Conclusion:

To date we have only looked at three laptop coolers, but the Hiyatek CF-6159-1 Laptop Cooler with USB Hub provides the best thermal performance so far. While the sampling may be limited, the fact that it provided the lowest CPU and GPU temperatures, and the second best HDD temperatures isn't trivial.

The appearance of the cooler is simple, but that is a good thing. Available in either black or white, the CF-6159-1 will go well with most notebook computers. The inclusion of a 3 port USB 2.0 hub adds to the appeal and convenience of the cooler. Being constructed of plastic may make it seem cheaper than its aluminum big brother (the HY-CF-6157-01 Laptop Cooler with Card Reader and USB Hub), but it helps keep it lightweight. That and its compact size when contracted makes it an excellent choice for those who need their cooler to be portable.


The CF-6159-1 does have many strong points, but the bottom line isn't all positive. The main problem is that the cooler is just really big. It may work well for some of the large screen desktop replacement style notebooks, but for the typical notebook you may find yourself in the same boat I was in... Fidgeting with the size to keep the fans from being blocked, the side connections from being blocked, or to just keep the notebook computer up on the rubber mounts.

The other main issue is that although it wasn't the loudest cooler in the group, it wasn't silent as the features listed on the box claimed. The fan controller on the other Hiyatek cooler let you keep the noise to a minimum, and even at full speed the three fans on that unit were quieter than the two on this unit.

A search of PriceGrabber once again turns up nothing for any Hiyatek laptop coolers, and searching the Internet more extensively doesn't help much either. There are other Hiyatek models available from a variety of popular retailers with prices from $15-$20 (US). Considering the comparable features of the CF-6159-1, I would expect the price to be about the same... if you can find one.

Given the performance, portability, and anticipated affordability, I award the Hiyatek CF-6159-1 Laptop Cooler with USB Hub the rating of "Recommended". If the size and the related issues hadn't existed, the thermal performance could have easily carried it to a "Highly Recommended" rating.


Pros:

» Portable - lightweight and folds up to be very compact
» Effective cooling
» 3 port USB hub included
» Simple styling (in black or white) will go well with most laptops
» USB bus powered, cable included

Cons:

» Too large - USB ports, power switch, and fans may be blocked on some 'smaller' notebooks
» Not as nice or feature packed as the other Hiyatek notebook cooler
» Quiet, but definitely not silent
» No fan speed control

Special thanks to Hiyatek for providing the Hiyatek CF-6159-1 Laptop Cooler with USB Hub to Bigbruin.com for review!