After reading that most people on here seem to have antec cooler, I picked one up myself. Looking it over it really doesn't seem like much, because it isn't. Aluminum top plate with 2 fans pulling air underneath it. WOO HOO! However, it does work.
The first thing I noticed was just the increase in cooling efficiency by setting the lappy on it. That put a noticeable drop of 2 degrees operating temp. This isn't the point of the system though, the fans are supposed to do something right!? So, I plug in doom 3, take a half hour of it sitting in my lap and playing on the couch. FIrst thing I noticed, my balls weren't frying. Second thing I noticed, no significant temp change, it actually seemed warmer. Checking the nvidia ambient temp proved me to be correct, it was at 85 degrees c. Normally runs in the high 70's, sometimes low 80's. I placed my hand around the computer vents and noticed less air movement. Next I lifted the laptop up off and held a hand around the vents and noted a significant output increase. NOT COOL. PUt it back on the pad, and shut off the fans and it had the same effect. COme to find out the fans actually pull the incoming air away from the intake port at the bottom of the laptop. NOT COOL. However, I did read someones idea on reversing the fans. 10 minutes later I conducted the same test with rather surprising results. I was running temps on the low 70's high 60's depending on how graphically stressing the area was in doom 3. However, that is almost a 10 degree decrease in overall performance. Plus, I noticed that I could feel more air moving through the exhaust vents. Overall, well worth it for the rediculous performance increase. If anything, for the simple fact that I don't feel like my balls are going to start on fire.
The first thing I noticed was just the increase in cooling efficiency by setting the lappy on it. That put a noticeable drop of 2 degrees operating temp. This isn't the point of the system though, the fans are supposed to do something right!? So, I plug in doom 3, take a half hour of it sitting in my lap and playing on the couch. FIrst thing I noticed, my balls weren't frying. Second thing I noticed, no significant temp change, it actually seemed warmer. Checking the nvidia ambient temp proved me to be correct, it was at 85 degrees c. Normally runs in the high 70's, sometimes low 80's. I placed my hand around the computer vents and noticed less air movement. Next I lifted the laptop up off and held a hand around the vents and noted a significant output increase. NOT COOL. PUt it back on the pad, and shut off the fans and it had the same effect. COme to find out the fans actually pull the incoming air away from the intake port at the bottom of the laptop. NOT COOL. However, I did read someones idea on reversing the fans. 10 minutes later I conducted the same test with rather surprising results. I was running temps on the low 70's high 60's depending on how graphically stressing the area was in doom 3. However, that is almost a 10 degree decrease in overall performance. Plus, I noticed that I could feel more air moving through the exhaust vents. Overall, well worth it for the rediculous performance increase. If anything, for the simple fact that I don't feel like my balls are going to start on fire.
