Notebook Coolers : A Buyers Guide

As promised the review had a overhaul. It now includes more models and please be sure to read the purple text.

PICTURES BEING ADDED LATER, I am sorry but I currently do not have time to put pictures up with each notebook and will attempt to get them up later tonight (it is 8:49pm here in Tokyo). Sorry for any inconveniences

Please post your new thoughts!

 

It's not that the M1530 is incompatible with the Zalmans, it's just that you might not get as much improved cooling to the CPU/GPU as one would expect. But for the rest of the M1530 the Zalmans do a great job, the Seagate 200GB 7200RPM HD never gets warmer than 33 celcius. That mean the wrist pad is always cool.

Sorry, I missed the room temperature.

I guess the only way to find out would be to test the 2 models on the same laptops and compare results. I'm not about to spend another $50-$60 on a 2000 just to make a point...

Great job anyway, didn't mean any disrespect of the good work you put in.

 

Agreed. Although with most laptop have a plastic bottom surface cooling might have minimal impact versus increased airflow to the air intakes...

 

I am in full agreement that increased airflow across the intake vents will have greater impact that just the plain under surface cooling. But under-surface cooling will help with the heat radiated throughout the laptop chassis internally. To me, the perfect cooler will encompass both effects, most importantly increased intake vent air flow and under-surface cooling.

 

Any review on this one?
http://www.directron.com/cp001b.html

 

The issue with this one is the stage is not deep enough, so most 17" gaming notebooks will fall over the back end.

Its the same issue with the Cooler Master NotePAL series. I know, I had them.

 

What about that crazy "digital cowboy" I think it was called? the one with the one really big fan?

Also the guide seems kinda biased to Zalmans even tho I own it and like it, it makes a great laptop stand and it is pretty and built great but its on the more expensive side and I figured for pure cooling reasons it would be near the bottom of the scale.

edit: I found the official product page: http://www.digitalcowboy.jp/products/crf-102/index.html Its only about 45$ I really would like to try one.

 

Could you be more specific where you think its biased. The only reason there are more "other resources" to the Zalman is due to the fact that there isnt much on other coolers here on NBR.

 

Yeah thats what I mean too many things about 1 cooler, makes the review look abit biased with all the quotes about it and stuff, but yet none about the other coolers.

You should be able to find a review for any of those coolers via google and link to that review and also quote from them so it looks even.

 

Read the purple font "I AM ONLY INCLUDING NBR LINKS AS EVERYTHING ELSE CAN BE FOUND WITH GOOGLE", also due to what you dont like I have cleared out ALOT of Zalman poop

 

Don't get offended (if you are because it sounds like it, and often times email/forums ect are all text based and you can get the wrong idea) I was just offering my opinion and some constructive criticism.

I think if your writing a guide your taking it upon yourself to eliminate the need for telling people to go to google and to put all the resources together for them. If it was not so, people would have googled all the information in the first place and not be needing the guide.

The more information the better, and since we do have so much Zalmans information on the forums already, that makes digging up other information even more crucial so that people can compare multiple points of view and have the same amount of knowledge about different products before making there choice.

I was just noticing how each product was not presented the same. When you have quotes about just one product about how good it is and none for the rest it made it stand out more, almost like a subliminal message, and quotes are a well known form of advertisement. "Gamepro magazine says this is the best game yet" "Steven Spielberg gives it two thumbs up"... get my drift?

I am obviously not against the Zalmans because thats the unit I own personally and love, it just shows how neutral and 3rd party I can be when I do not take sides on my very own products.

I as a fellow reviewer and guide writing was just offering my feedback, take what you want, leave the rest. Nothing more.

OH BTW if your in Tokyo right now you have a prime opportunity to get one of those Digital Cowboy CRF-102's and give us a good user review, that thing looks awesome with good CFM, a nice high (and possibly adjustable?) tilt. Plus its Japanese man

 

Ill readjust the whole guide probably start tonight. As for the cowboy, I currently dont have the cash to spend on that as I am working at trying to find a decent router (which it seems to be HELL in japan) as no dual band routers are avaiable.

Thanks

 

Doesn't that suck, in the land of technology and cant even get what you need?

Oh well all the Asian girls make up for it 500% and the good food.

 

Should be made a sticky

 

is the vantec lapcool3 any good??

 

Well, I'm using the NZKT Cryo cooler with 3 fans on my 9262 Sager. I have mixed feelings about it.

Pros
When it works, it cools really well. The positioning is also very good for 9262.

Cons
It will not work plugged in through the laptop, power is too weak. I may just disable 1 fan. I have to use a USB power adapter.
A tad bit on the heavier, bulkier side. However, I only use the cooler at home so its need to be plugged into an outlet is no big deal.

But the usb power adapter I got from chiefpick sucks, it overheats eventually and shuts itself off. I can't seem to find another one at the moment.

I probably should've gotten the Zalman. Oh well.

 

Thanks for post I will include that in the version currently being re written to include external sources


as for the person inquirring about the lapcool three do your main vents/fans match up with the fans?

 

But for a 15.4", would it be a good choice?

The Zalman does me no good since I have an M1530.

 

why you say that? the nc1000/2000 should work fine/

 

The Zalman NC2000 does not reach the GPU vent in the M1530. If you look through the thread, you will see that it has been discussed.

I'm still considering the Zalman though. I just want to know if the Enermax Aeolus would be a better choice though.

 

It is fine for 15.4" notebooks.

I gave mine to my brother with a 15" notebook... it fit fine.

 

Thread being closed at request of OP.

An updated guide is promised.

John