Laptop Cooler

I'm looking for a notebook cooler for my Sager NP8690, does anyone know any good coolers that are around 30 - 50 dollars and work off AC power and USB? Thanks for the help.

 

i think zalman is the best. i have one for my np5793. it is the nc 2000

 

best cooler, as far as CFM and performance, will be the NZXT cryo LX. it's a little out of the OP's budget though.

 

do u know where to buy cryo lx in europe pls?

 

Not quite. If you're prepared to stalk ebay and its ilk enough, you can snag an almost new or unused one for 40 bucks. I managed to get one of mine that way, the other was from a guy who bought it, opened it, found it too big, and decided to sell - this one from Amazon.

But yes, the NZXT Cryo LX is the one to go for. I've had one whirring away beneath my laptop since I got the beastly cooler - that is before the motherboard went phut.

 

I've used the Zalman 2000 on my 9262, and the NZXT Cryo LX on my 9280.
The NZXT is better than the Zalman, but don't expect huge temperature differences. Maybe 3-5 degrees F, or about 1 degree C.

 

the only thing to be careful about with this suggestion is to watch out for the smaller version of the cryo LX, called the cryo S. they look very similar, so a person not in the know could easily mix the 2 up. the cryo S sells for about the $40 range.

@ rascall: sorry, i'm from USA so i don't have too much knowledge about euro shopping. i'm aware that europeans seem to have a harder time locating a cryo LX. i personally got mine off of ebay.

 

About a year ago I was in the same position as you.
I was deciding between Zalman 2000 and CRYO LX.
Bought the CRYO LX, it is very solid and works well with my 9280.

Only issue I had was that one of the fans wore out and started making some ticking noise, drove me nuts.

So I bought some Scythe fans and replaced all of them.

 

I looked at it and it looks like the fans might be a bit low for my Sager, the person who reviewed it had this issue, he had to turn it around, did you have any issues with this?

 

The NZXT Cryo S seems like more my size, will it not work as well? My laptop is only 15 inches.

 

i honestly couldn't tell u how well the cryo S performs. i'd imagine that it would perform similar to it's big brother, the cryo LX. me, personally, i love how my m1530 (15.4") looks on my cryo LX. i don't really like it when the cooler is smaller than the laptop.

 

I ran off a Notepal Infinite for almost two years - it just feels more SECURE to have a larger cooler under the laptop.

 

Is it really worth to pay $80 for 1C??

 

Think I'll go with the Zalman

 

1c?

mine dropped my CPU and GPU over 10c+, as well as pretty much everything else in my dang laptop lol.

 

I use what looks like a giant neon glowing blue airplane propeller in a box, the Antec 200. Its one big a$$ fan moves some serious air. I actually use the thing on my lap so Ive modified it with padding to keep the plastic from digging into my thighs. Its price was steeper when I bought one, but its dropped. Might be too big for you, but I sit a Sager 8760 on mine.
Amazon.com: Antec Unbeatable Notebook Cooler 200: Electronics

 

who said the NP8850/W880CU was an oven?!?!? my NP8850's CPU and GPU is hitting a max of 64*c-65*c under load while on my cryo LX.

 

The CryoLX and S both have fans that spins at the right spots for the NP8690. So it should be good enough to find a Cryo S.

You just practically need a cooler that has fans running at the processor/GPU area of the laptop, not at the palm rest or at the touchpad. Check the fan's positions then decide

 

In my opinion these three models are excellent for NP8690.

Newegg.com - Thermaltake Notebook cooler Model CLN0008

Newegg.com - Thermaltake Massive23 LX Notebook Cooler Model CLN0015

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Notebook Cooler Model NotePal U3 R9-NBC-8PCK-GP

 

for $30, the U3 wouldn't be a bad choice. but if u are going to be spending around $50-$60 then there is absolutely no reason NOT to dish out a few extra bucks and get the best. the best cooler on the market is the NZXT Cryo LX. the cryo LX was designed specifically for higher-end/powerful notebooks, such as our sagers.

 

I don't think that this is the best notebook cooler, because it has a few big disadvantages. The first one is that requires power adapter, which is very inconvenient to carry on, and I don't know other cooler to requires external power supply. Also, the brand NZXT is not as good as Thermaltake, and Cooler Master. They have much better experience in producing coolers than NZXT. Last, but not least it is too bulky to be considered portable, and it's not silent at any speed and fairly loud at full speed. It has some pros, such as built in fan speed controller, USB hub, and well made aluminium chassis.
In any ways this is not the best notebook cooler because, there is no the best cooler at this moment. Every one has some pros and cons.

 

What's the Thermaltake pad thingy?

 

You will get just as good results pointing a desktop fan at the area around the laptop, as with any of these coolers. Depending on the laptop construction you will see from zero up to a few degrees drop in temperature of the laptop internals. Whether the coolers fans are pointing directly at the laptop's fans and intakes, or not, is irrelevant. It's all about setting the air surrounding the laptop in motion, and this a desktop fan can do just as well or better than most coolers.

I have and use a Zalman NC 2000, btw. I find it better for the eyes and less cluttering than a fan sitting on my desk besides my laptop. And quieter. And also it gives my laptop a better angle for the keyboard. But better cooling? No.
I tried my friend's Cryo too, just to check. Same same.

 

I put my notebook cooler inside my notebook. http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/416414-clevo-m570tu-cooling-overhaul.html

Really, for the amount of money spent for these high end coolers, one can pick up a Delta, some lumber, and a small PSU to get unbeatable cooling power unheard of from any big name cooler on the market, if ice cold temps is the name of the game that is. I'm under the assumption that the hunger for stronger cooling is mostly to be used at home on the easy desk. For the road, one can pick up a more portable cooler like the U2 or the U3. Hell, even my little box fan from Walgreens would kick the living sh*t out of any expensive notebook cooler.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/4922408-post14.html
http://forum.notebookreview.com/5901807-post19.html
http://forum.notebookreview.com/6055918-post37.html

USB 2.0 ports are still limited to a theoretical 2.5W maximum. No matter how many fans or how big the fans are on a store bought notebook cooler, they are still power constrained. Of course, notebook coolers are designed to be supplements and not to in any way become the dependency of the notebook. Supplying more power to the fans outside of USB would only serve a much smaller niche community, us.

The most efficient and effective setup is to force air from a single fan (no more than 120mm) to the center of the W8x0CU between the two fan intakes as the CPU and GPU are there. As much as possible, the fans on an external notebook cooler must not interfere with the notebook fans. That would only create more turbulance; a push/pull design won't work here in the same way like desktops. Keeping the ambient temp underneath the notebook at a minimum is key for notebook's fans as the most cooling is done by sucking in cold air and directing it through the CPU and GPU radiator.

 

Exactly, Soviet. You can do something to the air that the laptop's fans sucks in, but you can't force more air thru the laptop's fan intakes than the laptop's fans themselves can. Not with any cooler, you can't - you'd have to have a pretty special fan/funnel setup in order to do that.

 

Yes. Only if the external notebook cooler's fans had the static pressure to create an effective push/pull config where the forced airflow would be greater than or equal to the airflow that the notebook fan can intake on it's own. Only then would the notebook be seeing a benefit. However, all of the notebook coolers on the market only have a mediocre amount of CFM (due to being limited to USB power) and hardly any pressure to push that CFM as cooling power is a factor of both. 100CFM through a 220mm fan will have far less pressure than 100CFM through a 60mm fan. Plus, the notebook cooler's fans would have to be really close to the notebook's fans, almost to have them kissing to say, and have to be near the same diameter as the intake on the notebook. Then again, that would just put more wear on the notebook fans as there is no radiator to serve as a substantial resistance to incoming airflow from the notebook cooler's fans.

The only way to get better cooling is to ditch USB power and rewire the existing fans on the notebook cooler to a 5V rail on a small PSU and crank the amperage on a fan controller/rheostat. We did this once on a cheapo Targus notebook cooler as an impromptu temporary sidepanel fan at a LAN. I can tell you right now, no USB powered notebook cooler to date can deliver as much cooling power as that modded Targus, albeit the noise ratio skyrocketing since the Targus fans were junk.

 

I think one would have to make a airtight seal between the cooler and the laptop too. But what kind of noise levels would such a thing make, I wonder...

 

It doesn't have to be airtight, but the first fan would need to push a lot more if the tunnel isn't effectively contained. But again, like I said that would put a lot of wear on the second fan since there is little resistance, and in short no gain to having a push/pull design as there is no radiator between them. For notebooks, cooling is still most efficient when the environment underneath the notebook is kept cool and that the area underneath hot components is actively cooled. It prevents the ambient temperature underneath from rising. The goal is to move heat as far away from the notebook as well as disperse heat as evenly possible.

 

Makes perfectly sense to me.

 

It makes perfect sense for my wallet. Build one for uber cooling power, and buy a store bought one for portability. Building a portable one out of lumber or binder racks would look too ghetto for me, especially since I live in the capitol of Apple fanboyism.

 

The ghetto look is chic, Soviet, didn't you know? Maybe you commies are not up to date.

 

Try telling that to my fiance. I made her a foldable cooling tablet for her MSI a few years back. Her friends didn't take too kindly to it, or me, or being hit over the head with it multiple times. TL;DR, domestic abuse involving homemade computer products is one of the memories I'm trying to repress.

But my box fan was all the rage when I was still an underclassman. There were days in the computer lab where it was pushing past 90*F and I can hear the fans on everyone's notebooks crying, and some of them even having a notebook cooler too. Not only were my hands kept cool, but my old M38AW was kept ice cold, until my dog chewed up the cord on my fan.

 

1) it doesn't require external power. the cryo LX comes with 2 cords. 1 to power the FOUR additional USB ports, and the 2nd to power the fans. i only have mine externally powered cuz i like to keep as much strain off my laptop as i can.

2) i don't have much to say about yur brand arguement except that it's pretty ignorant. those other companies might be "better", or have more experience in other areas, but their notebook coolers don't hold a candle to the cryo LX. it's funny that u specifically named coolermaster and thermaltak cuz those 2 companies produce some crappy-mediocre notebook coolers.

3) fans, and fan noise, are completely silent to me when their is ambient noise around. the only time the fans are audible is in a completely silent room. there are many times when i have my cryo LX on low, and i'm constantly checkin to see if my cooler is on cuz i can't hear it. don't listen to the bs. all of this is coming from an actual owner AND user.

the cryo LX is still the reigning champ, when it comes to pure cooling performance. i do agree with u thought that it's not a convenient piece to lug around. when i'm on the go, personally, i prefer to carry my targus x-stand or some cool balls.

 

These two models that I mentioned-Thermaltake Massive 23CS,and Thermaltake Massive 23LX ARE NOT crappy-mediocre notebook coolers. If you want some more info here it is some in depth reviews :
Thermaltake Massive23 CS Notebook Cooler
Thermaltake Massive 23 LX 230mm Fan Laptop Cooler Review - www.OverclockersHQ.com
UMLan
Cooler Master NotePal U3 Notebook Cooler Review-Hi Tech Legion-Cooler Master NotePal U3 Notebook Cooler Review
Cooler Master NotePal U3 Notebook Cooler Introduction :: TweakTown USA Edition

If you think that these particular models are bad, you understand nothing about computers. If you find some mediocre models that these 2 companies have, just let me know. I'm using Thermaltake Massive 23CS, and I'm very satisfied. It is very sturdy, durable, and professional made notebook cooler. The only one cons of this model is that is a little bit expensive. For 30$ the optimum models are Thermaltake Massive 23LX, and Cooler Master NotePal U3.

 

i'll PM u later.

there, fixed it for u.

 

Well, just got the Zalman nc3000 for may Clevo x7200... what a waste of time!

It took me 10 seconds to realize the ruddy thing was on due to almost no air being generated by that hugh fan, it is very quiet though.

There is no difference at all in temp drop, not even by 1c. The hunt for nzxt cryo lx continues

 

that sucks to hear. i honestly thought the nc3000 was a step back, performance-wise, compared to the nc1k/2k. it looks like all that is being confirmed right now. like i said, if u want the best cooler for yur gaming, and powerhouse, notebooks then yur best choice is to go with a cryo LX.

 

I totally agree with you, but the cryo lx is as rare as unicorn poo, cant find it anywhere in uk

The vents on the nc2000 are not in the right place for the clevo x7200 either, the cryo would be perfect. The hunt continues

 

The Thermaltake has performed well for me. Didn't spend the time to hunt down a Cryo after seeing the performance. Only worry I have is all that vent blockage on the Cryo truly eats up fan CFM. The Thermaltake has a nice open hex grill. However, that said, the Cryo has been lauded by many users, which makes a large satisfied userbase. That shouldn't be taken lightly. I also put two little rubber bumpers on my Thermaltake's to raise the notebook body up somewhat to increase the fan's breathing room. A lot of folks don't take simple (no matter what you are using) steps to increase the airflow of the fans. That means both intake and outflow. They need to be free and open on the bottom and as open on the top as safety allows. Then you need to raise the body up somewhat so it's not sitting directly on the fan. That will increase the cool airflow under the notebook.

Remember this is just air cooling basics on a differently shaped platform. Give the fans room to breath and choose coolers that give you the best CFM (larger fans generally though there is a balance between 3x120 vs 1x200+).

Also remember that the deadest spot of airflow is the center of the fan. The strongest airflow comes from the mid to the outer edges of the blade pattern. That means for some machines where central cooling is paramount, the 200+ large fans just don't do as well.

Rubber bumpers to lift the notebook off the platform (self sticking) can be gotten at Home Depot for less money than it took in gas to get to Home Depot

 

YouTube - NZXT CRYO LX Aluminum Notebook Cooler

The NZXT Cryo Lx - Benchmarked - Not all of us want to build one from the hardware store.

 

Got a coolermaster Sf19, works great and the extra USB 3.0 ports are a welcomed add-on.

 

I just purchase the Cryo LX in black and it arrived today - ordered it from the states and it arrived in Australia today all good has to pay in totay $140 including the shipping. But its the best going around the fan placement for my soon to arrive M17x Alienware is just spot on. If you go to Kryos website and go to their store list then just go through all websites. Unfortunatley in the 20 stores listed in Australia not 1 had this product but they only had other NZXT products so I purchased from one of the US stores.

 

Hi NZXT owners please help. Am I going crazy? I unpacked the product yesterday then put it back in it's box. And when I re opened it today I could have sworn I saw a power plug ac adapter in there yesterday. But when I checked the instructions today it says it comes packed with 2 cords. The USB to USB and the ac to USB cord. No adapter to plug straight into power point. Am I going crazy???? Or is there no adapter. Please help.

 

I purchased a Cryo abt three wks ago and it had a power adapter brick. That's one of the reasons why I purchased it--I wanted an ac adapter.

Call Cryo or the reseller.

 

Interesting that no one mentioned the coolmaster storm SF 19, I'm guessing that was because it was over the price mentioned. I wanted to point out that it turns out a cooler can push more air through a laptop. The speed on these is variable and you can stick you hand over the laptop vent in back and actually feel more air being pushed through when you crank the cooler, the difference is not subtle. Course you gotta be willing to put up with fan noise that is not subtle either, and an ac adapter, and a cooler that is in no way portable in my mind due to its weight and size.