Silverstone NB01B Notebook Cooler Review - Lots of Pics!

By Dave Montez (garetjax)


Silverstone Noble Breeze NB01B Notebook Cooler Review


Reasons for reviewing:

This notebook cooler was sent to me by a represenative from Silverstone as a review sample. I was asked to review this cooler and submit a write-up on it. This is a mini-review, therefore a lot of the "meat" of the review has been omitted. However, you can read the full review by clicking HERE.




Honestly, who would have thought? Silverstone is crafty, seemingly able to put the kibosh on companies foolish enough to think that they control certain market segments. First it was Silverstone's debut into the external hard drive enclosure sector with the Treasure Series TS01B, which was met with resounding success. Now it is the NB01B, a laptop cooler that carries the same pedigree for quality, features, and aesthetics that Silverstone is well known for in their computer cases.

What brought Silverstone to this point that they would offer such a product as the NB01B? Obviously, the answer is the sheer demand for notebook coolers, as enthusiasts, more now than ever, are increasingly relying on their mobile solutions for work, play, and everything in between. It's a smart move on the part of Silverstone, but also a gamble. Well known for their enclosures and power supplies, providing enthusiast level products outside their comfort zone can be disastrous if things do not go well. With that said, let's take a closer look at the Noble Breeze NB01B.


Specifications:

Model: Silverstone Noble Breeze NB01B
Color: Black
Laptop Compatibility: 12.0" to 15.4" notebooks
Dimensions: 14.15" x 0.75" - 3.00" x 11.75" (W x H x L)
Weight: 1.75 lbs
Cooling: Three 92mm cooling fans
Connection Ports: Two USB 2.0
Features: All aluminum construction, extensive use of mesh for increased airflow, three efficient 92mm cooling fans, designed with quiet computing in mind, power switch for the three cooling fans
Price: $49.99 at Newegg



Accessory bundle


Front view


Underside view


Quarter front shot


Left side


Right side


Rear view


Laptop and cooler side shot


Laptop and cooler rear shot


Laptop and cooler front shot


Laptop and cooler top shot


Testing

In the end, it's all about the bottom line: How well did the product perform during testing? I performed two separate tests on the Silverstone NB01B. The first is a battery drain test to see how quickly the three 92mm cooling fans drained my testbed notebook battery. I do this by recording a baseline battery drain sans notebook cooler fans, and then run the same test again with the notebook cooler fans running off my laptop's battery.

My second assessment is a cooling test, and by far the most grueling. I run PCMark Vantage along with two concurrent instances of CPU Burn-In and monitor CPU, GPU, and HDD temperatures with Everest Ultimate Edition. I verify that my processor has a 100% CPU load by using CoreTemp. Each test is run for 45 minutes or until no appreciable increase in temperature is observed over a five minute period.

As with the battery drain test, I first record an idle/load baseline without the cooler, then repeat the same test with the notebook cooler and the fans set at maximum RPM. All cooling tests are conducted at room temperature, approximately 22 degrees Celsius, and with a 6 cell Lithium-Ion battery installed.

I'm going to begin with the battery drain test first.

My battery drain test consisted of an HP Pavilion dv6500t Special Edition notebook with the following specifications:

Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 processor
Intel Crestline GL960/GM965/PM965 motherboard
4GB of DDR2-667 RAM
WesternDigital 320GB 5,400RPM SATA HDD
nVidia GeForce 8400M GS (128MB)
Intel Pro/Wireless 4965A/G/N NIC + Bluetooth
LightScribe SuperMulti 8x DVD+/-RW
15.4" WXGA BrightView Glossy Widescreen
WindowsXP Home Edition (32-bit version)

During my battery drain testing, I used two batteries with my laptop: a 6 cell Lithium-Ion and a 12 cell version of the same battery. The LCD monitor was set at half brightness and PowerMizer and wireless connectivity were enabled.

Battery Life Drain Test - Non Cooler

6 cell Lithium-Ion battery: 3 hours, 9 minutes
12 cell Lithium-Ion battery: 6 hours, 12 minutes

Battery Life Drain Test - Silverstone NB01B with Fans

6 cell Lithium-Ion battery: 2 hours, 41 minutes
12 cell Lithium-Ion battery: 5 hours, 36 minutes

The results of my battery drain tests were right in the ballpark when compared to the NZXT Cryo LX. With only a few minutes battery longevity separating the two coolers, the Silverstone NB01B looks to be a good, solid performer where battery life is concerned. This is especially important when taking advantage of the cooling properties of the NB01B and not being able to plug in.

For my notebook cooler test, I ran two concurrent instances of CPU Burn-In and monitored CPU, GPU, and HDD temperatures with Everest Ultimate Edition. I verified that my T7700 had a 100% CPU load using CoreTemp. Each test was run for 45 minutes or until no appreciable increase in temperature was observed over a five minute period. Cooling tests were conducted with a 6 cell Lithium-Ion battery.

Ambient room temperature: 23 degrees Celsius

Notebook CPU, GPU, and HDD Idle Temperatures - Non Cooler

CPU: 48
GPU: 53
HDD: 40

Notebook CPU, GPU, and HDD Load Temperatures - Non Cooler

CPU: 82
GPU: 62
HDD: 46

With my baseline temperatures recorded, I ran my idle and load benchmarks with the Silverstone NB01B notebook cooler in place. Please note that the three 92mm fans were operational during all phases of the cooling portion of my tests.

Notebook CPU, GPU, and HDD Idle Temperatures - Silverstone NB01B

CPU: 47
GPU: 50
HDD: 37

Notebook CPU, GPU, and HDD Load Temperatures - Silverstone NB01B

CPU: 73
GPU: 56
HDD: 42

With the final results in, I found that the Silverstone NB01B held its own very well. I was pleased to see across the board improvements in temperature both at idle and at load conditions. Specifically, I was most impressed with the near 10 degree difference between CPU load temperatures, and the 6 degree difference in the GPU loads, while not extraordinary, was welcome nonetheless. It also appeared that my hard drive benefited from the NB01B, with its idle and load temperatures dropping by 3 and 4 degrees respectively just by using the notebook cooler.

I imagine that lower temperatures with the NB01B could have been achieved, especially where load is concerned, if Silverstone had taken a page out of NZXT's book with the Cryo LX. If you remember, the Cryo LX utilizes three 120mm fans instead of Silverstone's three 92mm fan design. Of course, the Cryo LX is also a bit noisier than the NB01B, and this could be an important selling point for some enthusiasts that value quiet computing far more than they do than seeing their notebook operate a few degrees cooler.

Nevertheless, I was impressed with the very respectable test results that Silverstone turned out, and for a first time notebook cooler, Silverstone seems to have found a good balance between cooling, battery drain life, and overall design. With that said, I wouldn't hesitate to grab the NB01B if I was looking for a competent 15.4" notebook cooler to temper my fire-spewing mobile computer with.



Another laptop and cooler front shot


Conclusion

When companies seek to branch out in unfamiliar markets, it is sometimes followed by failed product launches. Technology and computer hardware and accessory companies are notorious for this practice, due to either their impatience to make their mark in the industry or by simply not committing the resources needed to design a truly effective product. In the case of Silverstone, I can assure you that the Noble Breeze NB01B is a not just a good product, but a terrific one. It is evident in its design, manufacture, and overall quality that you are treated to a product that does what it says, and does it very well.

To be fair, however, I did encounter a few problems. I feel that the NB01B is not suited for the road warrior at heart, as it is simply too big and heavy to use. I also feel that any notebook cooler that uses fans should include a dial to allow an enthusiast to specify the exact amount of airflow they want. Lastly, notebooks are both fragile and expensive by nature, and I would hate to see an enthusiast with a Macbook ding their laptop because the front aluminum lip of the NB01B is not padded. Yes, this is a nitpick of sorts, but consider that enthusiasts do care about their $2,000+ notebooks that acquire that "lived in" look.

In spite of these small drawbacks, Silverstone has produced a product that is relevant, well-conceptualized, and extremely effective. Companies in the past have sought to capture market share by offering their own brand of goodness and failed. Needless to say, I am very glad to see that Silverstone has avoided this pitfall. With this notebook cooler hovering in the $50.00 price range, this is a product that is sure to become a success among enthusiasts using their laptops as desktop replacements, or professionals looking for an at-the-office solution that is bothrefined and elegant.


Score: 8.5/10


Pros:
- Superior build and quality craftsmanship
- Metal mesh is crucial to help to curb rising temperatures
- Three 92mm fans - great compromise between quiet computing and cooling
- Extremely competitive price point for an all aluminum cooler


Cons:
- Large and bulky; not a viable mobile cooling solution
- Unable to regulate the speed of the cooling fans
- No foam on front lip to prevent damage to front of notebook

Thanks for taking the time to read my mini-reivew, and feel free to check out the full review by checking it out here: Silverstone Noble Breeze NB01B Notebook Cooler Review! Also, please feel free to leave comments or ask questions. =)
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garetjax (Dave):

Nice *mini-review* you did on the Silverstone, the pic's turned out really nice too! For a *mini-review*, I would say that it was pretty thorough.

It's not a bad looking cooler, either!

Again, great job!


Cin

 

How is the noise, does it cause a lot of issues with the laptop sitting flat, etc. If not then it looks like exactly what I need, thanks!

 

Thanks! =)

There is virtually no noise signature with the NB01B. Unless you put your ear very close to the unit, you will hear just a very faint whirring: if I had to guess, we're talking maybe 10-12dBA max at the most, probably lower.

The three 92mm fans spin at 1,000RPM each and are pretty darn efficient even though they are running on USB. As far as noise signatures from the fans when the unit sits on various surfaces, you will be pleased to know that the unit is still whisper quiet. This is due primarily to the meshed underside of the cooler, which prevents the fans from being smothered.

 

Very nice, it looks like a very solid cooler. It really does a good job it seems when the laptop is under a full load. I am considering a few notebook coolers and I think I will have to add this for consideration.

 

"Solid" is a very good word to use when describing the construction of this cooler. The NB01B is made of thick, extruded aluminum, approximately 4mm thick. However, you will find in places that the thickness of the aluminum, particularly the front lip of the cooler, is about 6mm thick.

The metal mesh under the cooler is also very strong. It's made of cold rolled carbon steel, and I was unable to get the mesh to bend or buckle after applying at least 10 pounds of weight to it.

 

Seems like good bang for the buck, exactly what you pay for. Kind of like what you expect out of a samsung notebook. Its good to see Silverstone toning down their uber high-end stuff to make it more affordable and far better attempt then their last coolers

GJ garet

 

I may have missed it in your review, but this cooler blows air up, not draws it away correct?

 

Thanks for the review.

+12 rep.

 

The three 92mm fans blow air up, towards the notebook.

 

Very nice review, thanks!

 

Thanks to all for reading and repping! =D

 

Great job homeskillet.

I wish I could decide on a cooler for my Sager 5796

None of these GREAT reviews make it easy.