It is no secret that the Xbox 360 generates a bunch of heat when it runs. Overheating problems may be overblown, but there are a lot of people for whom heat is a real issue. While it is easy to get distracted by the shiny water cooling solutions, there are a couple of simple-to-use, inexpensive solutions for the average gamer. HardOCP reviews two of these, the Nyko Intercooler 360 and the Pelican Fan Stand.

Both fan solutions ultimately receive high marks from the crew at HardOCP, but there are some differences the end user should be aware of. The Pelican unit is USB powered, must be turned on and off with the power switch, and requires the Xbox 360 to be used in the vertical position. The Nyko unit powers itself through a pass through with the Xbox 360’s power supply, and can be used both horizontally and vertically. While the Nyko unit has a power switch, once it is on, the fan turns on and off with the Xbox 360.

HardOCP also ran some temperature tests against the coolers; the Nyko seemed to have a slight edge in CPU temperature, but others seemed to be a wash. Noise output was also tested in the comparison, and the Nyko seemed to be a great deal louder than the Pelican fan. For full details, check out the review on HardOCP’s site.