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7 Notebook Coolers Compared and Tested

Cooling/VGA & Other Cooling by jmke @ 2008-04-07

With the majority of PC shipments being laptops it is time to find out how you can effectively keep them running cool. In this comparison review we test seven different notebook coolers from Zalman, Vantec, Spire, Sunbeamtech, Revoltec and Antec.

Spire PacificBreeze

Spire PacificBreeze

The Spire PacificBreeze is very compact and lightweight product. Weighing in at only ~250 grams you can take it along without it dragging you down.

Build around 2x70mm fans which pull cool air inside the plastic housing, it pushes cool air under the laptop, its design and size allows for use on different size laptop, 17” was no issue.

This is the top of the cooler, the fans will remain visible during operation, you can also see the air vents at the front of the unit:

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The bottom features anti slip rubber feet :

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The rear side of the PacificBreeze features 2x USB 2.0 ports, just hook up the included pass-through USB cable and the fans have power. The speed is set using the switch in the middle.

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Installed the laptop is at a small incline, you also feel the cool air passing under the laptop towards the front.

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At the rear the fans illuminate, even in clear daylight:

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Comment from grs1961 @ 2008/04/09

Good comparison, but, for me, it left out one important test: How do the coolers behave when used *on* a lap. Are they even *usable* in that sense.

Some of us still use our laptops (even the aircraft carriers) on our laps.

Comment from jmke @ 2008/04/09

check the bottom of each cooler to see how it's formed. I think of the ones in the review only the Antec is flat enough at the bottom to be used on your lap. The others are either too small, or made to be used on a desk

Comment from Kougar @ 2008/04/09

The Antec cooler should be avoided, I tried one. As you said, it is to small for 17" laptops. Additionally one of the fans wore out after exactly 1 year, makes an insane racket to try and use it. Still under the 3 year warranty, assuming you kept the original purchase receipt which I didn't. I wouldn't want to even pay shipping to warranty it anyway, not worth it in my opinion.

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