Question about laptop coolers.

Just wondering how theese laptop coolers that you just put into the USB output, how can they make the computer colder, and how effective are they?

 

Most are effective, but only if it really runs hot.

Otherwise, Undervolting would be much easier and doesn't cost anything.

Basically they just blow air from the bottom, which somewhat 'cools' off the laptop's bottom. For some models, there is a big change but for others, nothing significant

 

coriolis what is this undervolting u speak of and where can i learn to do it on my vaio?

 

Just search for it. It's basically tweaking the CPU to take in less voltage resulting in a cooler laptop with better battery life.

 

I bought one of the targus 'notebook cooling pad'... did an ok job on some surfaces. plugs into the usb port or is powered via the included AC adapter. This model Also came with 4 usb ports built into the side. the CPM (air flow basically) is rather low, however. So then I went and bought a targus lap desk which serves 2 functions. the first is just to provide a flat, raised "surface" with extra rubber feet so there is better air circulation through these channels that run across the lapdesk. The other function is when you turn it over, there are several positions that you can raise your laptop to (several angles). So theres no heat at all under the laptop. Then theres the undervolting I've asked brianstretch about several times and I've set the laptop to run cooler. Call me crazy, but I use all three. 'Course, I use mine on my bed.

 

I just bought that Targus UltraLite Lapdesk as well. I have mixed feelings about it; it does cool my lap a little bit and makes it more comfortable to type when I have it on my desk. However I'm disapointed in the build quality; it feels really cheap and I wouldn't trust having it in my backpack. I really don't care for the vent holes on it either. The wave pattern seems like it would be enough. Yet for as much as I'm disapointed in it I'm not going to return it - it does actually help.

I really want to try the Lapinator. It looks pretty sturdy and I hear it cools a lot better. I don't like any of the coolpads with fans. That's just extra battery power going to waste, not to mention extra noise & weight. CPUs can take the heat, they don't really need to be cooled unless something is wrong.

For the heck of it I still gave undervolting a shot - if for the only reason to get better battery life and to see what all the fuse was about. Many people claim their CPU temps droped 10 degrees, I thought it was more hype then anything but I got those kind of results too (my CPU went down around 8 degrees). More then anything I love the idea that my CPU is only working as hard as it needs to. By default your CPU runs in two modes: Max speed and idle. The second you move your mouse your CPU is working at its maximum speed which is a waste when your just surfing the web or typing up a report. CHC (Centrino Hardware Control) allows you to have up to 8 modes instead of just two. I have a Pentium-M 1.87Ghz, when in idle or just typing it typically runs at 800Mhz. As soon as I start doing heavy browsing it jumps to 1.3, and when I install programs or play games it jumps to 1.7 or 1.87 as needed. I never notice any performance loss either. The switching happens on the fly really fast - programs don't get delayed or anything. I would definitly say try undervolting before spending money on a fan-based cooler pad.

Also if you disable all the unneeded services and hardware (56k modem, Network card, firewire, card slots, etc) you'll make your system work a lot less (again equaling more battery life and lower temps). Before undervolting I tweaked the hell out of my ststem. When I first recieved my laptop it would fail Prime95 after 10min running, now I can run it all day with no errors. So I know my system became more stable and I could notice faster boot & shutdown times. Tweaking dropped temps about 2-3 degrees on idle & near idle (Remember: that's before using CHC!). Most people claim that the Lapinator drops temps another 5 degrees. Imaging using that pad, plus tweaking, plus undervolting... damn!

So my adviced summed up would be: Tweak your laptop, give undervolting a shot, forget about fan-based coolers instead stick with passive cooling lap pads. If you do all that you'll get sweet low temps (and better performance overall).

 

I did some research on laptop coolers and here is what I found out:

1) Ones offered from Vantec, antec, bytecc are all pretty much the same design. Some blow air to the bottom of the laptop and some suck the hot air out to the sides. If your laptop has vents on the bottom, you should consider the ones that blow air in. If there isn't, get the latter.
However, I've also read that the fans are easily reversible.

2) Aluminum ones act as a heat sink and are potentially more effective.

3) Two things you should check before purchasing: the location of the CPU and HDD. If the fan doesn't hit these hot spots, its pretty much worthless.

Hope this helps.
BTW I got this one from Japan:
http://www2.elecom.co.jp/accessory/cooling-sheet/sx-cl02/index.asp

 

Does the heat really do THAT much harm to the notebook in the long run or are the notebook cool-pad companies falsely scaring people so more products would be sold?

Heck, i'm a poor college student; can't afford to turn on the heater, i don't know how i would survive the winter if i didn't have the heat coming from the notebook.

 

I've been looking into this after having my laptop shut down several times over the last week.

Here are some interesting links:

http://www.cluboverclocker.com/reviews/cooling_devices/bytecc/

~bytecc rates highly on this site, if you go to the manufactures page they have the highest rpm of all the coolers while remaining quiet.

http://www.extensiontech.net/reviews/hj/jetart/np5000/

~a review of Jetart's Xcool with temp charts, it's identical to Vantec's cooler.

I can't seem to find half the reviews I found eariler, but most come to the conculsion that coolers do help, sometimes by a large margin. There are all sorts of solutions out there too, 2, 3 or 4 fan systems, heat pipelines and the ultra high tech open window system




Also overclocking sites seem to have a lot of info on this, they would know.