Notebook Risers
Submitted by crivon1 on Mon, 11/07/2005 - 11:34.
I just purchased a Notebook riser called "Notepal" by Cooler Master which has built into it 2 fans controlled by heat sensors and the power comes through the USB port (with an outlet USB port built in).
Basically the fans draw the heat from the bottom of the Notebook. As a result, I have noted that the computer is much cooler, and its internal fan does not run as often as it did before using this riser.
It is made from brushed aluminium, but is too heavy to be portable, but is very useful when using a Notebook in, for example, an office for any protracted periods.
It should be available from any good computer store, such as CompUSA, and in the UK or Ireland in PC World.
Quentin
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Notebook Risers
I just purchased a Notebook riser called "Notepal" by Cooler Master which has built into it 2 fans controlled by heat sensors and the power comes through the USB port (with an outlet USB port built in).
Basically the fans draw the heat from the bottom of the Notebook. As a result, I have noted that the computer is much cooler, and its internal fan does not run as often as it did before using this riser.
It is made from brushed aluminium, but is too heavy to be portable, but is very useful when using a Notebook in, for example, an office for any protracted periods.
It should be available from any good computer store, such as CompUSA, and in the UK or Ireland in PC World.
Good find. I see them in the US for about $35.00 US.
http://www.bizrate.com/marketplace/search/search__cat_id--491,prod_id--3...
Marty
The actual width is 12.25
The actual width is 12.25 inches, but I find it big enough for my 15.4 inch Laptop (Notebook).
It might not be wide enough for a 17.5, I have not tried it, but the usual location of fan outlets under the computer should be OK for drawing out the heat through the fans. (I could never understand why they put the fan outlets underneath, although my Acer fan inlet is at the top back just under the screen, and the outlets are at the side) .
However there is obviously some residual heat in the centre of the machine which is drawn off by the riser fans.
Quentin
Notebook Risers
Looks like a "cool" accessory! (couldn't help myself!)
You can see pictures and specs at the manufacturers website:
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/CoolerMaster/Products.aspx?pid=1082
Notebook Risers
Laptop-cooler or lap-warmer?
There is a review of a Jetart model here and data on just how much it cools a particular laptop:
http://overclockers.com/articles1247/
Bruce
Notebook Risers
Laptop-cooler or lap-warmer?
They seem to have quite an interesting selection, and it is very difficult to tell what is the most suitable for a particular use. The portability and foldability are certainly very attractive.
I also note there are no prices quoted. You have to send them your details, which I am always reluctant to do unless I know what I'm getting. They really should put prices alongside the products like anyone else. I also note that they are based in Taiwan and this is probably why they do not put prices, and are probably more interested in bulk sales.
I did see another type of riser in PC World in London which did not have an incorporated fan and USB outlet port and just appeared to be a basic riser. However it was boxed, sealed and unopenable, so I cannot make any judgments about it.
Quentin
Notebook Risers
"Inarticulate" must be my middle name.
Google "laptop cooler" to see the many models and manufacturers, many of which are Taiwanese.
This type of device is a widely available accessory that was first adopted by PC enthusiasts.
The key value of the review is its empirical data on the degree of cooling obtainable by such devices.
Bruce
Notebook Risers
"Inarticulate"
Google "laptop cooler" to see the many models and manufacturers, many of which are Taiwanese.
"Inarticulate" Never
There is certainly a bewildering array of them. Many of them look so much neater than the one I got and much more portable. The one I have is very much desktop and four to beat and heavy to carry round, but it is well designed to make sure that cooling is effective.
Apart from the weight and lack of portability of the "Notepal", my only complaint would be the 2 inch protrusion at the front under which there are the front support pads. This protrusion is obviously meant as a wrist support, but because the top of my laptop sits 1/2 inch above it, it is useless for this purpose.
I feel that in purchasing any one of these coolers, one really would want to bring one's laptop to a retailer and try it out for size.
Notebook Risers
What is the performance benefit of having a laptop run cooler? Does it last longer or work better? The fan in my Thinkpad, incidentally, doesn't seem to run continuously when I am using DNS.
Stan
If the system runs cooler,
If the system runs cooler, the probability of a heat induced error from the CPU or memory is reduced. This factor is most important to overclockers who try to get more performance than they paid for -- a distinctly minority group.
The more important consideration for most users is the reduced stress on the hard drive. According to corporate and university tech people responsible for maintaining large numbers of laptops, heat-induced hard drive failure is the most common source of physical problems for laptops.
Hard drive heat-failure is much more prevalent in laptops running desktop CPUs, which is a relatively cheap way to get more oomph out of a laptop. Most (all?) Thinkpads use Intel CPUs designed for laptop use.
Bruce
Notebook Risers
I have to say that my Notebook is running so much cooler with the riser.
I was able to compare it with the heat generated by the Notebook when I had it sitting on my knees last night.
Stan, according to all the pundits and reviews, and the cooler that computer runs, the longer lasting will be the motherboard and other running gear. I am sure that you have read all the postings on the various screech groups regarding various types of cooling systems in desktops.
Quentin
Notebook Risers
One snag I found with the the Notepal Notebook riser was that the signal to the USB wireless optical mouse appear to be affected, and the mouse became erratic and unresponsive. This was cured by plugging the remote USB control into the outlet USB port at the back of the riser. Obviously the aluminium of the riser was blocking the signal from the USB port at the back of the laptop.
Obviously this should not happen with the plastic foldable type.
Quentin
Reporting on Notepal" by
Reporting on Notepal" by Cooler Master
My Notebook had been running much cooler, but it was only the other day I discovered that the fans are operated by a power button at the back of the unit and therefore they had not been running.
Since having the fans in operation, the Notebook has virtually little or no heat on the underside. However I thought that there was the heat sensor built-in to the riser, but it would appear not, and the fans are running all the time. However they are very quiet and un-noticeable, and there is no background noise coming through.
Quentin