It’s not often that “portability” and “large” go hand in hand and today we will take a closer look at one of Akasa’s latest attempt at combining this unlikely duo; the Quasar Notebook Cooler which we were able to get our first hands-on at CeBIT 2011. (Note: a review of the Helix Notebook Cooler will follow soon)

Specifications

The Packaging

The Quasar came packaged in conventional form: a clean white box bedecked in images of the cooler along with its features and specifications. Inside was the same simple story, the cooler was held between a pair of Styrofoam blocks. Also included was a USB to DC adapter and a quick start manual which works for both the Quasar and the Helix.

Design, Build and Functionality

Out of the box the cooler impressed instantly. Plastic is often looked at as the cheaper option because it is not as solid as metal and does not appear as “clean”. Fortunately, the Quasar has nothing in common with this presumption beyond the simple fact that it is made of plastic.

With many plastic coolers we find at least a few blemishes due to the molding process. However, in the case of the Quasar it appears as if Akasa has gone out of their way to ensure perfection. As it should be the visible surfaces were clean of any markings, and the plastic was smooth and textured. Looking at the underside it was the same as the visible surfaces: spotless. Considering that we usually come across an imperfection or two whenever we flip over a cooler, the molding of the Quasar was both surprising and impressive

Moreover, we have never seen this sort of rigidity from a plastic cooler. Before we were able to get our hands on the Quasar we really questioned to what extent it would be safe to carry our notebook on any plastic-based cooler (e.g. from our desk to the living room table). The Quasar, however, makes it possible! Equipped with a pair of integrated plastic handles, the cooler turned out to be just as stable as a metal cooler but without the weight. Even when we gripped the handles and forcefully tried to twist the Quasar it responded positively still holding its shape without a struggle. To put things bluntly, the Quasar is built like a rock, but considerably lighter!

The top

Carrying on to the aesthetic design of the cooler the Quasar has interesting design cues and a somewhat unique shape. The top of the cooler is a pleasant contrast between plastic and metal mesh. The metal mesh dominates the surface but blends right in with its solid feel and glossy black paint job which is accented by a polished Akasa logo.

On either side of the as-good-as-unbendable mesh are the handles mentioned in the previous paragraphs. The handles are integrated to help make the cooler along with your notebook easier to carry around the house and they are relatively easy to use: grab the handles with your fingers and hold the notebook to the cooler with your thumbs and palms. Reiterating what we said earlier the cooler feels stable while carrying the notebook around.

Below the mesh we find three additional holes spanning the width of the cooler. These are designed to increase airflow to the front part of the notebook where hard drives are often located. At the very front we find an integrated lip designed to hold the notebook from sliding forwards. Basically, we find that it does the job it is supposed to do while it manages to fit in at the same time.

The side

The sides are rather bare and the only thing for us to mention is the cooler angle. Like most coolers the Quasar has a slightly elevated rear to create a forward slanting “ergonomic” angle.

The back

The back of the cooler appears rather blank but hidden in the center is the 5v DC input and a trigger to set “high -low” fan speeds. It appears clean but at the cost of practicality. To change the fan’s speed we had to get up and reach over the notebook or close the lid.

Cooling Performance and Noise

The Quasar features a 200mm single fan which is often chosen for decent air output and low operational noise. In terms of noise the Quasar is near silent at both high and low settings. It is one of the quietest and least vibrating coolers that we have seen.

To benchmark the cooler we ran it on the “high” setting.

Conclusion

The Akasa Quasar doesn’t lead the pack in terms of cooling performance but holds itself in the acceptable middle. What leaves us impressed and makes the cooler a great option for anyone with no high-performance cooling-needs is its solid build and its silence. The cooler is arguably the best built plastic cooler that we’ve seen and we are still a bit blown away by it. Moreover, its silent performance and portability around the house makes it a great family friendly option.