After a short run with the X1 cooler, Cooler Master took a second shot at the X series by introducing the X2.  Equipped with a larger sized fan, a blue LED and a newly designed chassis, Cooler Master has made improvements from its X1 predecessor and priced it at a competitive $25 price point.

First Impressions
The packaging was neither disappointing nor anything to write home about. The X2 was held in place by two styrofoam blocks on each side. Other items and accessories include a USB A to A cable and a basic instruction manual.

At first we had mixed feelings about the cooler; the outer plastic was a bit weak though the metal surface was far stronger than we expected. When we powered on the unit, the fan was on the loud end of the spectrum. The subtle blue LED embedded inside the fan gave the whole cooler a nice aesthetically cool aura.

The Cooling Surface and Cooling System

The cooling surface is built out of aluminum mesh which adds nice modern appeal yet provides good resistance to any bending with the pressure by hand. The mesh is painted black which may cause heavier notebooks such as our Clevo M860TU to slip off if the feet are raised. The redesign of the cooling surface for the second generation X series is quite favorable. Overall we are satisfied with the choice of sticking with a metallic material.

As for the cooling system, the fan intakes air from the base, the front and the rear of the cooler. The air is distributed to the metallic surface and although a larger fan is used in the X2, air flow is not evenly distributed to the cooling surface. The air outputted by the cooler is focused mainly at the center area of the cooler while the sides have limited airflow. When a notebook is set on the cooler airflow from the center area moves out in all directions making the airflow a little more even.

The fan was a bit on the noisy side at the highest RPM but does tone done when the RPM is lowered. As stated earlier the LED gave the cooler a nice aesthetically cool aura. When a notebook is placed on the cooler, the light emitted out of the rear behind the screen which prevents distractions for the user.

The Sides
Like most coolers on the market, one side is blank; in this case the left side of the X2 is bare. On the right, a dial that adjusts the fan speed can be found. The user adjustable fan speed ranges from 700 to 1400 RPM.

The angle at which the cooler tilts the notebook provides a modest comfort level while typing, despite having the feet propped up or not.

The Base and Back
On the bottom the plastic is firm. The large rubber feet are a feature we enjoy due to the great amount of grip it provides. The prop up feet gave us some concern at first but we were rather surprised by just how much force these feet can take before losing grip.

Located on the back of the cooler are the power button and two USB ports. Both ports experience a little wobble when a cable is plugged in, though it’s not too much of a concern since most coolers tend to stay stationary when in use.

Benchmarks

If the test was continued the hard drive temperatures would have continuously dropped.

If the test was continued the hard drive temperatures would have continuously dropped.

Portability 
The X2 is not designed to be portable; it is designed to stay rested on a desk.

Conclusion In conclusion, we found the X2 to be an improvement over the old X1 model. Though noise and build are not the greatest, we were impressed by the cooling performance. We recommend anyone who is on a budget take this cooler into consideration