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Svalt Debuts New Heatsink Cooling Docks for MacBook Pro

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Dock and stand accessory company Svalt this month introduced three new cooling docks that are designed for Apple's line of MacBook Pro machines. The Cooling Dock DHCR, Cooling Dock DHC, and Cooling Dock DHCx are designed to be used with Macs in clamshell mode.

svalt-cooling-dock.jpg

Priced between $220 and $280, the docks are carved from solid aluminum to transfer heat away from the MacBook's processor. Svalt says the docks have been designed with cooling fins, deep air channels, and a curving horizontal air channel, all of which pull heat away from the MacBook Pro.

The DHC model has a built-in fan at the back of the dock, while the other two versions have optional add-on accessory fans or can be used without a fan.

The dock is designed to position the laptop at the ideal angle for heat dissipation, and a protective edge and retention pad hold the machine in place. Apple silicon Macs aren't known for their heat, but Svalt claims that the dock is able to eliminate heat throttling and ensure that the MacBook Pro is able to reach peak performance when in clamshell mode.

According to Svalt, the Cooling Docks are built to "seamlessly merge" with the built-in cooling systems of the 2021 to 2023 MacBook Pro models and "all other Apple laptops from the last decade."

More information on the docks can be found on the Svalt website.

Article Link: Svalt Debuts New Heatsink Cooling Docks for MacBook Pro
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/01/svalt-heatsink-cooling-docks/
If you're concerned about cooling on the most power efficient line of laptops on the market, I suggest not pointing the laptop exhaust downward toward the desk with an overpriced fan blowing on an unvented panel that's been thermally insulated from the processor to prevent leg discomfort. It just won't work. You're better off flipping it 180° and letting convection do its thing.
 
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Seems fugly, expensive, and very poorly thought out.

Heat rises, so your MacBook fans should be pointing upward. This "dock" makes you point your fans downward. As a result, heat will blast out, then soak back into your MacBook.

1690923096768.png

$279 for this? Heck, no.
 
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I think the MBPs cool themselves perfectly fine, so it's an odd choice to target those with this product. I am, however, interested to see this idea implemented for the MBA and M-series iPads. It would be nice to have a silent, light machine for travel and be able to push it a little harder when docked at my desk.
 
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"Dock"? Looks like a stand with a heatsink or fan. This would be a neat idea if it had, say, a Thunderbolt 3/4 or even just USB (USB-C) connection to do something dock-worthy, especially with what they're charging for it...
 
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RMo said:
"Dock"? Looks like a stand with a heatsink or fan. This would be a neat idea if it had, say, a Thunderbolt 3/4 or even just USB (USB-C) connection to do something dock-worthy, especially with what they're charging for it...
Click to expand...

A dock is simply a place where something comes in to rest... a ship dock, for example. Computer docks don't need to have electronics in them to be docks. This is a dock, too. You're "docking" your laptop.
 
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Ja50n said:
If you're concerned about cooling on the most power efficient line of laptops on the market, I suggest not pointing the laptop exhaust downward toward the desk with an overpriced fan blowing on an unvented panel that's been thermally insulated from the processor to prevent leg discomfort. It just won't work. You're better off flipping it 180° and letting convection do its thing.
Click to expand...
This makes lotsa sense...
 
It's an interesting condition to try and fix (having the cover closed) - which probably does result in some heat retention. But yeah solution in search of a problem. I ran into an instance with a older laptop where a good amount of heat besides being exhausted by the fan also gradually bled out through the keyboard etc. area and if I tried to run with the lid closed and had it working hard, it would overheat...open the lid (keeping the display off) and things would come back into balance. But one wonders if heat throttling for the iPad Pro with the cover closed is a problem?
 
JPack said:
Seems fugly, expensive, and very poorly thought out.

Heat rises, so your MacBook fans should be pointing upward. This "dock" makes you point your fans downward. As a result, heat will blast out, then soak back into your MacBook.

View attachment 2240279

$279 for this? Heck, no. Is this a sponsored post?
Click to expand...
Then your ports are several inches above your desk and all your cables have to be longer… I don’t think this dock is very useful but this is the most convenient way to angle the device for actually using it docked…
 
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