Zalman NC2000 Cooler Review with XPS M1730

[seriouslywakeup]

i got a zalman nc2000, owned my xps 1730 since 2007... 8700m sli

no problems, top product...

[salehhaddad]

I have been using this cooler with my M1730 for almost 3 years now and it still works perfectly, decreasing the temperature by at least 10 degrees. I have SLI setup and the video cards stay at around low 60s, but without the cooler it goes up to mid 70s and the laptop internal fans kick in causing more noise than the quite fans of the cooler itself.

[honourbridge]

Thanks for the review! I'm currently shopping around for a cooler, and at my favorite computer store I saw that they have this model and the NC3000S for a slightly lower price. Do you have any idea what the difference is between these two models?

[LegendaryWolfy]

Great video, Thanks for the help!

[TheTurtleOfTitch]

"Obviously if you just want it to look nice you just put it straight back up the top where it fits like a glove." :D

[jellofast]

i've owned the zalman nc1000 for more than 2 years, it's reliable, works, and really keeps my hp pavilion cool while playing games. usually my laptop turns its fan on and gets real hot even when i make it higher in height but w/ this fan it stays cool. the only prob i have w/ this fan ist there's no way to open it so i have to use a can of air to blow out the dust..maybe i dont kno how to

[iftibashir]

@jellofast - I think there are screws under the rubber feet?

[jellofast]

@jellofast

maybe they're small but if you have luck opening it can you tell me....haven't been able to open it..would like to though

[edjparaujo]

@jellofast there are screws under the rubber feet. I open mine for cleaning each month, the rubber feet glue easily back the first few times.

[jellofast]

@edjparaujo

hey thanks for the reply, i opened the bottom feet but they weren't there...then opened the ones on the surface and bam.....got it opened..thanks

[TheEGGtech]

i have this for my fujitsu T900 convertible tablet, it cools well as my laptop is tiny (13.3" lol). reduced temps by bout 5-12C on load. (was about 90C now 75-85C.

[Djcrazy32]

What if you have your cpu cooler up on the right corner, then its like it cant breath?

[chuckcxr]

I bought this thing...it didn't do CRAP for my m1730 laptop. Was like using an eye dropper to put out a fire. So I use it for my xbox now and it works quite well for it.

As for my laptop..I just made my own..no fans required..works AMAZINGLY. It's just got some stainless steel 13gauge screening. Cut it to size and pained it, made some wood legs...stained and varnished. Looks beautiful and my laptop has never run cooler. Cost to make..less then $40.

I'll post a video response soon to show it.

[cernalfriez]

Also, wanted to ask, why the hell does it only have two fans? It can easily fit three, not to mention four, sure it might take more energy, but it's not like you'd take this with you and set up using it without a power-socket nearby to use your charger..

There's just barely any room for decent airflow, and the wide distribution takes the 'cooling' to a slight breeze and the metal plate is just giving off a cold aura, needs more blow power to force cool in my opinion..

[NateN34]

@cernalfriez Anymore power and it would overload the USB ports. And some people dont like to have a cord haning down from the side of there fuckign cooler. If you wanted to, you could mod it with 4 or 3 fans and put it to outlet power,

[cernalfriez]

I have one, it sucks to me, my CPU reaches up to 73*, my Graphics to 65*, and my HDD to 56*, not a good cooler to use when playing high-end games, and I'm only playing WoW.

Either that, or my laptop just heats up quick, although it's not old.

[itsmeadrian1234]

wow a fan attached to a piece of aluminum cost a fortune

[OrangePHX]

how does the cooler master notepal x2 compare to this?

[sufy1000]

There's a Zalman NC3000S out it's awesome it's got a huge fan in the middle

[sufy1000]

Will this work good with a Dell Inspiron 9300?

[redjr1991]

just wondering, I got the studio xps 16. Should i get this one or should i get the 1000 the smaller one?

[nich009]

that xps has a better vent system than mine...i only get one fan :(

[gorkem20793]

ı have 15.4" laptop. its okey for it or smallar one is more better?

[shalawsorchi]

This is the best cooler you can get! :) you can play COD MW2 without getting overheat :) sorry for my english :P

[Yarwit45]

@shalawsorchi i almost agreed with u there, until i saw the NZXT Cryo LX Laptop Cooler.

[heerschenrouleer]

Does it suck or blow air? I believe its blowing no?

[iftibashir]

Yes it blows cool air to the underside of the system.

[demonvile87]

@iftibashir mind if I ask..which is actually better? the ones that suck air or blows it? Thnx

[hugz1223]

I just got this today, and i had a antac. And here's my take for the 2 coolers. Both of them works, but both of them also have their own problems. As for the Zalman, the cooler is able to cool down the processor temp by 20c. However, the probem is that it push the heat the other parts of the laptop. Where was for antac, it doesn't really cool down my processor, but the whole laptop is cooler. So i don't know what's better.

[TouchMyiPod2G]

Hey, I wanna buy this one, but I have a question, what PC do you have (also inches of the screen) and where did you exactly place the cooling? Only in the middle or every where?

[paultje162]

it doent really care but i will use the zalman if i was you becus if the CPUruns cooler it haves an longer lifetime

[ispaniola]

(cont)

The only time you want to align your cooling pad with your laptop's fan is when one of them is an inlet (sucks) and the other an outlet (blows)

Or if you have a design where there is space between the exhaust of your laptop fans and the cooling pad Only then would aligning both exhausts be useful since the ones from the cooling pad help drive away the hot air (that usually would be trapped between your laptop and the table)

good luck,read some thorough reviews, the ones on youtube suck

[muratza9]

i have acer aspire 8735g 18 inch screen is it good for it

[brianz96]

nice review, i just bought one for my M1530 since its been dying cause of the heat (105 C). thanks for this video =]

[vietieboy]

Just bought this one hope it works :)

[MrNice399]

This Cooler Does Work!

Where the wholes are located on the cooler, it cools the video card and CPU area down as the air is blown on that area.

Turn you xps on and leave is flat down on the table for an hour and feel how warm and or hot it is, then try a notebook cooler or this one and it will be cool to the touch. It does not cool down the top of the notebook but this is a must have with any XPS M1730 and for the usb Issue, I use a belkin 8 port usb hub with a wireless logitech mouse.

[latintext]

I have the exact configuration as demonstrated : XPS m1730 and NC2000

NC2000 fans spin too slowly (even at 'high' speed !) and take power from USB port, heating the laptop even more. The NC2000 will NOT help you reduce the PC's temperature, BELIEVE me. It just does NOT work. The cooler is nice to look at and can giive a good platform to plce laptop on when in bed or so, but else it is 100% USELESS. Too bad for you, yep I TOO hoped for more....

[christopherwoods]

Maybe your laptop's poorly designed then ;) ...

I have an oldish Acer Aspire laptop which gets HORRIBLY hot (almost no active cooling in the laptop, just heatsinks) - the NC2000 cools it right down and has definitely prolonged its life. Without the cooler, the laptop gets so hot it would've died already! I have my NC2000 operational 24/7 and it's a great bit of kit.

[precisi0n86]

great review :-) Very informative. Just bought one for my M17

[john2000cash]

Very useful review.

But I'm really getting mixed up - some coolers suck air, others blow it, this one creates a sort of air curtain under the laptop, but the fact remains that you'll never probably get the grills of the cooler and laptop aligned.

A chap that works in the IT dept at work is all for the fan-less coolers. Perhaps fans would be required for laptops using advanced and fast graphics cards.

I think I'll try doing a passive cooler myself first before buying anyhting.

[rkwong792]

is the air from the fans cold or just room temperature?

[user12119]

Spent £40 on this and it does not lower my laptop temp at all.

[DARKMAN4ERA]

Good review man. even i don`t buy it will help other people who looking for Cooler. .am still looking but Zalman is really good

[j5tar89]

Is it safe to use this while the optical drive is running since the laptop is slanted? Would it scratch the lens or disc?

[iftibashir]

No it should be fine. Ive tried it many times and had no problems with scratched discs.

[firestormcomputers]

It's better to construct your own cooler, it will be customized to your computer and will cool it better.

[Lionblade12]

good review. you have a voice that can make a wolverine purr.

[simysimy9]

that sounds very gay if you did not realize.

[sergeh69]

I second that

[AnhedonicTheFirst]

I third that

[xmartangel2k1]

doesn't cool my m1730

[Sepharite]

Jesus, that's a HUGE laptop.

[MrHvrd]

i just made a hole in my table where the fans are, so it can suck up fresh air from under the table! :D

lol it works mate.

[xenioxa]

What if you want to do work on it?

[playitYoCo]

lol, table fail. You might as well call it a laptop holder now

[Klan98]

can the keyboard change colors ?

[TFKofBD]

nope the XPS's keyboard is ONLY white

[Calypso128]

Where did you buy this cooler?

[91thpe]

I'm going to make my own cooler with two 120mm fans. Thats just because i can't find a cooler that i think is proper for the Dell M1730. I might upload a video response to this video.

[chylos]

what about hdd temp. is zalman cooling the hdd enough ?

[iftibashir]

If you have any further questions, please contact me at ITCertForum[dot]com

[AminelikesStephanie]

@iftibashir What is the cost of the cooler

[Socalgal81]

I use my laptop in bed with a very old (fans are broken) laptop cooler. My laptop cooler has a solid base with air intake ports on the left and right side. Would I be able to use the Zalman ZM-NC2000 while in bed or would that block airflow to the fans?

Thanks for the review and reply.

[iftibashir]

No, the Zalman intake is at thr bottom of the unit.

[iftibashir]

If anyone has any questions they would like answered, please send me a message - that way I can give you a more direct answer, and can link you to my site, where you can find more resources and talk to me live!

[xenzuva]

is there much vibration from the zalman? i have a targus but I don't like all the vibration.

[zio5q]

cant wait to get my m1730 :D

[Alfonzo465]

same

[MovieDemocom]

As always nice review! Those wondering about do you need this or not. I have M1730 and do not have the cooler, however the unit does run hot. One trick I use is putting a cd case on either side of the unit and lift it up a bit. I have an external key mouse and monitor when at office so this works well. On the road I don't do much hard core gaming so temps don't get that bad.

[iftibashir]

I used to do the same - put something beneath the laptop to raise the back. This helps somewhat - but check my comment reply below....

[MovieDemocom]

good advice on comment below! I am wondering how much noise does the cooler make? perhaps you could make a video of sound levels. Also wondering since I use all external components when doing hard core gaming, could the cooler be turned around? (placing the open grid directly below laptop grid) - Yet another question :) how do you tell temp? is there a temp meter on laptop that I am clueless about? thanks kc

[iftibashir]

The cooler fans are adjustable, so the faster you hav ethe fans spinning the more noise it makes.

Consider the noise from your laptop with the fans on at LOW speed - thats about the same amount of noise the cooler maxes with the fans on at FULL speed! It really isnt enough to bother you noise-wise.

Yes you could turn the cooler around, but the keyboard will be leaning away from you rather then towards you. If you put the laptop as shown in the video you'll get the same cooling etc anyway.

[iftibashir]

In regards to checking temps - I use a program called 'Everest Ultimate'. It costs 35USD, and shows you all the info on your system you could ever need. It also allows you to display info on your LCD display - at the moment I have it displaying my CPU and GPU Temperatures, as well as CPU and RAM usage all on the one screen! Its great for keeping an eye on temperatures while gaming etc.

A free alternative is nTune - but this will not display on the LCD. Instead you need to use a log file etc.

[CutingTheEdge]

actually, the Everest knows about your computer,more than 150 pages:D of info, and it not depends if you are using laptop, or desktop...

[FuckYouTerrorist]

still haven't ordered my 1730 but would you recommend this cooler? or would it be fine with out it of coarse it would be better with the cooler but the 1730 is fine with out right? :)

[iftibashir]

The laptop does run fine without the cooler. It does a very good job of keepng the temps regulated. The cooler does help though, by ensuring the temps increase much slower, and when high, the temps decrease a lot quicker. While playing BoShock for about 50 mins, I noticed the temps stayed at 64c solid. They didnt move at all! Before the cooler they were at around 75 etc.

Laptop fans kick in much less often with the cooler running.

Overall - not essential, but recommended ;o)

[chuthemofo]

just ordered it, do u recommend this for long periods of gaming such as bf2142 and others? thanks

[ArcticSheep]

you REALLY don't need a good graphics card for bf2142, only games like crysis need this. the xps m1530 will probably run all settings highest at 40 fps