Molly Fitzgerald

I'd suggest you forget any of the passive coolers, for all the reasons that have already been outlined by others here. Since Katrina showed me just how difficult it is to evacuate a city with a full tower desktop rig, I've been stuck using laptops myself. There's a lot of reasons why it's simply better to use a proper desktop computer for GPU cookers like SL, but they've also been mentioned here already. I use a Targus cooler that has an AC adaptor. It works marginally well, and I'd love to find a better one (especially since I started using a 17" gaming lappy), but that USB power source that most of them use is a deal breaker for me. The Targus was the only one I could find that just plugs into a regular power outlet. I'm sure those who are more technically informed than I am can dispute this, but the impression I've been given by a number of sources in the hardware end of the industry is that using a USB port to supply current to a mechanical device (ie, the fans) isn't such a hot idea. As in, it can hurt your computer. Maybe this isn't true, but I prefer to not risk my expensive machine over a thirty dollar widget. My two cents. Now get yourself another $1.48, and you still won't be able to afford a decent cup of coffee. Oh, an addendum: I also use a cheap little fan that clamps onto the edge of my desk. I aim the little sucker at the underside of my laptop. Honestly, I sometimes wonder if that doesn't work just as well.