Comparison 2E Gaming CPG-002 vs Cooler Master Ergostand IV

The largest laptop screen size that the stand is guaranteed to be compatible with. For comparison: the smallest netbooks have a diagonal of 10 – 12 ", ultrabooks are somewhat larger — up to 14" ; among classic laptops, 13" corresponds to the most compact models, 15 — 16" — medium format, 17" — large, and 18.4" is actually the "ceiling" for modern laptops.

Usually, the maximum diagonal indicated in the characteristics corresponds to the size for which the stand was originally designed. However the vast majority of models are able to work with smaller laptops, but this point should be clarified separately. In addition, you should not buy a device that differs markedly in maximum diagonal from your laptop — for example, an 18" stand is unlikely to be convenient for a 12" netbook.

In modern models, 1 or 2 fans are installed at a minimum, and in more advanced models this number can reach 4. It makes no sense to bet anymore, because. the area of the cooling system in this case may be larger than the area of the bottom surface of even the largest laptop. The more fans provided, the more intense the heat removal and the higher the efficiency of the cooling system (ceteris paribus, of course). On the other hand, the noise level increases noticeably, and there are “multi-fan” stands, respectively.

The diameter of the fans also plays an important role. The larger the fan, the more advanced it is considered: a large diameter allows you to create an intense airflow at relatively low speeds, which reduces the noise level compared to smaller options. On the other hand, the large size also affects the cost accordingly.

The maximum airflow that a cooling fan can create; measured in CFM — cubic feet per minute.

The higher the CFM number, the more efficient the fan.

The maximum noise level produced by the stand during operation. This parameter is relevant only for models equipped with active cooling (see above) — in fact, this function is the only source of noise.

The lower this indicator, the more comfortable the use of the stand will be and the better it will be suitable for situations in which silence is important (for example, for working late at night when others are sleeping). At the same time, even in the loudest models, it usually does not exceed 40 dB — this is comparable to the noise of leaves on a tree in a light breeze; and cooling systems in many laptops can make more noise. Therefore, paying close attention to quiet laptop stands is only worth it if you are using an extremely quiet laptop and do not want to lose this advantage.

The number of USB inputs provided in the design of the stand. See "Optional — USB hub " for details on this feature.

The more such ports are provided in the stand, the more peripheral devices can be simultaneously connected through it to the laptop. At the same time, note that all ports of the hub are powered by one laptop USB connector and share the USB power equally. Thus, for high consumption peripherals (like external hard drives without a separate power supply) there may not be enough power when connected through a hub with 3-4 ports.

The USB port interface allows you to understand what speed the connectors have when connecting drives to them. So USB 2.0 is considered the most traditional option — an already outdated format, which nevertheless easily handles with connecting a mouse, adapters (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) and other peripherals. Its transmission speed is up to 480 Mbps, which is not enough in today's realities. The more advanced USB 3.2 gen1 has a similar connector format with improved bandwidth — up to 4.8 Gbps.

The material from which the main element of the stand is made is the platform where the laptop is placed. The material of the legs (if any, see "Type") may vary, but this is quite rare.

— Plastic. The advantages of plastic are low cost, low weight, an abundance of possible shapes and colours, as well as strength that is quite sufficient for most cases. At the same time, it loses to metal both in terms of reliability and thermal conductivity — in other words, it removes heat less efficiently. As a result, this option is found mainly among inexpensive coasters.

— Metal. Most metal models are usually made from aluminium alloys. Such alloys are quite light, while they are significantly superior to plastic both in strength and in the quality of heat removal. The main disadvantage of the metal is a rather high cost, so it is found mainly in models of the middle and upper price range.

— Metal / plastic. Platforms that combine both materials described above in the design at once. Mostly these are models with active cooling (see above): a metal grill is made in them, on which the laptop directly stands and under which fans are placed, and the platform frame is made of plastic. This makes it possible to somewhat reduce the cost, while retaining the main advantage of metal platforms — the high efficiency of heat dissipation.

— Tree. T...his material for laptop stands can be attributed to the "designer" options. Wood has an attractive appearance, and is also considered more pleasant to the touch than other materials. At the same time, from a practical point of view, it has no noticeable advantages over plastic, it costs significantly more, and loses to metal in terms of heat removal efficiency. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to wooden coasters if style and aesthetics are in the first place for you, and the quality of cooling does not play a decisive role.

— Textile. A rather non-standard material for laptop stands, which, nevertheless, has its own advantages. So, some fabric coasters look like soft rugs, which can be compactly folded for easy storage and transportation during non-working hours. Such material passes air and heat well (manufacturers select the appropriate types of fabric), is quite pleasant to the touch, and looks good. Among the shortcomings of the fabric, it is worth noting the difficulty in cleaning — if it is enough to wipe the plastic or metal surface with a damp cloth, then the fabric stand will have to be washed (if such a procedure is generally allowed for this model).

Dimensions of the stand when folded. First of all, the convenience of transportation depends on this: if you plan to carry the product along with a laptop, you should pay attention to ensuring that the bag (case, backpack ...) has the right amount of space.

Note that the height of many models in the folded state is rather small, so manufacturers may not indicate it in the characteristics, limited only by the length and width.

The size of the surface intended for the direct placement of a laptop. This parameter allows you to fairly accurately assess how the stand is suitable for your device — after all, even laptops with the same diagonal can vary slightly in length / width.