Page 3 - Testing and Conclusion
The Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim was tested on my Lenovo ThinkPad T410 Laptop, with the following specifications:
- Intel Core i7-620M @ 2.66GHz
- 4GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 1066 MHz (7-7-7-20)
- ThinkPad Display 14.1 inch @ 1440x900
- NVIDIA Quadro NVS 3100M
- Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64
The test was conducted with Prime95's in-place large FFTs test, with four worker threads running. First the test is done on a wooden desk, and them the laptop is placed on the Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim. Since there are no speed settings for the X-Slim, it was run at full speed the entire time. I chose CPU results, because it was the easiest to measure, and best reflects the practical cooling ability of a notebook cooling pad.
The above graph shows temperature against time at one minute intervals during the Prime95 test. The first noticeable difference between the wooden surface and the NotePal X-Slim is how the CPU temperature rose at a slower rate, and didn't peak as high. By the 10 minute mark, both were almost the same temperature. You can also observe that at time zero, when the laptop was idle, you can clearly see the X-Slim did drop the CPU temperature a bit. Of course, the Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim cools mainly the bottom of the laptop, and not just the processor, so please do keep that in mind as you interpret our graph -- just because there is little difference in the recorded CPU temperature value above, this does not mean the X-Slim is not doing its job.
Now it is time to judge the sound level of the Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim. Using the standard subjective APH scale from 0.0 to 10.0, where 0.0 is silent and 10.0 is the loudest, when the cooler was turned on, it would come in at approximately 5.0 in my personal opinion. The fan is significantly louder than my laptop, which really makes me wonder why they decided called it silent. I get a bit irritated when a company advertises something as being 'silent', when in reality, it is only silent to those who do not have the gift of hearing.
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While one can challenge whether or not the Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim is really as slim as it advertises, there are really a few things it is slim on. I will give it credit for a few innovative design aspects with the USB connector and cooler stands, but it is slim with regards to the fact that you have to detach and reattach your device when you decide to power down the cooler. It's not like an on/off switch is not very expensive, and a variable fan speed knob isn't a bad idea, too. The gains found from using this cooler is challenged by the amount of noise that comes with it, and this made me question whether it is really worth the annoyance. Shaving only a few degrees off of the CPU temperature at the cost of doubling the thickness of my laptop, and listening to the whirring of the fan just don’t feel worthwhile at all times. But one factor that you must consider, is that the X-Slim cools the entire bottom of your laptop, and not just the CPU alone. Generally speaking, if you want to keep your entire system running at a lower temperature, this is what it is for. I also appreciate its mesh design, which allows tons of ventilation to occur from underneath your laptop. On the other hand, the durability of the metal mesh top side may last from general wear and tear, but dropping something of reasonable weight on it by accident will bend the metal. All in all, the X-Slim feels lightweight, and really emphasizes this feature using plastic and metal mesh. It is significantly lighter than my laptop, so if noise is not an issue, the extra weight to carry it would not be a problem. For $19.99 USD at press time, the Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim is definitely not going to put a large dent in your wallet, but is the noise worth the price? Well, I leave that one for you to decide.
Cooler Master provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Review Focus Summary:
6/10 means A product with its advantages, but drawbacks should not be ignored before purchasing.
-- Final APH Numeric Rating is 6.0/10
Please note that the APH Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other sites.
The Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim is a lightweight and low cost cooling solution for your portable computing needs. We'd appreciate it more if it was quieter, and if it came with an on/off switch at the very least.
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Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look, Usage
3. Testing and Conclusion
