Laptop Coolers - Which to Use and Why

My current computer is a Macbook Pro 2.33 GHz Core2Duo, with 3GB Ram and a 200GB HD. There is little I would change about my laptop, other than it tends to get very warm when used on my lap, even if for just a short period. I looked into a few different solutions to remedy this problem and found two basic types of “lap coolers” that are designed to lessen the heat transferred from the laptop to your lap.

The first type is a passive (no fan) cooler like the iLap made by Rain Design. These are generally very lightweight and basically give the computer a way to make its own internal fans more efficient by allowing better airflow underneath and around the computer.

The second type has an active cooling design. This means it has built in fans that can either pull the warm air from the bottom of the computer, or push room temperature air up to the computer. The active cooler I tested was a SwissGear Glacier notebook cooler. Either active or passive, the cooler sits between you and the computer and attempts to keep the machine cool, and the internal fans quiet.


I did a bit of testing to see how effective each type of cooler can be. I also used my computer directly on my lap as a control - to see how effective a cooler is in the first place. I did each test in the same room with the same external temperature (~72ºF) and used iStat pro to measure the temperatures and fan speeds during each test.

First, I ran my computer directly on my lap with an iTunes visualizer in a window with iChat, Mail, and Safari running under normal use. The fans in my machine quickly spun up from the "idle" 2000 RPM to 6000 RPM (the maximum, and a very loud speed) and my CPU settled out between 149ºF-153ºF within about five minutes. This made for a very loud computer under a relatively light load and the computer got uncomfortably warm on my lap after only a few more minutes of this.

I allowed the computer to cool back down and let the fans rest at 2000 RPM for five minutes before I tested the machine with the SwissGear notebook cooler ($35).

This is an active cooler with built in fans that pull warm air away from the bottom of the machine. During my testing with this cooler, the internal fans in my MacBook spun up to about 3800-4200 RPM (significantly less noisy than the full 6000 RPM) and the CPU settled a bit lower than it had without the cooler at 147º. The cooler definitely cut down on overall noise, even though its fans are spinning constantly. There are a couple downsides to this solution. First is that the fans on the SwissGear still put a bit of heat on my lap, but not nearly as much as the notebook was when it was directly on my lap. Second is that the fans in the cooler require the use of a USB port to work which is not only annoying to have to plug in, but also drains the battery in your notebook that much more quickly.



I again let the computer rest and cool back down to normal temperatures before beginning testing with the RainDesign iLap ($50).

The iLap is a passive cooler that elevates the computer and keeps the heat off your lap entirely, but has no fans to aid the internal fans in cooling the computer. Under the same conditions, the machine stopped at the highest temperature of the three tests at 153º-156º. The fans stayed around 4100 RPM, but fluctuated up to 4400 RPM at times. The fan speeds were higher than they were with the SwissGear cooler, but because there aren't any additional fans on the iLap, it actually ended up being quieter overall. In addition to it being less noisy than the other two options, the iLap successfully keeps all of the computer's heat off my lap and has built in pads to make it even more comfortable to use over long periods.


Conclusion: If keeping your computer's temperature low is your highest priority, the SwissGear or another active cooler with built in fans will do the best job, albeit at the cost of a slightly more noisy machine with one less USB port. If comfort and noise reduction is most important, a simple passive cooler like the iLap will provide the best solution.

Do you have a favorite notebook cooler or do you just plop the laptop right into your lap? Post in the comments!

The Return to The Big Screen

Over Christmas break last semester, my room was broken into and my 23" Apple Cinema Display was stolen along with my roommate, Kent's, Nintendo wii, a DVD player, a Luna iPod speaker system, and a sublime poster. The entirety of my second semester and up until about a week ago, I was using the 15" screen on my MacBook Pro, most of the time propped up on my lap with an iLap notebook stand. This allowed me to relax and sit back in my chair while surfing around and reading blogs, but was a big switch from the 23". With so much less screen real estate, features like Leopard's spaces can really be fully utilized, but at the same time it's nice to be able to visually see more items at a time which can only be accomplished with a larger screen with a higher resolution.



I just got a new 23" ACD just like my previous one, and I found that I actually have come to enjoy the MacBook Pro's screen, not for its size, but for its ability to be in my lap (I know, big surprise that a laptop can go in your lap, but bear with me.) With the 23", I find myself leaning forward in my chair which can get very uncomfortable for my back after a day of leaning over the computers I repair at work. On top of the back issue, my arms have much less support as well because they're unable to rest while I'm going from the keyboard to the mouse and back - an issue non existent on a notebook with the keyboard and trackpad so close together. This has led me to two conclusions. First, a corner desk (which I used from my 6th grade year until just last year before going to college) offers much more arm support. A straight desk can work if the keyboard tray and arms on the chair are both at the exact same height, but otherwise my arms tend to get tired quickly. Second, a notebook with a small barrier or stand between you and the computer makes for a much more comfortable way to use the computer for extended periods of time.

I have also just begun using a swiss gear lap cooler with two USB-powered fans because I've loaned my dad my iLap to see if he agrees on the increased comfort of using a notebook instead of a desk system. I'll post a more detailed comparison between the two laptop cooling solutions when I've had more opportunity to compare them.

As somebody who is on my computer for hours upon hours each day, it is important to find a comfortable and supportive position to use these machines. If you have found a more comfortable position to use your computer, post in the comments.

P.S. After a full month of getting settled in, hopefully I'll be able to keep up with this blog on a more regular basis. I have a list of ideas to write about, and now that I'm fully moved in and have a regular job schedule, I should be able to find time to devote to this blog again!