changes the fan's directions, i have never heard anything of that nature.

 

thanks for the reply! yikes! i modded my cryo last saturday and flipped the fans over! so this mean that my cryo is sucking air away from my xps..

ohh ur using a usb hub.. isee! what kind are u using? is a usb hub better than a usb adapter?

well.. batboy said in the xps 1730 lounge.. that its ok to push air towards the gpu/cpu cause the exhaust of the xps 1730 is the one at the back.. thats why when i place my hand in the back.. it so hot!

so i guess i mmight try replacing the stock fans to a stronger one so and see if could push more air and cool my xps 1730 better

the 120mm fans i ordered are 3 pins.. and i doubledcheck the connection when i dismantled my cryo last saturady and it uses 3pin also the 120mm fans that im getting is the same one that one guy bought for his cyro lx.. he modded the fans too.. i saw that guys post in new egg site.. where he said he bought the rosewill 120mm fans to replace the stock fans.. no wiring mod needed..just plug and play..

i just have to see how those fans work and how the cryo would work when using the dc to usb adapter and plugged it to the wall outlet

cause ive been using the usb to usb and dc to usb to power my cyro lx on my xps 1730. well..the fan are all working but im not sure if its working at max capacity cause its only usb powered though..

 

please go and flip those fans back around! the cooler can't cool if it's fans are turned the wrong way. totally uncool! no pun intended

i just use a cheap Azio 4-USB hub. NZXT now provides AC/DC adapters. u just have to email them and provide some proof of purchase and they will mail it out to u for free. u can use just about any kind of adapter as long as it's 5v. there are a few guys usin a 12v adapter, but i'm not sure if that is worth the risk.

 

I found flipping the entire cooler onto its back then taping up all the vents except directly above the fans gives a much more agressive air flow and better cooling. Admittedly the thing isn't pretty but it does its job properly now

 

The description on Newegg says that both the silver and black models come with an AC adapter. Anyone know if this is true? Just ordered one for a friend and might get one if it works out.

 

Here is the way to get the AD/DC adapter.

http://www.nzxt.com/faq/cryo_lx/

Eric

 

Thanks for the review.
Got any pics?

+21 rep.

 

Unless I am mistaken, that means that the cooler would be sucking air away from the laptop. With the tape, it wouldn't be able to suck a lot of air away, so it seems that this wouldn't work at all

 

The cooler blows air to the bottom of the laptop. Hes talking about focusing the air directly at its intake vents instead of the entire bottom.

 

It is trying to suck air away from the laptop but then there is no where for the air to go except back the way it came in a more focused stream of air directly at the vents instead of a gentle flow across the entire unit. Temps drop a good 5-10C at least further depending on the component. I can't measure the CPU idle temps as it won't register anything below 40C but it has never gone beyond 60C in a stress test and its a desktop processor at 3ghz

 

Wait, do you leave it upside down?