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!
1 comment:
Hi Mitch. I enjoyed your review of the iLap laptop stand. I, too, have a MacBook Pro and use an iLap to sit it on. I think it is a great stand for a laptop, too. When I move away from my desk, I use my MacBook Air and an inexpensive stand I fabricated.
Here's my comment's I placed on Paul Stamatiou's Blog:
I, too, have a MacBook Air and here’s what I find works great, and is inexpensive, too. I bought a sheet of particle board—the type with holes in it, that you would normally use in the garage, and put hooks in the holes and hang tools on it. I cut a piece to size, glued a couple of rubber pads on one end (not needed to use on your lap), just to give it a bit of elevation when I’m using it on my desktop.
The holes in the particle board allow air to circulate, it is light, thin yet sturdy, and it fits easily into a backpack or briefcase or laptop case for easy carrying with you.
Give it a try—I think you’ll like it.
Mitch, good luck on your degree at IU—we lived for years in Columbus, Indiana and I'm very familiar with IU.
I plan to read your blog frequently. Thanks for writing it.....Jim Hamm
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