Best Laptop Cooler for M11x?

I'm currently using: Amazon.com: Cooler Master Notepal U2 Notebook Cooler with Two Fans R9-NBC-8PBK-GP: Electronics and it's working great so far with a cool look to it and fits perfectly. Not only that you can change the fans position, I place both of mine on the left b/c that's where it gets hot! What do you use?

 

I had something similar for my last laptop, the infamous HP dv9000 series crap.
both the fans went out after 2 years.
so...i had to improvise... using this
Amazon.com: Portable Electric Mini Desk Fan: Kitchen & Dining ... for now

 

Does your Alienware M11x get hot enough to really need a cooler? I run mine without a cooler just fine.

The way I look at it... a laptop that needs a separate cooler is a poorly-designed laptop that I don't want to buy. The laptop designers should have just built the proper cooling into the laptop from the start (including the necessary over-engineering of the cooling system to compensate for years of age / dust buildup).

 

just to be cautious, I sometimes turn on the fan when i'm gaming.

but for the old HP, i had to keep the fan / cooler on all the time.

 

http://www.enermaxusa.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28_57&products_id=155

I've been using the fan above for 2 years. It's gone through an M17, Macbook Pro Unibody, Asus G73 and now a m11x and a soon to be M15x. It kept my temps really cool due to the aluminum design it dissipates heat very well. The large fan also helps blow cool air into the vents of any laptop. I highly recommend it and use it as a precaution so my m11x doesn't get as hot as it should.

 

i'm with you on this. even after 3 or 4 hours of continuous gaming, my M11x does not get hot. it barely gets warm. i'm impressed. i do feel warm air being pushed out, but the laptop itself does not get hot.

my friend's gaming laptop used to automatically shut down after an hour of oblivion because it got THAT HOT (this was back in ~2007).

 

Feel the bottom of your M11x after 3-4 hours of gaming. I've noticed that it's all metal and my guess is that it acts as a huge heatsink and probably gets a bit warm after heavy gaming.

 

Makes sense, but I don't think it's really necessary with the Alienware M11x. The laptop intentionally uses low power-draw parts (ULV CPU, and a relatively weak GPU), so it won't generate the same amount of heat of a massive desktop-replacement gaming laptop running top-end CPU's and top-end GPU's.

Even after gaming for several hours (on a flat desk surface), my CPU temps don't really get above 45C, and my GPU temps don't really get above 60C. That is lower than the idle temps of some of the larger gaming latops with high-power-draw parts.

So, you don't really need a laptop cooler. But then again, it also wouldn't hurt anything by using one, so you're totally covered there if you decide to keep using it.

 

I only use my Targus Dual Fan Wedge cooling pad when I am at my desk. Dont really need it but I had it from when I had my HP DV7 and still use it. Plus it is comfortable when I type because the angle that the laptop sits.

 

Ha, im on the same boat. I used to use my cooling pad for my hp dv4 (worst laptop ever...cpu idled at ~60*c and overheated on load without the pad), but i ended give it to my sister because even when im gaming on the m11x it never gets more than warm.

 

I straight traded my dv7 for the R1. I am so glad I did. But as I am typing this my R1 is kinda warm and running at 48*c and the fan has not kicked it yet. It is sitting on my kitchen table and no cooling pad on it. Usually runs around 42* on a idle.

 

The M11x features a Li-on battery, and Li-on batteries are much more efficient when cold and also it longs its life. I cannot confirm this but I would imagine you can get more battery life using a cooling mat if it makes it significantly cool.

I use the Targus Chill Mat

On a side note there are a number of Nitrous Oxide devices that upon application it can dramatically reduce the temperature. Chefs use these devices to instantly freeze ice cream, or Doctor's to freeze a piece of skin, etc.. I was wondering if these would be useful for notebook, at least a small spurt on the bottom panel would make it ice cold.

 

I used to use a can of compressed air for cleaning computers, I turned it upside down and used it to spray parts of desktops that would overheat due to overclocking. But I wont try that on my r1.

 

when you overclock. Just to be sure.

 

Damn you guys are lucky, my GPu gets to 75 and my CPU gets to 81 when gaming for a while. I may have got a lemon or maybe it's because I live in Indonesia which is really humid. The laptop gets crazy hot without a cooler.

 

i have checked all over the laptop (not just the top/keyboard area) and it's still cool to lukewarm at best. i do have an R1 though (whereas you have an R2).

 

yeah this little machine gets really hot when overclocked.

 

the GPU in these is not weak my any means.. compared to my 9400gt this thing is blazing fast. but i can still play new games on the 9400, just not highest settings but who needs the highest settings anyway?

 

Very low temp cooling is great...... however the BIG issue with it is condensation.

There are ways to avoid that in a desktop system, but it would be much harder in a laptop and impossible in the situation your suggesting.

So I wouldn't advise it.

 

well my R2 does sometimes get warm and well its just anoying if im on atrain and want a little gaming fun... so i decided to get this little beauty..

CoolerMaster NotePal E1 Notebook Cooler | Alza.cz

not only does it significantly reduce the temps but it gives a little breeze down down below.
it fits nicely in my backpack, its amazingly light and quiet and best of all it looks cool when my R2 sits on it

 

It would be interesting to see where those with varying experience live. I have had no problems with my R1 getting hot, but I live on the Strait of San Juan de Fuca where summer days usually have highs around 65. I'll put it to the test in a few days when I fly to St. Louis which is stuck on highs of 100.