Maximum Cooling Performance Unleashed: TopMate C12 Laptop Cooler Review
TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad Review
A Mid-Range Cooling Pad for High-Performance Gaming and Creative Laptops
The TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad is a decent cooling solution for laptops that need a bit of extra cooling assistance. With three 110mm fans and three 70mm fans, as well as six different fan speed settings, it’s designed to keep your laptop running smoothly during intense gaming and creative sessions. But how well does it really perform?
Testing the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad
To put the TopMate C12 through its paces, I tested it with a 15-minute 3DMark stress test on an Acer Predator Helios 300 laptop with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card. The results were mixed. The laptop’s baseline temperature rose from 20.2°C to 52.1°C, an increase of 31.9°C. With the TopMate C12 cooling pad running at full power, the temperature rise was reduced to 44°C, which is a 22.8°C decrease.
While this is an improvement, it’s worth noting that other cooling pads on the market can achieve even better results. The Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad, for example, reduced the temperature rise by 35.6°C. So, while the TopMate C12 is decent, it’s not necessarily the best option if you’re looking for the absolute best performance.
Quiet Operation and Adjustability
On the plus side, the TopMate C12 is relatively quiet. Measuring 58.5dB at three inches away and 45dB at head height, it’s on par with other top-rated cooling pads. The design is also ergonomic, with eight adjustable height settings that allow you to position your laptop at the most comfortable angle for your wrists.
Price and Availability
The TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad launched on January 19, 2022, and is now available for $29.99 / £29.77 / AU$49.77. While it’s not the cheapest option on the market, it’s not unreasonably expensive either. If you’re willing to wait, you might be able to snag a better deal – I’ve seen it drop to £25.30 / AU$42.30 in the past.
Should I Buy the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad?
So, should you buy the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad? If you’re looking for a mid-range cooling solution that won’t break the bank, it’s definitely worth considering. However, if you’re after the absolute best performance, you might want to look elsewhere. Additionally, if you’re willing to spend a bit more money, you can get a better deal from other brands.
Alternatives to Consider
If you’re in the market for a new laptop cooling pad, there are a few other options worth considering. The Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad and the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad, both of which cost less than the TopMate C12, performed better in our benchmarking tests. If you’re willing to spend a bit more money, the Cooler Master NotePal XL2 is another option worth considering.
Testing Methodology
To test the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad, I ran a stress test and measured the temperature difference using a thermal camera. I also measured the fan noise 10 minutes into the test using a sound level meter. I used the laptop cooling pad for several days to test its overall design, sturdiness, and ergonomics.
