Cooler Master just recently added another cooler/stand to their cooling lineup. The new multifunction item is the NotePal ErgoStand II. It is not only a cooler, it is also a stand to hold the laptop firmly and in an angle that addresses ergonomics. The NotePal ErgoStand II allows the user to adjust the height of the laptop stand for a more comfortable position and posture. It also helps in cooling the laptop with the 140mm fan mounted in it. Including a four-port USB hub and a removable mesh panel adds usability and functionality.

Cooler Master NotePal ErgoStand II Review

Introduction

With the current generation’s demand for better technologies and greater innovations, we all know the production or purchase of laptops isn’t going to decrease anytime soon. From the sounds of it, laptops are outselling pre-made desktops. So, it is only natural for companies to cater these types of users. Manufacturers like Cooler Master answer that need with various products. It you head over to their website, you will see they have a multitude of products geared just for laptop users.

Cooler Master just recently added another cooler/stand to their cooling lineup. The new multifunction item is the NotePal ErgoStand II. It is not only a cooler, it is also a stand to hold the laptop firmly and in an angle that addresses ergonomics. The NotePal ErgoStand II allows the user to adjust the height of the laptop stand for a more comfortable position and posture. It also helps in cooling the laptop with the 140mm fan mounted in it. Including a four-port USB hub and a removable mesh panel adds usability and functionality.

Cooler Master’s take on the ErgoStand II

ErgoStand II focuses on being a fully-featured ergonomic hub for laptops. It is a high quality ergonomic stand that helps reduce hand and wrist fatigue while using laptops for extended periods of time. It features five different height settings for optimal viewing and typing angles, a four port USB 2.0 hub, removable and easy to clean mesh panel, and a blue LED strip to provide a soothing ambiance.

Specifications

Features

• 5 ergonomic height settings for comfortable viewing angle
  Non-slip feet keeps your laptop in place
• 4 USB outputs
• Fan on/off + Speed Controller
  On/Off LED Indicator Strip
• Optimal cooling performance
  Removable mesh allows easy access to fan for cleaning

Closer look

When removing the NotePal ErgoStand II from the box for the first time, we see that it is fairly light when it comes to weight but sturdy at the same time. We have no problems recommending it for individuals with slightly more expensive laptops like the ones a gamer would buy. As a whole, the unit weighs just 2.76 pounds making the added weight minimal which is important when you have to carry it around.

Plastic makes up a large portion of the unit along with a metal mesh top surface. The cooler/stand is designed to support laptops as large as a 17-inch display laptop.

Looking at the top surface, we see this is where the metal mesh is located. The mesh allows the air from the 140mm fan that you can see mounted underneath to blow air through it and cool the laptop effectively.

Unlike the original ErgoStand, the new revision only uses two non-slip feet to keep the laptop sitting on top. The feet can extend down or out to secure the laptop no matter the viewing angle is.

If for some reason you want to perform any type of cleaning or maintenance to the NotePal ErgoStand II, the top mesh panel is removable.

Turning the NotePal ErgoStand II to the side, we can have a look at where all the adjusting will come from. When flat, the ErgoStand II will only add another 1.7 inches or so of height under the laptop. If you want to raise the laptop to the maximum height, the back of the cooler can be raised at 7.8 inches. The maximum angle is best when the laptop is used with a separate keyboard or when viewing a movie or presentation on the laptop as it elevates the screen to a more comfortable height.

Checking out the back of the NotePal ErgoStand II, we have the four-port USB 2.0 hub. Without using an optional AC/DC adapter, you will not be able to plug any high current drawing devices into the ErgoStand II but it is plenty for flash devices and other smaller devices.

On the opposite side we have a power LED, power button, control knob for the 140mm cooling fan, a micro and mini USB ports. The two latter ports can be used to power the pad with a 5v power adapter.

                                                                    
Viewing the bottom of the cooler, we see a portion of the intake side of the 140mm fan. Speaking about the fan, its rotation is advertised at 700-1400 RPM with user control. The noise level is at 15-21 dBA which is dependent on the fan speed setting. Four more non-slip rubber pads keep the NotePal ErgoStand II secured against the tabletop.

Mounting Images

Results

We tested the NotePal ErgoStand II with our aging Sony VPC-F111/FX which consist of an Intel i7-Q720 with 8GB of DDR3, 120GB SSD and a discrete NVIDIA 310M GPU. We also used AIDA64 to put a load on the system and also to measure the system’s temperatures.

Compared to the Deep Cooler M6 we just reviewed, the Cooler Master NotePal ErgoStand II performed better with a 5° difference on the motherboard temperature, 3° difference on the CPU temp and 3° difference on the GPU.

Conclusion

I am a big fan of laptop devices like the new Cooler Master NotePal ErgoStand II because of the fact that serves two purposes which gives you more value for your money. In the case of the ErgoStand II, the two main purposes would be cooling and ergonomic adjustments that can provide you a more comfortable position and angle in using your laptop.

Additional functions like the USB 2.0 and the fan control does come into play as well. It literally could be the reason you chose this model over others sitting on the shelf at your favorite retailer.

Cooling performance was good but like we stated in a previous review, two smaller fans would have put the cooling right where I needed with this particular laptop. When it came to the fans, the noise was also okay. They were definitely quieter than the one integrated into my laptop and that’s for sure.

We found the NotePal ErgoStand II for sale at Newegg for $37.99 before tax and shipping making the unit reasonable priced.

{aseadnetadblock|Cooler Master NotePal ErgoStand II |Cooler Master NotePal }