Laptop cooling pad

[smitty9999]

Hello everyone,

I'm considering purchasing a laptop cooling pad, since my laptop will soon become my only computer, and I want to ensure it runs flawlessly.

Is it worth purchasing one? I dont care about heat on my legs, since I always keep the laptop on a flat hard surface, and I always clean out the vents on it.

I figure for $25 or so, It cant be a total loss.

I'm hoping some people can chime in and give me suggestions

Thanks


edit: im thinking about this one here
http://www.everythingusb.com/belkin_laptop_cooling_pad_13845.html

[Jucius Maximus]

I still use my old notebook that I got in 2003, and I purchased a $25 cooling pad in 2004 because my place at the time was not air conditioned, and I was running bittorrent all the time.

Now that notebook is still going strong on the original 40GB hard drive that has sometimes run for months and months at a time doing bittorrent 24/7, and has never skipped a beat.

I think the cooling pad is worth it.

Though I would not want to use the cooling pad on my lap. That would just seem klutzy to me. I just use it when the notebook is sitting there running torrents overnight and all day.

I got a Vantec model cooling pad, though their current models are totally different now.

[jasperException]

Don't go for cheap cooling pad that blow air downward. Nowadays, laptop are designed to have air intake from the bottom and coming out from the side. Getting a cooling pad (in most case on clearance for cheap) that blow air downward will conflict this. If the area you are using your laptop is in the basement or in a well ventilated room (also great during winter when cold), then you can get a riser like Staples mesh document holder available in Silver or Black color:

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/images/products/ca618060_1_enl.jpg

If you get that document holder, just flip the holder so the part where the paper will sit is downward on the table.. the incline is what you need to place your laptop on. You might want to buy some Anti-skip thumb stickers to prevent the laptop from sliding downward.

Otherwise you can use that belkin cooling pad. Very nice design.

[Mistro]

I've personally used this on my old clunker Acer:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.9184

It's not exactly the most high quality solution, but I find that it's quiet enough for my use and doesn't vibrate excessively.

The only downside is whether it will clip to your existing fan output vent.

There is also the small problem of the extendable usb cable. Basically if you have no usb ports on the same side as the exhaust vent, you will have to extend that across to the other side of the laptop.

Cooling wise, it works very well. Dropped my laptop about 5 degrees within the first minute and about 8 degrees overall.

[ritsbits]

if you don't mind spending a bit more (i.e. 50-80), check out notebookreview's forum. they have some pretty good recommendations for cooling pads for specific models or air flow type :)

i picked up a zalman nc2000s for mine; the nzxt cryo is also popular, but is more expensive.