Best Notebook Coolers for 18" Alienware Laptops

My homie down the street's got dibbs.

That doesn't make sense. Maybe someone could explain why that is.

 

My $0.39 wood block solution is still going strong. Many hours of intense gaming, and no heat problems.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback Thinking the U3 is the one to get..

 

I don't have my M18x yet but I'm testing the CM Storm SF-19 with my M17x R1 and it does absolutely nothing at all! how can this be possible? I tested Vantage without the SF-19 and both my cards went as high as 81! with the cooler they actually went to 83 and 84!!

 

wow thats pretty crazy. what about your cpu temps?

 

IMO don't waste your money on a cooler, unless you want to replicate usb ports. Get a couple of 'notebook feets' or a thicker book and it will do.

 

In all honesty, I was rather sceptical about coolers initially.....thats why I didnt wanna blow major £££ on one thats supposedly "all singing & dancing" but doesnt cool. Thats its sole purpose in life, as far as I am concerened.

The U3 when I grabbed mine was £18gpb so it was no gamble at all....and it actually COOLS .... I say its money well spent - even if its just to give you a better typing angle....

 

I should have went for the U3 are the fans noisy?

 

awwwwwwwwwww.........man

 

thats what i said before. the cryo lx has perfect fan positioning but the fans being on/off dont matter.

 

What do you mean by "but the fans being on/off dont matter"?
Does that mean that other coolers with similar fans will not provide a difference?

I just watched a review of one now I want it.
‪NZXT Cryo LX Aluminum Notebook Cooler Review‬‏ - YouTube

 

I have that one and it does do a good job (mainly raising it up, filtering dust and allowing good airflow).

The only problem I have with it now (after replacing fans with some better ones) is that it is a bit small for the m18x.
I originally got it for my M17x-R1 and it fit perfect but the m18x hangs off about an 1/2-1" off either side and the front.
It does not slip but I do not dare move it around without lifting the m18x off first since it is just barely on it.

I am actually looking at the Cooler Master Storm SF 19 to see if it will fit the m18x better.
I need to get some measurements done and find out.

D.

 

I just ordered the Notepal U3 couple hours ago, price/quality the way to go imo.

 

are there any that actually provide COOLING ... not just fans. that would be wicked awesome ...

 

Thanks for the info. I would like to have a cooler that is wider & longer in length than my M18x. Here are the specs of the SF-19. With those huge fans there's no way that the airflow ins't getting to the M18x. I can't see how the same design/factors could make one cooler perform better than another.

Here is the M18x's dimensions 436 x 322 x 54
I think the SF-19 is bigger than the M18x

 

Fans in my opinion on the U3 at full tilt are super silent....not audible over system fans on low really....also, looking at the Storm, i really cant see where it actually "draws" air in from to be pushed out by its fans...it seems to be very "encased" meaning not much airflow.

I know with my U3, the underside of the system is extremely open to airflow...the thickness of the cooler pad itself is maybe 2mm aluminium with lots of air holes all over it which, in my mind, makes for very good circulation....as the fans rotate, they are free to draw air "IN" and then expel it upwards and into the base of the M18x.

 

Thanks for the specs.

I think I will purchase that one and see how it does.

I can then use my Cryo LX for my elitebook.

D.

 

is it bigger than the m18x?

I'm going to buy it too.

 

I'm gonna buy one too.

The U3 does look decent.
‪Cooler Master NotePal U3 unboxing and setup.‬‏ - YouTube

 

It is mate - wouldnt say it was if it wasnt...it does the job, my M18x overhangs it at the sides by a few mm.....front to back, loads of space to move it back or forward.....its cheap as hell, repositionable fans to place directly under the system fans, its quiet , it actually cools the system.....what more can I say....it was a no-brainer for me.....

 

point taken. thank you.
you still haven't added me to steam!! What's the hold up?

 

means the laptop on an incline with air underneath it does more for the temps than the fans. the fans do nothing.

 

I guess it doesn't matter what cooler I choose. So I'm going with the SF-19. Can you provide a few pics of them together with the SF-19's customizable lighting on?

 

Haha - the hold up is that I havent installed any games yet......sad, I know.

 

the wait continues........................................................................... at least install Red Alert 3. That game is sick!!!

 

You will be the first I add fella.....rest assured!

 

I was told that Cryo LX is headed to be MD'ed soon.

 

I had the Cryo LX before this U3 with my previous M17x R2 system.....to be honest, build quality and sturdiness was brilliant but as for cooling, didnt do a thing...infact, made my system hotter on full blast. The solid aluminium bars across the cooling surface seemed to deflect alot of the air that should be pushed up in to the base of the laptop. The Mesh cover than encapsulated the 3 120mm fans on the underside restricted the "draw" of air into the cooler itself.

Sure, it looks like a lean mean cooling machine (apologies go out to George Foreman for nicking his "punch" line) but didnt do a thing for me.....where it matters, which was cooling.

 

I agree, there isnt much air at all.... I'm starting to think that the fans are inverted! I'm going to work on them tonight.

 

I just started red alert 3 yesterday ( purchased it over a year ago never touched it), maybe we can play together?

 

Perfect I just started RA3 too.
invite sent. I need to finish it, so I can justify buying the sequel, Uprising. I probably should buy it now with all the rumors going around about EA pulling out from Steam.

 

I got my Notepal U3 yesterday.
Here's the difference in temps for the GPU's while benching:
M18x on the notepal with fans turned off: 4°C cooler than when M18x is flat on the table.
M18x on the notepal with fans turned at max level: 1°C cooler than with fans turned off.
So the biggest difference is due to the elevation, not so much by the extra fans. Still a total of 5°C cooler, which is nice considering the cheap price of the Notepal U3.

 

Thanks for the post Peentje.

I used to buy a product called "laptop legs" (still do for 2 of my other laptops) which does just that... elevate the laptop.

Works wonders on my Early 2011 15" MBP and my super cool 15" emachine but they wont fit correctly on the alienware.

I decided to replace my CRYO LX with the CM SF 19 w/usb3 to see if I notice any difference (my gpu's run hotter ever since I attached my Dell U2410 monitor).

If not.. not a biggie as one or the other will just house my 8540w when I am not toting it around (gave up on using the alienware as a carry-around since my backpack will not longer handle it and since it no longer has the rgb-led screen)

D.

 

I also have ordered the CM SF-19, since only the elevation only makes a difference. I might as well have the best looking/most functionality cooler available the matches the M18x. It should be here on my B-day 08/10.

 

Nice!

Mine is arriving tomorrow (amazon prime 2day free for 1year with a student/university email)

I will post back how it does.... I am still trying to arrange my desktop to accommodate my u2410 and m18x setup... not sure which to use as my main/gaming display etc...

D.

 

well I found a great fix for CM SF-1! Unfortunately it's a very expensive one LOL, I9 use it alongside a small Dyson fan and the temperature diff is around 9c!!!

 

Well, my CM SF-19 arrived today.

The m18x definitely fits well.
The cooling is the same as it was with the CryoLX but the fact my system fits on better and it has a usb3 hub on it, I am happy enough.

It is quite light (due to being made of plastic) compared to my CryoLX but I don't feel like my m18x is going to slip off with this one.

D.

 

Free Cooler - All you need is a Drill.

Before: Max CPU = 76C Idle = 50C Max GPU = 80C Idle = 55C



After Max CPU = 71C Idle = 42C Max GPU = 74C Idle = 48C

 

Mine has yet to arrive. Can you please post some pics of the M18x and SF-19?

 

@debaucher - I concur. I had a CryoLX and replaced it with the SF-19, and it does "fit" better. As far as temp differences, I didn't notice any.

 

I will take some readings with the CryoLX and compare them with the SF-19 and post them.

 

For a cooler - only really used during gaming or high heat types of things:
Amazon.com: Thermaltake Massive23 LX Laptop Notebook Cooler Oversized 230mm Blue LED Fan USB CLN0015: Home Improvement
I use a couple non stick pads (Waxman) to elevate the far edge up a bit to give the fan room to "breathe" and it works great.

For travelling when I only need something to elevate the end I use:
Amazon.com: Belkin F5L033-ICE Laptop Cooling Strip (White): Electronics
It's lightweight, bends or rolls into a bag and can be used on a table or across your legs on your lap.

It's not like this laptop runs all that hot either

 

I'll take some photos tonight when I get home from work.

D.

 

OK, here are the pics as promised.

 

Nice!!! That looks sick!!! Mine showed up today broken with a huge rip in the box. It was damaged during transit It looks like the Cookie Monster got to it. It also came with a European ac adapter. I'm so pissed. They are suppose to have another one here by Friday.

 

Sky,

Multiple Newegg users also reported receiving the Euro adapter. Seems to be a qualtiy control issue Coolermaster just isn't capable of getting under control. They probably know that X% of the adapters are going to the US erroneously and have decided it's more cost effective just to deal with the return's process than fix the issue.

I'm going to be ordering one myself soon and I'm holding my breath already.

 

For the mistake I'm getting 50% off. So it was worth it

 

The 50% off is nice..... but waiting is no fun.

I guess I got lucky.. mine came in perfect shape with the correct adapter.

D.

 

50% off is nice but the wasted time/aggravation is pretty close to <$35 I'd say. I'm hoping mine arrives in perfect order.

 

it is annoying. Especially after looking at those sweet pics.