NZXT Cryo LX Notebook Cooler

 

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USB Header Observations

For testing I used, as noted earlier, a Compaq Presario V5015 Notebook. On the NZXT Cryo LX, I decided not to test the USB read and write speeds, but rather to just confirm that the USB and DC ports on the Cryo LX did indeed function properly.

 

 

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Cooling Results

For the cooling tests I used the same Compaq Presario V5015, which I carefully positioned on the NZXT Cryo LX for the best air flow from the Cryo to the Compaq’s air intake vents. To be honest folks, I did not expect much of an advantage in using the Cryo LX simply because I felt that the fans, even though they are 3 x 120mm, did not move air as well as they should and I had saw a review previously that posted some very disappointing temps. However, I have always been one of those ” I have to see for myself” types of individuals. So, with that said …. let’s just see how the NZXT Cryo LX faired with the Compaq, I might just be suprised. 

First I decided to test the NZXT Cryo LX’s cooling advantages at an idle. I let the Compaq notebook idle sitting flush on the table for roughly 45 mins after startup. When I came back to the notebook, Hardware Monitor had a reading of 55ºC on the CPU and 43ºC on the HDD, not exactly cool huh. lol I then placed the Compaq notebook on the NZXT Cryo LX and set the fans to approximately medium speed and left the room. Approximately 45mins to 1 hour at the most I returned to check the progress of the NZXT Cryo LX. …. HOLY SHEEP DIP BATMAN! The temps on the Compaq had dropped considerably. I went from 55ºC on the CPU to 45ºC on the CPU and from 43ºC on the HDD to 32ºC on the HDD. That’s a 10ºC drop in the CPU temp and an 11ºC drop in the HDD temp at idle cpu speed using the NZXT Cryo LX. … WOW!

I must say, I was very surprised by the results of the NZXT Cryo LX’s cooling advantages on the Compaq at idle cpu speeds. In fact I was now a tad excited and anticipating the results of the prime95 tests. Once, again I removed the Cryo LX and sat the Compaq flush on the table. I left the notebook turned off for most of the day (giving it a chance for the temps to normalize) while I did a few honey-dos for the wife and sonny-dos for my mom. Finally back to testing … This time however, I started up the prime95 torture tests. With 4 worker threads and a run time of 30mins my max temp reached 66ºC on the CPU and 44ºC on the HDD. Now, to see how well the Cryo LX will handle ongoing heat being thrown at it. I then sat the Compaq back atop the NZXT Cryo LX, positioning the fans and notebook air vents the same as before and turned on the fans. I started up the Prime95 torture tests with 4 worker threads and ran it for 30 minutes. Once again the NZXT Cryo LX had surprised me. While the temps had not dropped as much as they had done at idle they did drop considerably and very close to the same amounts. With the NZXT Cryo LX, I went from 66ºC on the CPU to 57ºC on the CPU and from 44ºC on the HDD to 36ºC on the HDD. That’s a 9ºC drop in the CPU temp and an 8ºC drop in the HDD temp at full load using the NZXT Cryo LX. Only a degree or two less of a drop than the idle temp drops, but still very respectable indeed. 

*** Three things to note here: 

1. Setting the fans speed to max may indeed lower the temp another degree or two, both at idle or full loads. 
2. Also, the vent size and placement on your notebook will definately affect the cooling abilities of any notebook cooler of this type. So, proper positioning of your notebook on the NZXT Cryo LX or any cooler for that matter is crucial for the best cooling results.
3. The fan sound levels are not exactly silent, but are not extremely loud either. That being said, low speed is barely audible but indeed noticeable, medium speed is definitely audible even over the notebook’s fan noise (almost like a low speed desktop fan) and high speed is “almost” at a sound level close to a common desktop. High, I would suggest only when gaming or heavy workloads. 

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One other thing I’d like to point out, when NZXT boasted on the front of the box about being the Worlds largest all aluminum notebook cooler, i think they were on the mark. lol This thing is huge, it weighs in at approximately 5 pounds and will fit p to a 19″ notebook. geesh!! In case you didn’t figure it out, let me tell you, this thing is not a “Laptop” cooler. … huh … say what? lol You see, while the NZXT Cryo LX will accommodate your laptop / notebook cooler of most any size, it is not really suitable to be held on your “lap”. LOL … No, I think that this is more of a desktop / tabletop type cooler for your laptop / notebook computer,or perhaps more of a docking station. With the hard metal edges and the 5 lbs of weight and the added addition of you notebooks weight, it will become very uncomfortable in your lap extremely quick. But it’s portable you say! … lol … yes it is portable, but imagine this; your already carrying your not so light laptop and papers, now you want to add 5 more pounds of weight to that? umm, not really. lol Maybe every once in a while to a relatives for an extended visit, but certainly not on a daily basis.