Laptop Coolers

**Red_Lizard2** · 09-09-08, 06:36 AM

okay, so as i'm finding out from reading reviews on coolers, my Lenovo (the new ideapads, well the ones that came out in i think march) runs pretty hot (as apparently do the thinkpads as well) so im looking for a cooler to keep it from frying within a year or two. its main exhaust is on the left hand side of the computer. Anyways help would be great. The laptop is 15.4" by the way. right now i'm looking at:

Antec USB-Powered Notebook Cooler
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...F8&me=&seller=

can't seem to find anything else that sounds decent, but not sure about the Antec either. By the way, i have no idea about what to look for in a laptop cooler at all

**Mojo** · 09-09-08, 07:30 AM

I've tried the flat style coolers, and moved up to the stand type, after seeing that the fans on the flat style, seem to pick up more dust and clog fans after awhile.
Maybe I need to dust more... but I do smoke cigarettes, and the tar from exhaled smoke sticks to fan blades which gather more dust as well.
If you run any periphials, I suggest getting one with a built-in USB hub, self powered, if possible, because it's easy to drain the lap's 5v USB power source if you run many USB devices at once. I have an external hard drive, printer, external k/b and a cordless mouse charger that stay plugged in. My Macbook only has two USB outlets, so I had to have the
hub.
I made a hybrid of two coolers for mine, an elevated, tilt-able stand, with 4 port, self powered USB hub, and attached a separate, cooling fan to blow air across bottom of laptop.
The stand I chose is an "X-Brand" part# XB-1002-US, from http://xbrandproducts.com/
It has three tilt click-settings, a release-able front slide stop and small wheels to maneuver it around table. It uses Firewire - USB cord to attach to Laptop (firewire for base, USB for lap) and has it's own power supply for 4 port USB hub. The stand does not have a fan, it relies on air up-draft to cool lap. I wanted more circulation to keep cigarette smoke away from intake fan of laptop.
It was about $35, for the stand, and $25 for the fan assembly from Amazon.com

I cannot remember where I purchased the stand, but here's the cooler (2 speed fan, with USB bypass for power) I attached with two screws to rear of stand, to blow air under and towards front of laptop:

http://www.amazon.com/Antec-NOTEBOOK...961233&sr=8-27

Here's a decent model with 2 fans and a 4 port USB hub for less than what I paid to create mine, and would be easier to carry with you if you travel with it:
(Mine's a stay-at-home stand)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...571&CatId=3486

My creation:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99...s/IMG_0056.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99...s/IMG_0057.jpg

**WileECyte** · 09-09-08, 10:01 AM

I did some searching around the web and the Antec received favorable reviews. I just bought my wife the Antec cooler and it works great. It dropped her average operating temperature of both the CPU & HD by like 20 degrees.

**Red_Lizard2** · 09-09-08, 04:22 PM

kay. i might get it since i get free 2 day shipping on it and the price isn't horrible. the other things i was looking for is like a cheap cooler and replace the fans in the cooler with stronger ones. Right now my cooler is basically a textbook on each side of the computer. Also whtever it is (be it cooler or stand) got to be able to hold a fair amount of weight since this things about 6.4 or so pounds

EDIT: Okay so i checked an just doing nothing but checking the internet, speed fan recorded my core temps (for my CPU) at 123.8 degrees Fahrenheit

**Mojo** · 09-09-08, 05:35 PM

Might consider buying some Artic Siver CPU cooler paste while you're there and applying to CPU... if temps are that hot surfin' web...

**Red_Lizard2** · 09-09-08, 06:24 PM

alright, do i need to open the laptop case to put it on? jw because the things still under warranty so really don't want to void it if i can avoid it.

What about getting a couple cheap case fans and rigging them up to blow air across the bottom, not sure how it would work or how to do it though.