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Showing posts with label 11 Inch Macbook Air Cooler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 11 Inch Macbook Air Cooler. Show all posts

Monday, January 2, 2012

11 Inch Macbook Air Cooler

Thermaltake Massive23 LX Laptop Notebook Cooler Oversized 230mm Blue LED Fan USB CLN0015
You know heat is very bad for electronics. You know your notebook is running hot. Now you will know how Thermaltake's latest Massive23 LX performance notebook cooler can help you to cool down your notebook that holds some of the most important files or memories of your life. Massive23 LX, with its massive and oversized 230mm ultra-quiet fan effectively push incredible amount of air while producing unnoticeable noise output. The embedded blue LEDs inside the fan as well as the fan itself can be easily turned On or Off with a built-in switch. Handles designed into the cooler allow users to effortlessly carry the notebook cooler with them wherever they go. Low power draw from the fan puts minimum strain on your notebook's battery power.
  • Oversized 230mm ultra-quiet fan with blue LEDs removes heat from the notebook easily and effectively.
  • Built-in fan On/Off switch and LED light On/Off switch.
  • Handles designed into the cooler allows the unit to be carried to any where you go.
  • Hidden storage space enables USB cable or other small accessories to be stored when not being used.
  • USB connector : Gold-plated

This review is from: 
I have a Dell Studio 1535 Laptop. I've never pushed my laptop hardware to the limits before and it will still get really hot over time but not slow down. So then why would I need a laptop cooler? Well, about 6 months ago I purchased StarCraft II.

My laptop's specs:
  • 4 GB 667MHz RAM
  • Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 2.1 GHz Dual Core CPU
  • ATI Radeon HD Mobility 3450 256MB GPU
  • 1440x900 resolution
  • 15.6" screen

When playing StarCraft II I needed to set everything onto low settings (shaders to low, all lighting to low, effects to low, physics off, textures to low, and run at 1280x800 resolution). Even with everything low, my laptop got blistering hot and the framerate would drop significantly to 20fps or lower in more taxing gameplay making the experience difficult to play. The heat was incredible as well. My hand rests left of the touchpad in order to hotkey and that location gets burning hot.

I realized I needed a cooler. I looked between the 3 different Thermaltake coolers at the time and decided on this one. I have my USB Hub connecting my printer, mouse, and other items plugged into one of the USB ports on the cooler, while the other USB plug goes to my laptop. This way when I connect the cooler to sit down, all my devices are connected as well which is great, it is basically a dock. The cooling is also incredible on how well it improved my system.

Now I can't give you any temperatures but I can tell you how drastically my experience improved. I went from running the lowest settings on StarCraft II with bad framerate drops and a blistering hot computer to being able to bump my effects to medium and physics to low (my gpu bottlenecks my computer so I still keep the graphic settings to low), my computer is cool to the touch on the underside and the spot where my hand rests is warm instead of blistering hot, and my framerate never drops below 30fps whenever I play (even during 3 vs 3) making my experience much more enjoyable and easier to manage.

I highly recommend this if you want to cool down your laptop and improve performance. Heat isn't good for the hardware and most laptops can't dissipate heat very well at all. This is the perfect size for 15.6" laptops or less (anything bigger will overhang the cooler), and the 2 USB ports allow you to connect your USB dock into the cooler making the cooler a hub (you will need the USB ports on your laptop to be on the left or back, if they are only on the right you will need a USB extension to connect the cooler). Lastly, you will not need to worry about the noise of the fan, although it is powerful and large, it is very quiet. Quieter than my laptop's internal fan.
Thermaltake Massive23 LX Laptop Notebook Cooler Oversized 230mm Blue LED Fan USB CLN0015

Update:
Now that I use certain programs like CPUID Hardware Monitor, I can give definitive numbers and shed light on an alternitive route. Withoug my cooler, playing StarCraft II. I could get my CPUs to upwards of 180*F while they would sit idle at about 120*F. My GPU would climb as high as 205*F under max stress and would sit idle at 160*F. These numbers are terrible in the computer world, especially for a laptop. By adding the cooler, my GPU would get no higher than 190*F, I cannot remember the CPU though.

However, I no longer need to use my cooler and can even run StarCraft II at my monitor's native resolution of 1440x900. The thing is, my computer is 3 years old. That means the thermal paste is 2.5 years older than it should be. I opened up my laptop, removed the heatsink/fan assembly and used ArctiClean to remove the old dried out thermal paste and disgusting thermal pads from the CPU/GPU/Northbridge/VRAM. I cleaned the heatsink and dusted the fan and computer the best I could with can of aerosol compressed air. I then applied Arctic Silver thermal paste (which I had left over from two other computers that magically worked when applying new thermal paste: My Xbox 360 and a 12 year old Windows 98 dekstop that used a Slot 1 CPU). Once that was taken care of I reattached the heatsink/fan and closed it up.

Be ready to be amazed... my max temperatures under max load now (when playing StarCraft II) are CPU 140*F and my GPU 170*F and this is without using the cooling pad. With the cooling pad, no difference so actually it doesn't help anymore. My computer runs cooler and no longer gets crazy hot on the wrist rests and the fan never runs max anymore unless playing a game. My idle temps are much much better too. CPU is 85*F and GPU is 127*F.

That is a huge difference. So, as a recomendation. Yes, this is a great Laptop Cooling Pad, but, if you're computer is old, even only 1 year old, and it is running hot and the fan is always blasting, it maybe cheaper and much more effective to replace the thermal paste on the chips. If you do not know how to do this, seek help from a friend with tech skills or go to youtube (which is actually very helpful). 
Amazon Verified Purchase
By 
Christian A Sutter (Antioch, IL)

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Samsung Galaxy Tab (10.1-Inch, 32GB, Wi-Fi)

Although I bought this for my wife as a birthday present during pre-release sales in NYC, I've since used it far more extensively than her so I've purchased a second Tab 10.1 from Amazon for myself. As a background, I also have a good amount of experience using a Motorola Xoom (none with the other Android tablets though) and an iPad 2. Anyway, here are my thoughts comparing the Tab 10.1 with the iPad 2. I won't do a comparison with the Motorola Xoom (which, as of writing this review, is the Tab 10.1's major Android competitor) as the two products are really similar. I'll leave the Xoom/Tab 10.1 decision to you. Here are my thoughts:
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1-InchSamsung Galaxy Tab 10.1-Inch

Operating System/Interface/Web Browsing - Slight edge to the Tab 10.1 running Android 3.1 (Honeycomb). This may just be more of a personal preference as I don't like products (like the iPad 2) which are locked down. I feel a company has no right to tell a consumer how he/she is allowed to use a product (as Apple does with theirs). Anyway, Android 3.1 OS is blazing fast and going along with the Android Open Source Project's philosophy, the OS and by rote, the Tab 10.1, is ultimately configurable. Out of the box, you can easily personalize an Android 3.1 tablet any way you want, and if you can't, there is free software out there to let you do it -- there is no hacking/jailbreaking required. The Tab 10.1's interface is also a lot cleaner than the iPad 2's which can get downright cluttered the more apps you have installed. I'll also note that there doesn't seem to be a discernible difference in the actual speed/performance (loading pages, etc) of the two products. So, we're pretty even so far, but Tab 10.1 clearly gets the edge for one thing -- Flash. Enough said.

Battery life - Strong edge to iPad 2. Both the Tab 10.1 and the iPad 2 are rated for 10 hours. Keeping the screen at about 75% max brightness, I seem to get between about 7 to 8 hours on the Tab 10.1 and 9 to 10 hours on an iPad 2. This may be a result of the screen brightness as I've noticed the Tab 10.1 has a slightly brighter screen at 100% than the iPad 2. Regardless, the iPad 2 has better battery life.

Resolution/Screen - Strong edge to the Tab 10.1's 1280×800 screen vs the iPad 2's 1024x768 one. If you think this is negligible, you are very wrong. This means the Galaxy Tab 10.1 screen has a 30% greater resolution than the iPad 2. You'll notice this difference in every thing you do -- not just when watching movies and photos. The increased resolution causes much less eye strain especially when reading webpages. Additionally, the Tab 10.1's widescreen aspect ratio seems to work a lot better for watching anything in HD. It's a shame the iPad 2 uses the dying 4:3 aspect ratio as there is a lot of wasted real estate on the screen in the form of black bars when watching anything in widescreen. With the Tab 10.1, the screen is entirely filled with video.

Cameras - Strong edge to the Tab 10.1. The Tab 10.1 blows the iPad 2 out of the water here and it's not even close. The Tab has a front-facing 2.0 megapixel (vs iPad 2's 0.3 megapixel) camera and rear-facing 3.0 megapixel (vs iPad 2's 0.7 megapixel) camera. Sure, you're never going to replace your P&S/SLR/video camera with a tablet, but it is nice to have a camera on there that can take a decent picture/video when you're in a pinch.

Portability - Even. The Tab 10.1 is a negligible 0.03 lbs lighter and 0.2mm thinner than the iPad 2.

Cachet - Strong edge to the iPad 2. Apple has a monopoly on this, it seems. Apple is just the trendier product. Odds are nobody will look at a Galaxy Tab 10.1 and think "Wow, that looks really nice. I need to get me one of those." I'm not saying the Tab 10.1 is ugly, but the brushed metal finish on the iPad does feel and look a bit nicer.

Price - Even. I'm really surprised Samsung didn't undercut the iPad 2 prices, even by $50.

Is this the iPad 2 killer as has been reported here and there in the media? Honestly, no, but that's more because most Apple consumers purchasing iPad 2s are brand loyal -- not necessarily looking to buy the best product. I really wish I could rate the Tab 10.1 with 4.5 stars. For reference, if I were to write a review of an iPad 2, I would give it a 4 stars. Giving the Tab 10.1 5 stars seems a bit too generous as I feel the lack of an SD slot and slight plasticky feel are noticeable drawbacks, as is the price (which isn't lower than an iPad 2 with the same amount of memory). And giving the Tab 10.1 4 stars seems a disservice as I feel that it is ultimately an outstanding tablet and, in my opinion, definitely has an edge over the iPad 2
.  
Amazon Verified PurchaseBy M. Patel 
This review is from: 

Discover the next generation of portable entertainment with the thin, light, and powerful Samsung WiFi Galaxy Tab 10.1-Inch. Showcasing a 10.1-inch widescreen HD display and a dual-core processor for stunning detail and speed, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 delivers sharper movies, better game graphics, and crystal-clear video chats. Surf the web in its full glory with Adobe Flash compatibility and WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. The Android 3.1 Honeycomb OS provides open access to over 200,000 Android Market apps, giving you the freedom to customize your Tab however you please. At 1.25 pounds, this sleek, 0.34-inch-thick tablet is designed for premium mobile computing around the house and on the go

Dual-Core Processor Provides Speed and Power
A dual-core Tegra 2 processor and 1 GB of RAM deliver lightning-fast speed whether you're surfing the web, watching HD video, or playing the latest games. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also features Adobe Flash compatibility, allowing you to experience unrestricted browsing on millions of web pages. And with up to 10 hours of battery life, the Galaxy offers endurance as well as power.

The Galaxy supports WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth v2.1 connections. A 30-pin IF connector and USB 2.0 compatibility offer easy file transfer and charging.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1-Inch (16 GB) Product Shot 
 Slim, lightweight body is designed for easy grip and portability. View larger.

This version of the Galaxy Tab offers 16 GB of onboard memory. For additional memory storage, Samsung also offers the 32 GB Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Light, Sleek Body with HD Display
Enjoy your media in beautiful clarity thanks to the Galaxy's 10.1-inch widescreen display with 1280-by-800-pixel high-definition resolution.
At 1.25 pounds, the Galaxy Tab is remarkably light. Measuring 10.1 by 6.9 by 0.34 inches (H x W x D), this easy-to-grip tablet is designed to fit comfortably in your hand and travel with ease.

Access to Android Market for Full Customization
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 features the Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system, which offers exceptional speed and power for immersive web browsing and multitasking. With open access to Android Market--the fastest growing app market--over 200,000 apps are only a touch away, giving you the freedom to customize your tablet for all of your web and entertainment needs.

Intuitive Android OS Designed for Multitasking
Since Android 3.1 is designed specifically for tablets, computing is visual, fluid, and intuitive, making multitasking a breeze. The Quick App Tray can float above other applications, keeping important tasks at your fingertips, while multiscreen scrolling allows you to view up to five screens at the same time. The system's enhanced browser includes tabbed pages, form auto-fill, bookmark syncing with Google Chrome, and private browsing.

Integrated Google Services
Android 3.1 also features key Google services that you can easily access through convenient apps on your home screen. Use Google Maps with the Galaxy Tab's built-in GPS to point out your current location, search for businesses and addresses, and get directions. View your Gmail inbox and conversations side by side, and drop Gmail widgets on your home screen to stay on top of all your accounts. The mobile YouTube app provides a simple way to search, browse, and watch videos on your mobile device, while Google Talk lets you swap between multiple chats at a time, search your chat history, and see previews of videos and images within conversations or video chat.

Back- and Front-Facing Cameras
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is equipped with a 3-megapixel camera for snapping crisp pictures and capturing 720p video. It also features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for Google Talk video chat. You can share Tab content on your HDTV through the Tablet Extender feature, or stream it wirelessly with Allshare.

Compatible with Popular Media Formats
Designed to handle all of your portable entertainment needs, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is compatible with major audio, video, and image file formats, letting you enjoy all of your media whenever and wherever you please. Stay entertained with Samsung's music and media hubs, where it's easy to purchase a wide range of content, including music, books, and magazines.

Security Suite Ideal for Business Use
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is compatible with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files, making it ideal for handling your business needs as well as your entertainment. An enterprise-friendly tablet, the Galaxy Tab includes a suite of security solutions. Relationships with SAP, Exchange ActiveSync, Cisco AnyConnect, Sybase, and Cisco WebEx make it possible to operate efficiently, confidently, and securely.
The Samsung WiFi Galaxy Tab 10.1-Inch is backed by a limited one-year warranty.

 
  • 10.1-inch HD widescreen display offers high resolution
  • 1.25 pounds and 0.34 inches thick for maximum portability
  • Adobe Flash compatible for unrestricted web browsing
  • Android 3.1 OS with open access to over 200,000 apps for full customization
  • Dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM provide power and speed
  • 3-megapixel camera and camcorder; front-facing video chat camera
  • Compatible with a wide spectrum of Google services, media, and document files
  • Limited one-year warranty

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