Peripherally Speaking: NZXT Cryo LX notebook cooler

4:00 PM on 07.06.2009   |   Jim Sterling

23 comments

I have a laptop. It is, in fact, my only computer since leaving the United Kingdom for the United States. I use it for all my work, as well as any gaming that I happen to do. It doesn't have the power to run Crysis, but it's good for a round of Plants vs. Zombies and possibly games that were possibly downloaded for possible emulation in a possibly hypothetical but possibly real scenario.

This basically means my laptop is on 24/7, and it turns into a hot little bugger. What a stroke of luck, then, that this almighty beast arrived on my doorstep for inclusion in our Peripherally Speaking hardware reviews. It's vaguely related to games, and I actually really like it, which is why I'm glad to do a quick write-up on the thing.

Join me as I talk about the NZXT Cryo LX notebook cooler. 

Cryo LX notebook cooler
Company: NZXT
MSRP: $79.99

The Cryo LX is, essentially, a massive metal ramp full of fans. It's quite a large beast, so it's not something you can really take on the road. However, it's well suited to my laptop's size and the front part of the device can be folded in on itself for easy storage.

As someone who uses his laptop like a desktop, the extra elevation granted by the Cryo LX has actually been a great help, as it's raised the entire computer to a more comfortable position on my desk. From a simple convenience standpoint, writing and playing computer games is much more enjoyable, with the screen now at a for more visible level and the keyboard positioned perfectly for desk use. 

Of course, that's nothing that I couldn't achieve with a saw and a bit of wood, so let's get down to the actual technological nonsense. The cooler's power comes primarily from the laptop via a USB cable, and another cable has to be plugged into the DC port, either running from a plug socket or once again from the laptop. Be warned that using the laptop to entirely power the cooler will suck a lot of energy and some lappies may not be able to handle it. 

The fans can be easily controlled by a sliding wheel on the side of the unit, and even on the most powerful setting, the fan noise is not too bad at all. It's certainly nowhere near the cacophony that some Xbox 360s radiate. 

In addition, the cooler has four extra USB ports at the back, which is certainly a great help to those of us who use their portable computers for a wide range of things. At any given time I'll be using my headset, any number of mice, or my condenser microphone for video reviews. Having access to more than the laptop's three ports is a nice added bonus. 

As for the machine's main selling point, does it keep my computer cool? Yes, yes it does. The underside is now colder than Billy Mays, and it really helps to keep the laptop running smoothly. Whereas before, I could fry an egg on the underside of my laptop, things are kept nice and breezy and the computer is more able to handle the billion things I'm putting it through a day. 

In short? I like the bloody thing, and I don't really care that its connection to videogames is tenuous at best. Considering other game blogs have been making rather loose connections between games and certain dead individuals for pageviews, I believe I can get away with talking about something at least slightly more relevant to computer gamers. 

Also, you can put paper on top of it and it flies a little bit. That is quite scary!