What is the best cooling pad for the UMBP?

Question

Level 1

1 points

What is the best cooling pad for the UMBP?

I have tested out two cooling pads: the targus chill mat for mac and the AEOLUS Enermax notebook cooler. NONE has given me results. I have been so dissapoointed. All I want is something to give me advertised results such as drop in temps. I need my notebook to run as steady as possible to sustain a longer life because I do alot of forensic work.

I tested each of these pads and I did not get any temp drops. I tried searching all over the web for the right cooling pad, and I still can't find anything. Although, I did look into two cooling pads that is grabbing my attention. They are: the NZXT cryo and the zm-nc2000 notebook cooler. Aside of the ones I tested and the last two I checked out online, can anyone give me info of a real working umbp notebook cooler? Especially any cooler pad that was tested in real time.

macbook pro, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Jun 25, 2009 11:50 PM

Reply

Answer 1

a brody

Level 10

85,314 points

Jun 26, 2009 6:18 AM in response to djvic87

If you are relying on software indication of what the temperature is inside, I would not depend on that. Any device which dissipates heat from underneath the machine will help it run cooler in the long run. The CPU itself may remain hot, but the whole machine itself acts as a heatsink. If there isn't enough ventilation underneath, that's when there can be a tendency to overheat. Use the hardware test that came with the Mac if you worry it may have that tendency. As long as there are no errors on that account, I would just take any cooling pad that offers underneath ventilation. Antec offers a really good cooling fan (with 4 fans in a pad) that plugs in the USB port. It just blows the hot air away from the machine, and offers a metal surface which dissipates heat. People have seen the temperature approach the boiling point of water on these software titles, and tried to force cooling using software tools to little if any effect. That's why I wrote this user tip:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=716829&tstart=10

Reply

Answer 2

Jun 26, 2009 6:58 AM in response to djvic87

The MBP vents its heat to the rear-left part of the case, and out under the display hinge. Most laptop cooling pads I've seen have their fan(s) located in the approximate center of the pad. The optimal cooler for a MBP would locate the fans further back, so they pull the heat away from the aluminum case a bit more directly.

FWIW, I haven't had the need to get one yet - my lapdesk seems to do a fine job on its own, after raising the rear slightly to give a bit more room for air to circulate under the laptop. I've used two plastic bottle caps for this, but a book would work just as well.

Reply

Answer 3

djvic87 Author

Level 1

1 points

Jun 26, 2009 3:50 PM in response to a brody

The thing is, when I think about it for a second, where is the air actually going? I mean, on the bottom of the umbp, there is no vents whatsoever. The only thing on the bottom is the case opener for the battery and the hard drive. I do know that the only vent is near the hinge/screen. While the air is blowing through the bottom casing, is it still making an effect even though no air is going inside? The pad I usually have right now is the AEOLUS cooling pad. The only thing it's doing is blowing air upwards to the case (I think). Whatsoever, I don't see any drops in temps (according to istat). But if its normal to not see any drops in istat then I can live with it. What do you think?

Reply

Answer 4

Jun 26, 2009 9:55 PM in response to djvic87

I have never used an active cooling pad, i.e. powered with fans. However, I got an "Incline Pro" stand to use with my previous generation MBP and it is fantastic. It will either sit flat or has legs at the back that kick out for an inclined surface. This allows for much more air circulation than if it was sitting on a surface alone. It is very well built, very light, very sleek - the aluminum tubing etc. looks great with the MBP.

I was going to order another one for my new unibody MBP but this things runs so cool, I can barely tell it has been on most of the time so I'm not sure I'll bother.

Reply