Laptop Coolers - any good?

[hj2k_x]

Are laptop coolers such as this one any good?

Anyone have any experience with them? My room is always so hot and cooling seems a good idea...I assume they are a big drain on the battery when not running off the mains?

 

[hj2k_x]

Noone got anything to say? Are they not worth getting?

 

[Gunny]

I had one and gave it away was one of those aluminium ones, only used it at my desk at home and didnt do that much to the cooling its more lass than anything else and makes the laptop sit a bit higher causing some discomfort typing (for me anyway). Maybe I'll get one again as my P4 lappy sits on my desk most of the time with a keyboard, mouse and monitor hooked up to it and it does get a bit hot now in this damn heat.

 

[hj2k_x]

I had one and gave it away was one of those aluminium ones, only used it at my desk at home and didnt do that much to the cooling its more lass than anything else and makes the laptop sit a bit higher causing some discomfort typing (for me anyway). Maybe I'll get one again as my P4 lappy sits on my desk most of the time with a keyboard, mouse and monitor hooked up to it and it does get a bit hot now in this damn heat.

Yeah, I was thinking about this crazy heat here. I mean i am sure it is not a necessity - it might be the last thing that I would buy as a laptop accessory...Had not heard about these before so I thought I'd ask if anyone had any experiences..

 

[The_Unbeliever]

All the cooler does is to transfer the heat away from the laptop quicker into the environment...

If there was a way of getting rid of excess heat by removing said heat to the outside of the building then I'd go for it... (read - aircon).

 

[hj2k_x]

All the cooler does is to transfer the heat away from the laptop quicker into the environment...

If there was a way of getting rid of excess heat by removing said heat to the outside of the building then I'd go for it... (read - aircon).

Yeah, i suppose it's a case of swings and roundabouts really

 

[Globetrotter]

My laptop's (Acer 5626) right hand palm area gets very hot at times. Right below it is the memory compartment so it's the memory that gets quite hot. So my problem is more about the surface of the laptop getting hot.

Any advice on laptop coolers will be appreciated. Is there anyone on this forum that has one and uses it frequently? I see most coolers have fans towards the back where the CPU is usually located. I'm more interested in coolers that have fans located in the front (where the memory compartment is located).

Where in Cape Town can one buy laptop coolers? Most PC shops? Which is the best brand?

 

[AirWolf]

Studies conducted by California Polytechnic University show that heat build-up in notebooks are reduced by 15 to 20 percent, when a laptop is situated at an angle compared to a laptop in a horizontal position. Free air cooling which is a passive method and requires no additional power has been proven as an effective method of laptop cooling.

I kept my laptop on a masonite board at an angle after the fan had been going heavy for a while. The fan seems to have slowed down after about 5 minutes.

 

[slayerza]

I use one of the ergotilt stands from HiFi corp. Granted it is plastic, and does not have any good looks to speak of, I did notice that it helped keep the laptop a little cooler.

Although there is no fans on the device, by lifting the laptop off the surface it allows the vents proper access to the environment. Oh and it only cost R99 so not 'n huge expence.

Cheers
Slayer

 

[howardb]

I think they work - my Zalman ZM-NC2000 cools my Dell M70 Precision by about 5-12 degrees (depending on load) as opposed to it being flat on a surface - adjustable fans and extra USB ports too...

 

[bwana]

I kept my laptop on a masonite board at an angle after the fan had been going heavy for a while. The fan seems to have slowed down after about 5 minutes.

If its still resting on a board how does tilting it have any effect? Surely the air would need to circulate directly under the laptop?

 

[AirWolf]

If its still resting on a board how does tilting it have any effect? Surely the air would need to circulate directly under the laptop?

Good point.

 

[HavocXphere]

If its still resting on a board how does tilting it have any effect? Surely the air would need to circulate directly under the laptop?

I'd guess its just a frame holding it up ie not a solid thing that blocks the air.

 

[bwana]

I'd guess its just a frame holding it up ie not a solid thing that blocks the air.

A frame would make sense - plenty of air circulating underneath - but it sounded like it could have been just a board.

 

[AirWolf]

I kept my laptop on a masonite board at an angle after the fan had been going heavy for a while. The fan seems to have slowed down after about 5 minutes.

If its still resting on a board how does tilting it have any effect? Surely the air would need to circulate directly under the laptop?

Good point.

I'd guess its just a frame holding it up ie not a solid thing that blocks the air.

A frame would make sense - plenty of air circulating underneath - but it sounded like it could have been just a board.

Yes it was a board, but I just thought of something. The whole hot-air-rises-cold-air-sinks thing would come into play here. When the laptop is on a flat surface the air lingers underneath. But on a tilted surface (even solid), it would more easily flow upways out from underneath the laptop.

 

[hj2k_x]

Just thought I'd bump this thread with an answer to my own question...

Was busy on my gf's lappie all week - she has one of these cooler jobbies from Cafeviva for R150. Very nice indeed. Has extra USB ports, keeps the lappie nice and cool, is not too loud and makes the typing angle very comfortable and the screen at a great height for reading.

I like