Vantec's LapCool2 really does cool down your notebook PC
Written: Jan 20 '06 (Updated Jan 22 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Nice design, easy to use
Cons: May not work on all laptops, could be bigger
The Bottom Line: If you have a laptop/notebook PC that is running hot, you might consider buying one of these.
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| phungus's Full Review: Vantec LapCool2 Laptop Cooler LPC-301 |
Vantec’s LapCool2 model LPC-301 is a cooling pad for your notebook/laptop PC. I’ve been using mine for about a week now and have noticed a slight decrease in temperature since putting it to work. There is another model of this cooler that includes a 4-port USB hub built into the side. This review is of the cheaper model that retails for about $25 on many online stores.
How effective the LapCool2 will be on your notebook greatly depends on the manufacturer. In any computer, the processor generates more heat than anything else. The processor is the main brain of the computer, and usually made by Intel or AMD. The reason why the fastest laptop on the market is never quite as fast as the fastest desktop on the market is because of cooling issues. Notebook computers are notorious for heating and cooling problems because so much stuff is packed into such a tiny case. That is why these external fan-based coolers are growing in popularity.
The LapCool2 comes in a rectangular blue plastic case with a silver brushed aluminum panel in the middle. It has two 70mm ball bearing fans that blow up into the bottom of your computer. The idea is that you set your laptop right on top of the LapCool2 and let it blow cool air in from underneath. Most laptops include a puny little CPU fan that kicks in when needed, so this cooler provides all kinds of extra airflow to cool things down. Some small rubber tabs are included to keep your PC from sliding off this cooler.
This notebook cooler connects to your computer via an included USB cable. It does not require batteries or an external power supply, which makes it very portable. It features a single power switch to turn it on and off. My favorite feature is that it has a knob where you can adjust the fan speed. When playing games, I like to turn it on full blast since my graphic-intensive 3D games tend to make the machine run hot. During general use, I will put it on a lower setting. I don’t use this notebook cooler all the time because that just isn’t necessary.
Even with two 70mm fans blowing, this device is relatively quiet. Sure, you can hear the fans spinning, but they are no less loud than the internal fans that came already on my laptop. With music or a game playing, you can’t hear them at all.
I have a Compaq M2000 notebook computer with an AMD Sempron 2800+ processor. The design ‘wizards’ at Compaq thought it would be a good idea to put the processor on the front left side of the motherboard, so that it sits right underneath there your left hand would be while you type. During the winter, it can serve almost like a little personal hand warmer. Otherwise, it is the only thing about this great little machine that I don’t like.
Given the motherboard design on my machine, I can’t get this LapCool2 to blow directly onto the CPU. This cooler is a little bit smaller than the footprint of my Compaq, so I can’t set my PC too far back on the LapCool2 or else it will fall off. I can get it where the fans blow onto the processor just enough that the internal cooling fan never has to kick on, which is a good thing. I’d rather wear out a $25 external device than have to crack open my Compaq case and replace some internal component.
If you have a laptop computer that seems to be running too hot, you might want to invest in one of these cooling pads. Try to figure out the location of your processor when deciding on which one to get, otherwise you might get something that isn’t as effective as another model. For the money, I am fairly pleased with the LapCool2. I know that if I wanted a much cooler PC, I should have purchased a more efficiently design computer, but this will do the trick for now.
Note: This is my entry into CaptainD's Expand the Database WriteOff.
http://www.epinions.com/content_4642414724
Recommended:
Yes
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