Introduction:

NZXT Cryo S Notebook Cooler

   Many of you may remember last year when we reviewed the NZXT Cryo LX Notebook Cooler and I proclaimed it an Editors Choice. Well that notebook cooler was best suited for notebooks in the 17" range. Today I have for you the newest notebook cooler in the Cryo series of notebook coolers; the Cryo S. This notebook cooler is best suited for the 10" - 15" range of notebooks. Otherwise the design and construction are almost identical sans a smaller scale. Let's take a look at the features.

Features:

• Built with 3mm thick aluminum with sturdy construction

• Cools your notebook with two controllable 120mm fans

• Two USB ports for your input and usb thumb drives

• None slip rubberized plastic surface keeps notebooks from sliding

• Tilted surface allows for comfortable and relaxed typing

• Support for all types of notebooks from netbooks to 15" notebooks

• Ideal for eliminating and reducing heat in performance notebooks

Packaging:

Retail Front	Retail Rear	Opened Up
Inside the Box		Included Cables

   The packaging is simple and adequate with the right amount of protection and cabling.

   The quality of construction of the NZXT Cryo series is the best I've seen in a notebook cooler. The thick aluminum build is strong and light. Dual 120mm fans are easily swapped out for your favorite fan because NZXT has allowed easy access to the fan connections resting right between the fans underneath. There are steel grills covering the fan blades in an attempt to keep fingers and wires out.

One really nice feature that I found while using this product is the spongy rubber strips that run underneath both left and right side edges, right where you'd grab this unit to adjust it/move it. They are a welcome addition and add a sure grip while moving this with a laptop on top. Honestly the comfortable feel of this unit with a laptop on it is great. Moving it feels natural and secure. The rubber feet on the bottom hold the entire unit in place very well.

   A 15" Dell Inspiron laptop fit the NZXT Cryo S like a glove. But of course, you can use a smaller laptop with ease on this unit as well.

The dual 120mm fans are excellent in pushing cool air into your laptop slots and cooling the super hot hardware inside. Of course you could easily flip the fans from blowing to sucking if you so preferred. I'm happy with the stock configuration though. As long as I know there is cool air getting inside the laptop, I'm fine. Also there is a small dial on the back of the Cryo S that allows you to control the speed of the fans from slow to fast, or quiet to modest hum. It's not a noisemaker by any means.

Connecting and powering the Cryo S is effortless. Just attach the USB cable(s) and you're good to go. No wall plug needed, but it is included should you be just placing this on your desktop and not moving it often. Honestly, that is the situation that is perfect for this unit. It's not the most portable, or lightest, or thinnest, but in my opinion, it's the best overall. I would slap this unit on my desktop where I use the laptop all the time and just leave it there.

Conclusion:

   The superb build quality of the NZXT Cryo S really makes it stand out in the crowded notebook cooler arena. NZXT has designed all the right touches in this thing to make it cool great, do it quietly enough, and be user friendly with things such as the rubber grip strips on the outer edges. Add the USB hub and fan speed controller and you've got a winning package. Again, this isn't the type of notebook cooler that I would throw in a laptop bag and drag everywhere with me. However this is the unit I would run if I had a desktop set up with a high performance 15" or smaller Gaming laptop. The NZXT Cryo S can be had at Newegg for $47 and is one of the best notebook coolers on the market today.

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