What is a notebook Cooler?

By definition a notebook cooler is “a device used in order to cool a notebook”. There are two types of notebook coolers, the first being a passive notebook cooler and second, a non-passive cooler. A passive notebook cooler is “inactive”; it uses no moving components to help cool the notebook. It is generally a notebook stand. A Non-Passive cooler, is what most people view as a notebook cooler. It uses fans to pass air through or pull it away from the bottom of a notebook to actively force air flow movement within the notebook chassis.

In this guide we will be discussing non-passive notebook coolers. Please refer to our notebook stand guide for passive coolers/stands.

Is a cooler worth it?

There are many critics whom are skeptical about a notebook cooler’s effectiveness. Critics claim that notebook coolers are “a waste of money”. Below is a post from the forums over at www.notebookreview.com

What this poster states is false. The user probably did not a) choose the right cooler for his notebook b) bought a generic cooler or c) is uninformed about notebook coolers.

When buying a notebook, a car or even a home for that matter, would you buy whatever is available without prior research or would you attempt to find what works best for you? It is essential for people to first understand and research what would work best and with notebook coolers the process is the same.

Many users expect a notebook cooler to be the solution to any heat problem but it is simply an unrealistic approach since a cooler can only be part of the solution. Heat issues can be caused by a variety of issues ranging from improper application of thermal paste to a fan clogged with dust. A notebook cooler is not the solution to all.

Keep in mind that a notebook cooler can help cool a notebook ~1-10ºC and sometimes more. Users must have a modest expectation since not every cooler will have the same affect for each and every notebook.

Heat is the by-product for all electrical operating machinery and is dreaded by all due to the harm it can do on the hardware. Keeping your components running cool can extend the life of a notebook. A notebook cooler is always a good investment for prolonging the life of your notebook whether you are having overheating issues or otherwise.

For those with notebooks that have noisy fan(s), a cooler may be your solution to a quieter computer. Notebook fans can be louder than fans on some notebook coolers.

In the end it is a personal decision whether or not it is worth the investment.

How to choose the right notebook cooler

There are several steps to choosing the right notebook cooler.

1. The most important step to take is to make sure the vents on your notebook align with the vents surface or fans of a notebook cooler. By doing so you allow more air to pass through your notebook. Raw fan power or CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) is not everything. In most cases alignment of fans and vents have a larger effect on how effective a notebook cooler is. An example of this would be the Zalman NC1000 versus NC2000 debate for a particular 15.4” notebook. Despite the NC1000 being able to push more cubic feet of air per minute, the lower CFM Zalman NC2000 was the better cooler due its better fan alignment with that particular notebook.
   
   How to check for alignment:
   1. Find out where the fan intake and exhaust is on your notebook. There are several basic locations:
      1. In most cases the intake is on the bottom and towards the rear. If that is the case the exhaust should be on the same side as the intake but on the side of the notebook or the rear of the notebook.
         
      2. Rarely is it the exact opposite of 1). Exhaust on the bottom with intake on one of the sides or the rear of the notebook
         
      3. A third possibility though even more uncommon and is virtually unseen is the exhaust or intake being located around the keyboard and on the bottom, side or rear of the notebook.
         
      4. Gaming systems often have multiple fans on the base. 
      5. The final possibility is mainly included in netbooks and Mac notebooks. There is no direct intake for the fan and no intakes at all on Mac notebooks. On netbooks there may be intake vents.
         

         Note: Though some notebooks such as Macbooks have no vents, the metal chassis is used as a “heatsink” for the notebook and thus by cooling the heatsink you may be able to lower your temperatures.

         If your notebook does not have the intake on the base and has exhaust instead, make sure to choose a cooler that sucks air away from the bottom. Choose a cooler that blows air in the same direction as the fan vent on the bottom.

         (note that most notebook coolers blow air up towards the notebook)

   2. By choosing the airflow direction and ventilation holes the choices should now be clearer. Keep note of you notebook’s general hot spots (the hottest area(s) on the bottom of your notebook) as the location of the fan in the cooler will help better reduce the heat in these areas. From there you can figure out where you want the fan(s) of the cooler to generally be located.
      For the notebook above, vents and hot spots appear to be generally in the front and rather spread so a cooler with a large cooling surface towards the front would be most effective.

      Some coolers may not appear to have the fans properly aligned to the vents on your notebook; however, a simple repositioning of the notebook may be all it takes.

   3. The next step is optional but recommended if users are unsure of the vents and fan(s) of the notebook will align with those of the cooler. The process is to measure general distances between edges of a notebook and its vents and/or fan(s).
      

      From here, take the measurements of the cooling area of a notebook cooler you are considering and compare to see if it works out. If you’re short a centimeter on with the fan and vent alignment between the notebook and the cooler, it is not the end of the world and will still be fine.

2. Fan noise, whether it’s generated by the notebook fan or the cooler fan, will affect each person differently depending on the individual’s tolerance. There are many coolers on the market that generate a lot of noise, while others can be whisper quiet. There are some coolers such as the NZXT Cyro LX that offer great cooling effectiveness, but should be reserved for those that have a good amount of noise acceptance.  It is important to note that most dB levels posted are done by the manufacturer and there is no set standard on testing methods. They are not the most reliable data and buyers should only view it with a grain of salt.
   

   Usually, the higher the CFM rating, the more noise the cooler will generate. The more air that is passed through a small cooling surface (vent(s)) the higher the CFM and decibel level. If this concept is hard to grasp think about blowing air through a straw. It would be noisier than removing the straw and breathing without the straw.

3. Aesthetics are also important, but to an extent. Many users want their workspace to match and look organized. It may not be the best idea if you own a notebook such as a Dell Latitude E series or Lenovo business tier notebook to purchase a cooler that is gaming oriented and equipped with flashing neon lights. Unless the cooler will do a far greater job or you do not mind the conflicting designs between your notebook and cooler, it is recommended that you stay within your niche when choosing a cooler.
   
4. Metal is generally a better choice when purchasing a notebook cooler. Metal has the ability to conduct heat better than plastic, hence can provide a better cooling effectiveness. Your notebook heatsinks are made out of metal for that very reason. The positive side for plastic is that it is usually lighter than metal but because of the nature of plastic, it is not as durable of a material as metal.
   
5. The surface(s) that you will ultimately use a notebook cooler on may cut down your options. Many coolers take air from the bottom just like a notebook. If your working surface is soft and plump, having a cooler intake air from the base would not be a good idea. There are two solutions to this: the first being able to improvise by putting a hard surface such as a book under the cooler while working on soft surfaces; second, purchase a cooler that does not have an intake on the base or sides.
   
6. For portable users a notebook cooler can be just another thing to lug around. Though there are options for users who are constantly on the go. Look for coolers such as the CoolerMaster Notepal P1 that are generally condensed
   
7. In order to get the best price it is recommended you use a price comparison website such as www.shopbot.ca (Canada), www.kelkoo.co.uk (UK), www.google.com/products (USA), www.nextag.com (USA) or www.dealtime.com (USA) to find the lowest price available for the product.
   

   For further cost saving tips, contact a local store that is willing to price match. Many shops will price match but some require a cash payment in order to get the price match

8. Use common sense

If you require further assistance on this please visit our forums and fill in the “–> What Should I Buy FORM (Please Read Before Posting) <—“