PERFORMANCE
SVALT product design begins with an understanding of how a laptop’s built-in cooling system works, and then moves to researching and testing how to help optimize the laptop’s cooling system while adding supplemental cooling to help increase the laptop’s total cooling capacity, reduce heat degradation, and boost performance potential. Use the following page links to review example tests and learn about performance testing:
- Performance Tested: Model Comparison
- Performance Tested: Temperature Example
- Performance Tested: Throttling Example
- Fundamentals: Cooling Performance
- Fundamentals: Audio Performance
Performance Tested:
Model Comparison
Testing Summary and Notes
Cooling and noise performance for each SVALT model varies depending on fan speed. The solid bar graphs represent the lowest fan speed configuration and fan speed setting (or no fan in the case of silent heatsink Cooling Dock models), while the lighter transparent bar graphs show the highest fan speed configuration and fan speed setting.
Cooling performance is approximate for each SVALT model and varies depending on particular laptop model and configuration. The bar graphs represent the approximate performance with the laptop that provides the best match for each SVALT model.
Please note that this is only meant as a general overview of performance. See Laptops to learn about a laptop model’s built-in cooling system, and see Compare to compare SVALT model laptop compatibility, features and specs.
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Performance Tested:
Temperature Example
Testing Summary
The new 4th generation DHCR Cooling Dock uses silent thermally conductive laptop coupling with a massive heatsink carved from solid aluminum to create the ultimate laptop workstation. The new 4th generation DHCR includes extensive improvements for a substantial increase in cooling efficiency with the latest Apple MacBook Pro and Air laptops, along with comprehensive optimization for the 2021+ MacBook Pro.
The 4th gen’s thermally conductive heatsink silently reduces overall laptop temperatures, while the Fx Cooling Fan boosts peak performance potential for sustained heavy workloads.
Testing Notes
Testing performed with a M1 Max processor 2021+ MacBook Pro. Compared to the M1 Max processors, the M3 Max processors generate more heat with greater potential for throttling, which allows the DHCR to provide additional cooling performance from the M3 Max compared to the M1 Max.
Testing performed with a 16-inch size 2021+ MacBook Pro. Compared to the 16-inch model, the 14-inch has a smaller built-in cooling system, lower surface area and lower thermal mass, which allows the DHCR to provide a higher percentage of supplemental cooling, heatsink surface area and heatsink thermal mass for additional cooling performance expected from the 14-inch compared to the 16-inch.
Testing performed with 4th generation DHCR Cooling Dock, dark gray anodize finish, direct heatsink coupling, insulating side pads installed, and with and without the FxB22 Cooling Fan accessory. Additional testing performed with and without the thermally conductive materials applied to the laptop coupling plate. Testing performed with standard bottom pads installed, and the testing did not include either the new 1/8” thick performance bottom pads and the new 1/8” thick performance laptop support pad that in combination would have provided significant additional cooling, especially with the Fx Cooling Fan test.
Testing conducted per SVALT’s rigorous Testing guidelines, and with the following test setup: Maintained 70-71F ambient testing temperature. Laptop located away and protected from any non-tested heating or cooling source. Internal laptop fans remain off at zero rpm throughout test per default system control. Laptop connected to a single low-resolution external monitor. Cinebench single-core 40-min applied workload with post-workload 10-min cooldown. Laptop temperatures are an averaged measurement from all laptop sensors, which are then averaged into 5-minute segments for graphic depiction.
This test is an example of a particular SVALT and laptop model combination that is provided as a general overview of cooling performance when combined with the above Model Comparison section. See Laptops to learn about a laptop model’s built-in cooling system, and see Compare to compare SVALT model laptop compatibility, features and specs.
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Performance Tested:
Throttling Example
Testing Summary
The SRx and Sx Cooling Stand models have been optimized to quietly and efficiently deliver cooling airflow from a large and powerful cooling fan that unlocks a laptop’s peak performance potential.
Testing Notes
Testing performed with Sx Cooling Stand, G17 Noctua fan, and first generation laptop support arms. The current third generation laptop support arms significantly improve cooling airflow along the laptop enclosure.
Testing conducted per SVALT’s rigorous Testing guidelines, and with the following test setup: Maintained approximately 75F ambient testing temperature. Laptop located away and protected from any non-tested heating or cooling source. Internal laptop fans set to 2500 rpm to normalize non-SVALT cooling between the CONTROL and SVALT tests. Terminal single-core Stress Test 120-min applied workload. Laptop CPU power (watt) is averaged into 15-minute segments for graphic depiction.
This test is an example of a particular SVALT and laptop model combination that is provided as a general overview of cooling performance when combined with the above Model Comparison section. See Laptops to learn about a laptop model’s built-in cooling system, and see Compare to compare SVALT model laptop compatibility, features and specs.
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Fundamentals:
Cooling Performance
One of the core concepts of cooling performance is understanding how throttling impacts computer performance, and how cooling can in turn reduce throttling for increased performance. Computer processors generate heat which can increase temperatures, spin up internal fans, stress systems, throttling processors and degrade hardware. Supplemental cooling can help to remove heat, reduce internal computer fan speeds, limit other long term potential heat impacts, and increase the computer’s overall cooling capacity. When a system is maxed out and throttling, then supplemental cooling can also help to increase performance. Learn more about throttling and why cooling is important to sustaining peak performance potential on the Throttling page.
For testing, another aspect of throttling needs to be understood: when under throttling conditions, the computer uses throttling to reduce temperatures and reduce heat damage. That means supplemental cooling that effectively improves cooling will allow the computer to run with reduced throttling and increased performance, but that also means that temperatures will typically be higher because of the higher processing power. In short, less throttling means faster and hotter. So if throttling occurs, then it is challenging to simultaneously test temperatures while testing performance. Conversely, if throttling is not occurring, then testing temperatures is feasible while it is impossible to test performance. For this reason, testing is conducted to analyze either temperatures or performance, and not both.
To test supplemental cooling and to accurately measure its influence on temperatures and performance, SVALT tests under strictly controlled conditions so that SVALT supplemental cooling is the only variable influencing the results. Each test session includes two tests, a CONTROL test without supplemental cooling and a SVALT test with supplemental cooling. Conditions are as close to identical as possible for both tests (ambient air temperature, physical placement, non-thermally conductive insulated base, starting laptop temperatures, internal fan speeds, eliminated non-test background activities, and single applied testing workload) and results are based on analysis from direct sensor data logs (component temperatures, processor power and speed, etc). Learn more about SVALT’s rigorous testing process on the Testing page.
The cooling performance testing results included here are meant to provide a more general assessment of performance potential and to illustrate different combinations of SVALT and laptop models. Approximately one thousand hours of work was required to generate, analyze and present the testing data on this page. The time required to test every combination of SVALT and laptop model would take years of continuous work. As a result, it is not possible to test all combinations, however, tests are regularly conducted during conceptual research, product development and final production proving phases. In total this testing helps to provide a thorough understanding of built-in laptop cooling systems and how they respond to supplemental cooling.
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Fundamentals:
Audio Performance
SVALT products are designed to deliver maximum cooling airflow with minimum noise. With each new generation, SVALT products become more and more obsessed with delivering cooling performance with the least noise. The new silent thermally conductive heatsink Cooling Dock DHCR represents the pinnacle of silent cooling, however, all fan equipped models have been updated with new ultra-quiet fan models. SVALT doesn’t stop at using an ultra-quiet fan because all cooling systems are fully modular with bolted/snapped assemblies so that fans can be easily accessed and swapped out at any point in the future to meet a users particular needs.
SVALT products offer industry leading audio and cooling performance to such an extent that terms like silent and quiet need to be redefined. We have discovered that silent and quiet mean something different for most other products and manufacturers. SVALT defines noise levels as the following:
- Silent: No noise being generated. SVALT offers a full range of silent cooling solutions.
- Ultra-Quiet: Sound generation is low enough to be considered inaudible even in quiet workspaces with minimal background noise, so very nearly silent. All of SVALT models are available with ultra-quiet fan cooling.
- Quiet: Sound generation is low enough to be considered inaudible within a normal workspace and barely audible within a quiet workspace where it could blend into the background noise. All of SVALT models are available with quiet fan cooling.
- Moderate: Sound generation is moderate and can be easily heard within a quiet workspace where it could be considered disturbing, but barely audible within a normal workspace where it could blend into the background noise. All of SVALT models are available with moderate fan cooling.
- Loud: Sound generation is loud and can be easily heard within a normal workspace where it could be considered disturbing. No current SVALT model falls into this category, but a prior Cooling Dock B42 fan model exceeded 40 dBA at the highest speed setting.
Fan noise is typically lumped into a single dBA rating, and while useful for preliminary comparison, it does not reflect the full acoustic experience. After a decade of purchasing and testing most of the best fans from the best fan manufacturers, we’ve found that in nearly all cases the dBA rating does not accurately describe the fan noise and so our redefinition requires the following two categories:
- Volume: The first category is the noise quantity or volume, which a dBA rating does a good job of defining. The volume of noise generated comes primarily from a whoosh of air rushing through and around the fan. A lower noise volume and dBA rating is generally preferred, however, a low rating does not mean it is quiet, while on the flip side, a high rating does not mean that it is loud and disturbing. The list above gives you sense of where SVALT models fall within the noise volume category.
- Character: The second category is the noise quality or character. The character of the noise generated has to do with how evenly the noise spreads across the acoustic range and its ability to fade or blend into the background noise. While the fan blade design and resulting airflow patterns contribute to the noise character and ability for the noise to become unobtrusive, in most fans it is the fan motor’s emitting of high-pitched electronic and mechanical pulsing and whirling noises that cut through background noise, grab attention and lead to distraction. Fans with higher volume dBA ratings make more whooshing airflow noise that often masks the fainter fan motor noises, so it is typically with lower volume dBA ratings when the fainter fan motor noises become more of a factor and potential disturbance. SVALT fans are selected by purchasing virtually all high-end fans from the best fan manufactures and then individually testing each. The fan models we use are selected for their low-levels of motor noise and other distracting characteristics, and this is especially important for the ultra-quiet fan models. Note that the same fan series from the same manufacturer can sometimes have significantly different levels of motor noise depending on 3 vs 4-pin (PWM) configuration, maximum fan speed (RPM) and other features. In all cases we are using the fan that is the quietest, and so we only recommend replacing a fan with the specific model from SVALT accessories instead of using a similar model that in most cases has additional motor noise.
