Notebook Coolers : A Buyers Guide

This is the third major update of this buyers guide for users in search of a notebook cooler.
I have written this guide in order to help users avoid the myths and legends that are out there about notebook coolers.

Pictures are from various sources including reviewers and forum members as well as manufacturer sites.
Thank you.

I am working on a way to integrate prices please be patient.

I am sorry for the deley in the release of this update but this has been a MAJOR update and has been very very time consuming for me.
If there are any issues please PM me or post.


What is a “notebook cooler”


The name should be self explanatory but for those who find it not, a notebook cooler is a device that may or may not use fans and normally sits underneath your notebook in order to provide extra cooling for the notebook.



What use are they?


There are many bashers out there about notebook coolers.
Truth be told, every laptop will have different results with different or even same coolers.
In general though a notebook cooler is quite helpful at lowering temperatures of components within a notebook.
Many claim that a notebook cooler will do next to nothing and are “useless” or a waste of money as the post below shows (click for original).





This is a false statement and the user probably did not a) choose a good cooler for his system b) choose a sub-par cooler c) is having a bad day.

Most people do notice a difference with coolers if don’t properly and for some where the cooler can only hit a 1-5C difference it can mean all the difference in the world.
If you look at Cooling Central under “are you over heating?” temperatures enter risky territory when a video card reaches 90-95C, a processor reaches 70C or a hard drive reaches 60-65C.
Those are just risky temperatures and there are also “threshold” temperatures as well which are higher and can be viewed at Cooling Central.
But for users who reach temperatures around or excess of those that are known to be dangerously high it 2C can make a difference.

One issue that most users also have with notebook coolers being “ineffective” for them is that many users expect far too much out of a notebook cooler.
Yes people do see massive differences but many are happy with slight differences.
Do not expect a notebook cooler to be a “savior” although it may be the case for some.

A notebook cooler can also extend the life of a notebook as a major enemy and killer of any electronic device is heat.
Unfortunately notebooks are not excluded.
Many notebooks have heat issues and a notebook cooler is just one of the possible solutions and is a road that some users may want to venture.


There are also users who have purchased notebooks which have noisy fan(s) and during normal usage cannot stand the sound of those fan(s).
Some notebook coolers can run quieter then even an average notebook fan.



Which one is right for me?


There are a few steps you can take in order to choose a good notebook cooler for you.

1) The most important thing is the make sure that the vents and fans of the notebook and the notebook cooler align.
Raw fan power or CFM (Cubic feet per minute, which is a measure of the volume of air flowing in a system.) is not everything.
Alignment of fans and vents will have a bigger role in how effective the cooler is in most cases.
Exceptions would be if a notebook does not do well in the presence of any notebook cooler you have tried or if you are having ridiculously high temperatures in specific cases.
An example of this would be the Zalman NC1000 versus the Zalman NC2000 debate for a 15.4 inch notebook.
After tests were done the lower CFM NC2000 beat out the NC1000 due to the fans and vents being hit better.
Here is the link to that article.


Here is an example of how to check alignment.


1) Find the measurements of the vent area or the cooling area of the notebook cooler you are interested in.
You could look at reviews or comparisons as they may have measurements already laid out or ask a two or more users of the cooler as they may provide you with the information.
The reason you may want to ask two or more users is that one may be biased or they could both have different measurements on what they find to be the area in which airflow comes out and it is recommended if it is the case that two come back with different results find at least one more opinion.




2) Now that you have found the measurements for cooler’s fan/vent location and other measurements flip your notebook over and measure your own vent fan placement.
The goal is to see if your notebook will align well with the cooler’s vents.
I recommend you take a picture of the bottom and Photoshop or MS Paint the measurements for each location to make it easier for your self after all measurements are taken.
If your notebook vents generally hit but only about a centimeter is being missed on top/bottom or both etc it should be fine.
(Thank you to the user I have borrowed the image from)




2) Noise.
Some do not mind the presence of excess fan noise but there are many who are bothered by almost any noise in general.
Many coolers do make a lot of noise but there are some that are quieter then others.
One tip is often but note always notebook coolers with higher CFM generate more noise as they either have an extra fan resulting in a 50% raise in noise (mathematically calculating 2 +1 =3, the one is 50% of the 2) or the smaller space in vents to create a higher CFM (Think about blowing through a straw full breath and the noise it would create, now remove the straw and think about that noise which is quieter? No straw).


3) Looks are also important to an extent.
Many users want their work space to match and look organized.
It is not a good idea if you have an overly sleek notebook such as a new Dell Latitude E and buy a cooler that looks gaming oriented unless it is determined that the cooler will do a far greater job.
It would be like taking a Maybach and tossing a racing spoiler on it.





4) Aluminum or a metal in general is a better choice when buying a notebook cooler over plastic for the following reasons.
Metal conducts heat, especially aluminum, better then plastic will.
Meaning if the contact surface is built out of metal it may provide a better cooling experience.
The other advantage of a cooler using its largest surface made out of metal would be strength.
Metal is usually stronger than plastic as you should be able to guess.



5) In order to get the best price possible use a site such as:

Canada: www.shopbot.ca
USA: www.pricegrabber.com

Find the lowest price available for the product and find a local store that does price matching.
Many stores do this but some require a cash payment in order to allow for price matching.



6) Use common sense

If you would like further assistance on this please fill in the FAQ provided at the bottom of this guide.

Is there anything to be avoided or anything that requires warning?



1) The Targus Chillpad’s are chronically under achieving and not making a difference.
The fans are known to cut out, be noise and lastly be a potential a health hazard according to the State of California.


“This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING”

This excerpt was taken off a Targus Chillpad box and more about this can be found here.

2) Although some generic brands pull through it is generally not a good idea to purchase a generic brand.
They tend to use cheaper materials and under perform as they do not really cover vents properly.


3) The USB ports on notebook coolers vary from USB 1.1-2.0 and if it is an issue please check the original manufacturer’s website for details.





Coolers on the Market: Desk or Around the House


Zalman NC Series



These are the most popular notebook coolers here at NBR.
It is sleek, sexy and comes in black or silver.
Its main feature is its silent effectiveness.
It runs at an astonishing 18.0 - 25.5 dBA