Razer's new cooling pad really does let you push your laptop to its limit, but wow, it's loud!

As someone who has been through numerous laptops in my lifetime, I must say that the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad is a game-changer. After years of dealing with overheating issues and eventual hardware failures, this cooling pad offers a long-term solution to protect my devices from heat damage.

I’ve used cheaper cooling pads in the past, but they were flimsy and didn’t last more than a few months. The Razer Laptop Cooling Pad, however, is built like a tank – sturdy, reliable, and able to withstand even my most demanding workloads.

Now, let me tell you about the downside: it’s loud, like a freight train passing through your living room every time the fan kicks in. But if you’re using headphones or earbuds while working or gaming, you won’t notice the difference! And hey, who doesn’t love the soothing sound of progress, right?

In my opinion, this cooling pad is a must-have for anyone who pushes their laptop to its limits. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer, video editor, or content creator, the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad will help your device perform better and last longer.

However, if you’re on the go most of the time or use your laptop for casual tasks only, you might want to save your money and opt for a more affordable cooling pad.

In the end, I highly recommend the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad – it’s like having a personal mechanic for your laptop! Just be sure to invest in some quality earplugs if you plan on using it in a quiet environment!

It’s quite probable that your laptop serves as a crucial instrument in your toolkit, especially if you’re a gamer, content creator, engineer, or any profession requiring top-notch functionality. In such cases, you likely run your laptop at full capacity.

Many products claim to boost laptop performance by managing heat output during heavy use, but their effectiveness varies. Now, a major player in PC gaming, Razer, has entered the market with the Laptop Cooling Pad. This cooling pad is not limited to Razer laptops as its modular design accommodates most 14-to-18-inch devices.

To test if the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad noticeably enhances cooling for the ASUS ProArt P16 (2024) I reviewed (similar to the Razer Blade 16), I put it to the test. The verdict? Absolutely, you’ll see lower temperatures and possibly better performance with the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad humming beneath your laptop. However, the improvements may not always be immediately noticeable, even though this cooling pad can be quite noisy.

Laptop Cooling Pad: Pricing and specifications

The Razer Laptop Cooling Pad retails for $149.99.
It should support most laptops, and doubles as a USB hub.

Razer’s Laptop Cooling Pad enters the cooling pad market with a typical ambition from Razer: to introduce a top-tier, stylish product that pushes boundaries. Unlike most cooling pads, often found in impulse buy sections due to their small prices and subpar designs, the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad stands out as an exception. It boasts a sleek design and is loaded with features, which explains its higher-than-average price for this product category.

As a tech enthusiast, if you’re looking to enhance your gaming experience by keeping your laptop running smoothly, consider the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad. You can find this powerhouse at Best Buy for $149.99. Now, I know that might seem like a hefty sum, but trust me when I say this cooling pad delivers on its promise. If you frequently push your laptop to its limits without realizing it, the investment could be worth it to ensure optimal performance.

Inside the container, you will discover:

1. A Razer Laptop Cooling Pad
2. Three adjustable frames, held together magnetically to cater to various laptop sizes and styles.
3. A 36W DC Charger

This product comes with Razer’s standard 2-year warranty for your peace of mind.

Laptop Cooling Pad: The good

This cooling pad is smartly designed and is easy to use.
It also succeeds in keeping your laptop cool, especially over time.

The Razer Laptop Cooling Pad has a larger build compared to typical cooling pads, yet it handles its size gracefully. Primarily made of matte black plastic, this cooling pad exudes elegance and subtlety, which are hallmarks of Razer products. It does feature RGB lighting, but the illumination is kept relatively subdued, with a single strip along the front being the extent of it.

This design is quite clever as well. The 36W DC charger can be inserted at the back, while the non-removable USB Type-A data cable can connect to your computer. As an added bonus, you’ll also have access to three additional USB Type-A 2.0 ports to compensate for one that might have been lost. On the right side, you’ll notice a power button, a control for changing the RGB lighting effects, and another for adjusting the fan performance settings.

The Laptop Cooling Pad swiftly accelerates, and it offers flexibility in adjustments through Razer Synapse 4, albeit with options primarily focusing on fan modes (you can select a specific RPM level, use the intelligent cooling mode, and toggle between two performance settings) as well as lighting customization.

The crucial factor is its performance, and indeed, the Laptop Cooling Pad does fulfill its purpose, albeit with some considerations. I tested the ProArt P16, a sleek and portable high-end laptop boasting an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, by running it through several gaming benchmarks such as Forza Horizon 5, Gears 5, and Cyberpunk 2077.

In my tests, I maintained consistent settings and executed each benchmark with and without the laptop cooling pad activated. Interestingly, only one game, Gears 5, demonstrated a slight framerate enhancement (from 82 FPS to 84 FPS). On the other hand, Forza Horizon 5 and Cyberpunk 2077 showed no such improvement. However, it’s important to note that the primary benefit of this cooling pad isn’t necessarily performance boosts. Instead, I observed lower average GPU temperatures during these benchmarks, even though the enhancement wasn’t immediately apparent. Over extended gaming sessions, the advantage of the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad becomes more evident.

I subjected the ASUS ProArt P16 to an extensive performance test using 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmark, running it 50 times in a row to evaluate sustained performance and heat management. The Razer Laptop Cooling Pad was not utilized during this testing, and the ProArt P16 maintained a framerate consistency of approximately 98.8%. The GPU’s power consumption didn’t exceed 104W, and its temperature peaked at 78 degrees Celsius. The CPU’s maximum utilization reached 53% during this test.

Using the Cooling Pad in its intelligent cooling setting, and consistently repeating the same performance test, the ProArt P16 displayed a 99.3% consistent framerate, improving overall performance. The GPU received an increased power supply (up to 107W), ran cooler (peaking at 70 degrees Celsius), and reduced strain on the CPU (never exceeding 44% usage). Without the Cooling Pad, the ProArt P16 became uncomfortably hot above the keyboard; however, this issue was resolved when the Cooling Pad was activated.

Laptop Cooling Pad: The bad

The fan can be incredibly loud, to the point of drowning out speakers.
You also have to pay a hefty sum for what may seem like small gains.

This item is quite noisy. It uses foam to create a vacuum seal at the bottom of your laptop and comes with three magnetic frames that can adjust to fit laptops of various types and sizes. However, you’ll still notice the distinctive whirring sound whenever the fan increases its speed. Compared to the built-in fans in the ASUS ProArt P16, it is significantly louder, which is expected given its larger 140mm diameter.

Utilizing headphones or a headset along with your Razer Laptop might not significantly alter the situation, but the volume of air the cooling pad’s fan pushes towards your laptop can easily overpower most built-in laptop speakers.

Essentially, you end up spending $150 for the Razer cooling pad, while most well-known laptop cooling pads cost $70 or less. Although it’s true that the Razer model is more advanced, offers superior features, and boasts a premium quality, this extra expense might not be justifiable for slightly enhanced performance and temperature reduction. Moreover, the single fan on the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad can outperform multiple fans in terms of noise, which could be seen as an attractive trade-off but also a point to consider.

Laptop Cooling Pad: Final thoughts

You should buy this if …

✅You want to protect the long-term health of your laptop

One significant threat to any device’s longevity is heat buildup over extended periods, as heavy workloads can cause components and cooling systems to deteriorate more quickly. To ensure the lasting wellbeing of your laptop, a Razer Laptop Cooling Pad might be an ideal choice for you.

✅You’re constantly pushing your laptop to its limits

Regardless of whether you’re a gamer, content creator, or any other professional, a Laptop Cooling Pad could significantly extend your laptop’s runtime and improve its smoothness, allowing it to fully utilize its hardware capabilities. Enhanced cooling can lead to improved performance, particularly during lengthy, demanding periods.

You should not buy this if …

❌You’re usually on the go or use your laptop for more casual work

If you typically don’t work with your laptop on a desk and it’s mostly used for casual activities instead of demanding tasks such as gaming or video editing, then spending money on a Laptop Cooling Pad might not be necessary.

The Razer Laptop Cooling Pad isn’t a trick to achieve extraordinary performance boosts or significant frame rate improvements in your preferred games. Instead, it’s designed to reduce heat and allow your laptop to perform optimally for extended periods, preventing potential throttling due to high temperatures.

This accessory is ideal for individuals who frequently push their laptop’s limits or work with their laptop connected at a desk. It serves as a basic USB hub, a high-quality laptop stand, and a comprehensive care package for your laptop, rolled into one. However, it should be noted that the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad is quite loud, approaching the absurd, and its price exceeds most cooling pads available on the market, which may deter some potential buyers despite its superiority.

If the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad matches your requirements, you can purchase it immediately for only $149.99 at Best Buy. Although it’s designed primarily for Razer Blades, it performs exceptionally well with the ASUS ProArt P16 and should adjust equally as well to most other laptops.

2024-12-29 17:09

Razer’s new cooling pad really does let you push your laptop to its limit, but wow, it’s loud!