Notebook Cooler Methodology

I was browsing Thermaltake's website (because I was bored) and saw the notebook cooler range they offered. I was curious after seeing the:
http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Cooler/NBcooling/R14PF04/R14PF04.asp
and
http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Cooler/NBcooling/R14PF03/R14PF03.asp

The second cooler blows air towards the notebook and the other sucks the air away from the notebook. Which design is better if they were exactly the same (like shape, fan size, speed, etc)?

 

I think that it depends on the computer you are using. It would be counterproductive to pull air away from the computers air intake, but in most other areas it would be helpful. If placed properly, though, the sucking could move more air to the computer air intake. It all depends on the specific computer used with it.

 

You can also check out Chaz's cooling guide. It helped me out a lot to bring down the temps and is pretty informative.

 

Do notebook coolers offer any advantages?
For what reasons do people want to cool there notebooks a few degrees?

I don't ask this sarcastically, I am genuinely curious.
The only reasons I can come up with are that:
a) you are overclocking (not sure why you would want to overclock a laptop)
b) you are trying to reduce the amount of time your loud notebook fan runs for (and do coolers actually achieve this?)
c) you like the sound of more fans
d) you are trying to prolong the life of your computer (do coolers achieve this if the notebook is already running within an acceptable thermal range?)

 

Typically manufacturers underclock a GPU for heat purposes

By restoring it to the actual, actual stock clocks or even higher, you get better performance in games. But in doing so there is a need to balance the additional heat generated

FYI I OC my GPU and don't really have substantially more fan activity. I would say it is quite the same as before. Yes, I use a cooling pad

 

Good point. Lets say the computer doesn't have any vents or fans anywhere (unrealistic I know). Which would be more better for cooling the notebook?

 

you'd probably want that laptop to be some type of metal so that it could dissipate heat better and add more dissipating type coolers

theres no general answer for your question. the first answer given is your best answer because all laptop manufacturers have different positions for their fans and vents

im sure you'll have an easier time deciding which will work "better" when you specify a laptop

 

not every notebook out there has good cooling capabilities, some higher end ones run too hot for their own good so a notebook cooler becomes essential

 

I would say given identical air flow it wouldn't matter. You would want to pick based on noise, airflow, cooling pad size, something like that. When no air has to go through the laptop, air movement is air movement, direction doesn't matter much.

 

Thanks Caleb, sounds very logical.