The Basics (continued):
The next two images are provided for a size reference. The below left image shows the two Hiyatek coolers in their fully expanded states. The silver one fit the Dell Inspiron perfectly, and you can see the black one is a good 2+ inches deeper. They are actually the same width, but have been offset in this image to have both be visible. The below right image shows a true comparison of the width of the two Hiyatek coolers as compared to the Cooler Master NotePal P1. The width on the Hiyatek coolers is just right for my use, while the Cooler Master unit is a bit wider. Width shouldn't be a problem no matter what computer is used with these, but I am concerned about the depth on the new cooler from Hiyatek.
In the review of the first Hiyatek cooler I mentioned wanting the connections on the side of the device, and I got my wish on the new cooler (although we will see later in the review that it may not be such a great implementation). From left to right you have the three port USB 2.0 hub, the mini USB host connection, an optional 5V power connection, a simple on/off switch, and a (blue) LED for power indication.
Installation and Operation:
As mentioned previously, the installation for this review was conducted on a Dell Inspiron notebook computer. The basic specifications for the unit include a 15" display, 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 Mobile processor, 2x 512MB DDR memory, 120GB hard drive, DVD/CDRW combo drive, and Windows XP Home edition. Physically it is not the largest notebook out there, but it seems about average, and I have seen many units that have a much smaller footprint. This information is key when considering just how large the CF-6159-1 cooler really is.
I placed the computer on the cooler and it was nowhere close to reaching any of the rubber feet intended to support it. So, I placed the back of the cooler on the rear feet and slid the unit closed (moving the front piece from front to back) until it was properly seated. I then noticed two problems, the power switch and power LED were now completely obscured by the piece that slid in front of it, and lifting the computer revealed that the fan holes were partially blocked. No good. So, I then had to adjust the closure of the front sliding piece and the rear sliding piece in order to come to a balance to keep side connections from being blocked as well as to keep the fans from being blocked.
The image above shows the final result, with it setup as good as it was going to get. As you may be able to see, it is still not ideal... The front of the laptop is barely on the rubber support, the power LED is completely blocked, the power switch is partially blocked, and the last USB port is about as close to being blocked as you could get. I wasted a good deal of time fine tuning the setup to get it to work, and because the slide out pieces are free to move with no catches or resistance to hold them in place, I will have to go through the same exercise each time I setup. Having the slide pieces click into position at various stages along their path would make things better, as setup would be quicker, but it wouldn't help with the issue of the blocked connectors on the side. I now have a greater appreciation for the front mounted connectors on the other Hiyatek cooler.
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