Cooler Master Notepal U3

[Sathos]

Ok folks, it's here - I got me a Notepal U3 notebook cooler in Silver finish (more on that later).
Have patience folks, this is going to take a few posts to finish


TO begin then, the unboxing:

The item was shipped in a large Cooler Master branded cardboard box of solid twin-corrugated card with
an extra sheet in the bottom, this is a very strong box and it arrived with no signs of undue external stress.

Upon opening this I find the actual product box which is quite attractive and minimalist at first glance,
the box image shows the black version but there is a small corner window giving a peek at the item inside.
The front of the box is as it should be with a great product picture and minimal yet the most relevant info
for someone glancing through racks of similar items.

Removing this box and turning it around displays all the extra technical info and marketing that we have come
to expect on pretty much all computer products but it is still laid out in a clean and attractive manner and
includes the very simple instructions on how to use the device.

Opening this then reveals the actual Notepal U3 with a sheet of protective foam covering the top bar the corner
under the box window, the notepal itself is resting on mixed packing of card and closed-cell foam which is more than
adequate packing for a device like this.

Next part: Inside the box!

 

[Sathos]

Part 2: Out of the box and first impressions.

Ok, lifting this item out of the box I couldn't help but be struck by how well presented it is -
what I had in my hand was a lovely curved piece of brushed aluminium with grey silicon accents...

Underneath this and the last bits of packing material were the extra parts to the cooler, the fans with
controller and the elastic strap for storage.

Apologies for the pic-heavy nature of this review but this item really does need to be done justice, it
is all well thought out with fairly subtle branding on it and a fantastic design aesthetic, as you can
see it has 3 fans that are mounted anywhere on the underside of the stand, these are connected to
a dial-type speed controller that clips to any side of the stand and this is then powered by a USB port.
The USB is a passthrough which I think is a brilliant design feature, a little detail but it means you don't
lose one of the very few USB ports most laptops have. Also of note is that the fan controller is a variable
resistor type so it can be practically infinitely adjusted rather than on/off or 3-4 settings.

 

[Sathos]

Part 3: Build

Putting it all together is extremely simple, I didn't need the instructions on the box,
the fans clip on with a simple push-button with the idea being that you place them
near intakes and hot areas of your laptop to cool it, then clip the controller wherever
is easiest for you to make use of it and plug the USB into your laptop. Hardly rocket
science but something like this should be simple and with the endless adjustment available
it can quickly be tailored to someone else's laptop or a new one etc.

I then fitted the CM branded strap across the middle of the device so that it covers the wires
on the back and doesn't get lost.

 

[Sathos]

Part 4: storing a laptop and review.

Ok, simply put here is a pic of my laptop being stored in the device

The wraparound silicon grip on the top makes for a great carrying handle and overall
I am very impressed with this device, I wasn't expecting much from such a thing as
I have always been skeptical of such devices but I am seeing a 6 degree drop in idle
temps on my laptop and that is not to be sniffed at, it does also make great storage
for the laptop.

With all that in mind here is the review:

Construction: The Notepal U3 excels in build quality, the brushed aluminium unibody is
strong and light, the fans and controller add little weight and are well designed and
functional whilst being practically silent, I couldn't hear them over my quiet laptop and
that is pretty big stuff for 80mm fans and they shift plenty of air too!
The soft silicon rubber on the device is well fitted and well suited to the job.
The only things I can really knock marks off for is the securing strap for the laptop, the
elastic means that the laptop can flop around a bit and feel unsecure, a velcro strap would
have been much better, the other thing is that the controller clip only has rubber on one side
of the inside of the clip so it can still slip around a bit on the smooth metal.


Features: As far as notebook coolers go this one is rolling in features amongst it's price range,
the moveable fans and controller, passthrough USB power, aluminium body, carrying strap and
the ability to provide more protection for your laptop all go in it's favour, at it's reasonable price point
I cannot think of anything it could be missing.

Value for money: For all the reasons stated above, the aesthetics, the build quality and all of the
features this is another easy top score for the U3 with an online price between £20 and £30
delivered I think it is a great device for the money.

Conclusion: I went into this one expecting not a lot it has to be said, I have never given much credit to
notebook coolers but this one has turned my opinions around and it is a welcome addition to my laptop experience.
This is simply a very well designed and implemented yet simple in itself item that is worthy of
anyone's attention and with that in mind it earns my

and

awards it's not the cheapest
device of it's type but it is well made, pleasing to the eye and quite rugged.

Finally here is the featurelist and tech specs from Cooler Master's own website:

Features
- Patent-pending adjustable fan with speed control function, powered by one USB.
- Quick release fan, easily lock on, replace and remove.
- Unique fan speed control clip for quick setup and replacement.
- Aluminum mesh design for excellent heat dissipation.
- Slim and light weight for great portability.
- Ergonomic angle for comfortable viewing.
- Accommodates up to 19" laptops.

Specifications
Available Color Black, Silver
Material Aluminum, rubber
Dimension (W / H / D) 420 x 320 x 65 mm
Weight 1.04 kg
Operation degree 10 degree (fix)
Power 5V DC
USB Port USB 2.0/1.1 x1 (for power in)
Compatibility Supports all 15"~17" notebook (up to 19")
Fan Dimension (W / H / D) 80 x 80 x 10 mm (3 fans)
Fan Speed 950~1,800 RPM (with speed control)
Fan Noise Level (dB-A) 18 dBA (Min.)
Fan Life Expectancy 40,000 hours

 

[alienware]

Thanks for the review. I've been looking at getting my fiancee a better laptop cooler as her old one broke.

 

[Sathos]

It's not the cheapest but I'm still using it both as a laptop cooler and as a sketchpad stand

 

[Kirik]

I have used the black version of this for quite a while now and found that, in combination with a thorough cleaning and TIM replacement, my laptop is able to stay under 70C under heavy loads. Before it just hits higher than 95C and shuts down under the same loads.