-Cooler Master Notepal Infinite Review- Lots of pics:D

I am glade people are happy with this

@domoMAFIA......if had you read though and earlier post you would have found the link


Link for the UK version if anyone needs it

 

How did you get free shipping? When I added it to my cart, shipping turned up to be around $16.95.

 

I had pre-ordered one about a month earlier. They didn't charge me until it shipped though, and I just never got charged for shipping.

 

lucky you! ........

can you put a mini review on here?...with temperatures and stuff??? would be nice for other people to know

 

same here with the 16.95 shipping fee's thats why I ended up with the zalmans. I got it from buy.com for 40$ because of there 10$ off google checkout and it did have free shipping. So it was 40$ and at my door 3 days later.

 

Thanks for the update, but I would still recommend going with a Zalman. Their ZM-NC2000 cooler is both wider AND deeper than the Notepal Infinite, and looks to be much better quality with a solid slab of aluminum on the top surface. It's also tilt-adjustable, and the profiling of the bottom surface suggests to me it should work just fine in your lap as well as on a desk.

It'll be a little more expensive than the Notepal Infinite, but not that much more so given MobilePlanet's pricing. Also, unlike the Notepal Infinite (which is being parallel imported by MobilePlanet, albeit in bulk), the Zalman is going to be available *legitimately*, ie. with a factory warranty. When the Notepal Infinite fails, I'm fairly certain Coolermaster will refuse to offer any service whatsoever. Perhaps MobilePlanet will help, perhaps not - only they can tell you, and I'd be sure and ask them *before* purchasing what the warranty terms / length are, where you'll have to ship the faulty unit to, and who will be responsible for shipping in each direction. I have a feeling the answer won't be what you're hoping for...

This is no knock on you, incidentally - thanks for being a kind and helpful forum member! I am upset at Coolermaster, not you... Speaking personally, after how unhelpful they've been, I'll be avoiding them as a matter of principle.

Here's the Zalman I'm talking about, btw:

http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=340&code=030

 

Just wanted to come back and confirm I got the Zalman in the end, and I am VERY happy with it.

It was hardly any more expensive than the Coolermaster - $58.99 plus $9.93 for 2-day shipping, a total of $68.92.

Although MobilePlanet are asking only $30.95 for the CoolerMaster, their shipping charges are ridiculous - 2-day shipping would have brought that total up to $60.90.

Sure, I could've gone for ground, but by the time they got something shipped to me and I waited on ground shipping, I'd have been lucky to have the thing in-hand within two weeks. With ZipZoomFly it was here within 36 hours of my placing the order.

As for the device itself, the Zalman ZM-NC2000 is VERY nicely made. This is one solid hunk of aluminum, there's no way it is getting accidentally bent or dented. The fans are very quiet indeed, enough so that it isn't even slightly objectionable to leave the thing running on full power all the time, with just a slight audible hum. Less noise than most desktop PCs make, and not even 1/2 as loud as my notebook's fan is when on full power. With the little legs extended, the tilt angle is perfect and makes typing on my notebook keyboard much more comfortable. It also raises the LCD by at least a few inches, although that still leaves it a good way below the optimal viewing height on my desk. Better than without, though!

Since I started using the Zalman NC2000, the fan in my notebook has yet to come on a single time. I've not made any measurements yet, but it is significantly cooler than normal. Regularly my laptop is very warm to the touch even when idle, and when loaded it gets extremely uncomfortable to touch the bottom of the machine at all. The fan normally runs continually at low speed on idle, and continually at high speed when heavily loaded.

Just to be sure of the difference, I played the pre-release demo of Crysis for a good ten minutes, with the settings high enough that my notebook was badly struggling with framerate, managing perhaps 5-6fps at best. Even still, the notebook fan only came on at its lowest power and the machine itself was hardly warm to the touch.

I should say, incidentally, that my notebook is an Acer Travelmate 8204WLMi, a 2.0GHz Core Duo machine with ATI Radeon Mobility X1600 graphics. It is ordinarily not prone to overheating, but the fan bearing is almost shot at the moment and I don't have time to send it in for warranty repair. It is also a machine that ordinarily generates a *lot* of heat when heavily loaded, to the point where it can get uncomfortable if your hand is near the exhaust vent for very long.

One final note solely for other Acer 8200 / 8210 owners (or for that matter the other closely-related Travelmate and Acer Ferrari notebook models, which I can't be bothered to list out right now). This notebook cooler seems almost to have been designed with us in mind! The size is absolutely perfect - a scant 3/4 inch to spare on either side of the notebook, and maybe 1 to 2 inches at the back depending on how you measure it.

The 8204's front feet perfectly grip the rubber strip along the front of the Zalman NC2000, and the result is that the machine is perfectly stable - there's no chance at all of it slipping down the sloping surface of the cooler, unless you give it a fairly hefty shove. Even better, every single one of the 8204's cooling intakes are over the "grille" area of the cooler's top surface. Better still, the USB port at the rear left corner of the 8204 is almost perfectly located just two inches from the USB connector on the left side of the NC2000. My first planned change is a shorter USB cable if I can find one, because a 2-3 inch cable would be just about perfect (and the included cable is roughly a foot long, far more than I need!)

The *only* slight downside is that I use Acer's optional EZDock, and there's no room for that to fit behind the notebook on the cooler itself. Since Acer doesn't provide a flexible connector cable on the dock (and I've yet to figure out exactly what the connector they're using is, so I can't find an extension cable), the dock *has* to be located directly behind and in line with the rear of the notebook.

As a temporary fix, I have the dock propped up on a couple of spools of CD-Rs that are *almost* the correct height. When I've got time, I'll probably take some careful measurements and see if I can't fabricate an extension that would continue the same slope as the back of the cooler out of a block of wood, which will solve this perfectly. I've got a can of modelling spray paint that's exactly the same aluminum silver as that of the cooler, so it'll look fairly good too. The silver panels on the EZ-Dock aren't that far off from being the same aluminum silver as well, and my Maxtor OneTouch network hard drive also matches nicely.

Oh, and I do think the blue LED power indicator on the right side of the unit is rather too bright, although the fact it's blue means it matches the backlighting of my Logitech G15 gaming keyboard perfectly, which is kinda cool.

So, to sum up - I *highly* recommend anybody considering the Coolermaster Notepal Infinite to ditch it in favor of the Zalman ZM-NC2000. It's a little more expensive if you cheap out on the shipping, but for the tiny extra bit of cash, you get a really great design that's attractive, clean, and really solidly built - and does an EXCELLENT job of keeping your notebook cool!

 

First of all, hello everybody! I've enjoyed reading this forum for some time, but since I got my CM Infinite today, I thought I should write a few things about it.

I've used a Zalman 1000 for a few months, but my laptop (Acer Aspire 5520G) seemed to be a little larger than the surface of the cooler and thus the rubber feet had too little contact with it, so I decided to sell it and buy a Notepal Infinite. Now, the laptop seats perfectly on the cooler, the angle is very good, the fan seems quite (on lowest speed), so I'm satisfied with my purchase.

But , the overall quality of the cooler is, by far, significantly lower than the Zalman which had a much stronger built better quality materials. The Notepal is lighter, the plastic looks very cheap, and the mesh bed seems quite 'fragile' and tends to bend a little bit under the weight of the laptop.

Before I bought this, I considered buying the Zalman NC2000, but in this part of the world where I'm at right now (Romania), I couldn't find it and didn't want to wait to much until some retailer would order it for me, so I got the Notepal. But it's ok. Maybe sometime in the future I'll get the Zalman

One more thing: I managed to power the cooler directly from the wall plug. I found an old Motorola phone charger that has the exact Output of 5V, cut the end of the cable and soldered two of the fires with the fires of a USB cable I had. And it works great! I know I could have used the supplied mini USB cable, but I just wanted to play a little bit with my soldering gun and give it a try...

 

Thanks for the helpful review. But I bought a Zalman since my laptop fit better on it. Thinking of writing a review what do you guys think?

 

i got the cooler master because I dont have 80$ to spend on a zaleman.

shipping is about 1 month...wow...but i'm not in a hurry so i can wait.

 

Yup, Zalman is too expensive for me too.

I would rather spend it on a New Keyboard.

 

Hi,

@ Hr.Hunter ... I was looking at your Acer 5520G ... that is a 15.4" screen ... So, how WIDE and LONG is your laptop in Inches? Because if you read the extensive Review of "X2P" on this forum on Zalman NC-1000 should have worked for your laptop!!!

G!

 

Zalman is expensive indeed but it does the job effectively.

 

anyone tried the cooler master notepal with m1330? does it cool the palmrest area?

 

I havent but I dont think it would work to well with the m1330 because it cools the sides better than the center and because the m1330 is 13.3'' it wouldn't work too well with it.

 

any other place except mobile planet to buy the infinite? it comes out to be 42~ with shipping on mobileplanet...i would rather pay 5 bucks more and get teh NC-1000

 

In the US no, as far as I know. Also, its not about which is better than the other, its about which one works best with you notebook.

 

where else tho? can you point me to any website/retail store?

 

I meant mobile planet was the only place, oops.

 

o okay...

well there is not way im paying 42 bucks for that.

anyone here selling a used one?

 

Would it fit a ASUS G1s?? I might consider getting one from 'gloden pc center'.

 

Yes it will fit fine. With the bottom end (closest to you) slightly (2-3mm) going over the edge. My friend had both and it worked fine.

 

anyone know how to clean the fan on infinite? with the least equipment.

 

You will need a screw driver. Take off the 4 rubber pads on the metal mesh, then you should be able to see the screws.

 

thanks. finally get around of it.
there's a heck of dust

 

Has anyone used this with an M1530? Does the air blown reach the intake vent on the lower back corner?

 

You mean the infinite? I have a HP 8510p and the vents are located at about same locations as the 1530's main vents. works very well for me.

 

I got mine for free from CM, really love this product. It suits my Macbook so well.

 

Thanks for this great review. I have been using my daughter's dell laptop and it is burning my legs and my tables and everything else it sits on! I researched all of them and your review realized the prob with the dells utilizing the other cooler pads on the market, they don't work! The fact u can use it on your lap and it works! is the deciding factor for me. I just ordered one of these and can't wait to get it. Now when she goes back to school and leaves this thing on day and nite I know she won't burn the house down when the computer melts her furniture or the laptop won't implode due to the blocks vents. Again, thanks so much for taking the time and effort to advise us novices of what we need to make our computer life easier!

 

can this cool pad fit xps m1730?

 

No it wont. I recommend the NZXT Cryo or the Zalman NC2000. Look at the notbeook coolers buyers guide if yo

u like.

Personally Id go for the NZXT with the 1730.

 

hey is that big black rectangle thing in the middle of the infinite...does that let air thru? it seems kind of dumb to block off air right in the middle -_-'

im afraid i think one of my vents is located there - that is the only thing stopping me from ordering one of these. http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/33886.jpg

so if anyone can confirm or deny that would be greatly appreciated.

 

Nope no air comes through, thats because its where the fan is located. You actually get a good amount of air coming through around the edges of the black rectangle.

My ram slots are also located in the center and they are fine. Since your notebook is 15.4'', there are room to move it up and down the cooler for your own liking.

Here is a pic of a 15.4'' wide screen notebook on the infinite.

 

Johnny T, if you wouldnt mind, could you measure the distance of that black rectangle from the bottom (meaning starting from the top of the area were it says notepal at the bottom of the pad, to the bottom of the black rectangle)? i would like to see how much of my vent it will cover.

in hindsight it seems kind of dumb of notepal to do that but meh, i hear the cooler is pretty good other wise - and it can save me a good 25 bucks as compared to the nc2000 which the lowest i find is for ~65 shipped.

 

Sorry for being slow...



Ok, from the center of the cooler, from the bottom (blackplastic part saying NOTEPAL) up to the black rectangle, its 14 cm. The black plastic part at the bottom is about 3 cm tall.

 

okay thx bro. im gunna measure my notebook and see whats what.

update: it seems that from the peg of my notebook to the top of that central vent, it is EXACTLY 14 cm! Seeing as the 14 cm is from the bottom of the plastic, i will lose a couple of cm but that shouldnt be that big of a deal.

so the question comes down to...pay ~42 for the notepal infinite or ~65 for the zalman nc2000

 

found one canadian site that has this cooler, and its going to cost $60 to bring it in (including the crazy shipping fees...)... going to wait a bit.

 

What are you looking for in a cooler for that price there are MANY MANY more options.

 

the cooler itself if $35 a respectable price for a laptop accessory, the rest of the $60 is shipping! it's the only site i have found that has it instock. I have yet to find a cooler that works with my design of laptop - and I don't have the means to build one myself.

if you have any recommendations I would love to hear them...

 

Hey, how well does this cooler work with the Inspiron 1420? I just bought one and am trying it out, see some good differences in HDD and CPU temps, but GPU doesn't seem to be appreciably affected, in fact temps went up even at max fan speed, and I've got no games or anything very stressful running. What on Earth? I bought a cooler precisely because I was worried about GPU (NVidia 8400) overheating....It seems as though the vent and fan alignment isn't quite right or something. Temps on GPU (and everything else) go down more and faster when I turn on my room AC, which is not exactly an applicable solution every time I want to turn on my lappy. Suggestions (and PLEASE don't tell me to get a Zalman--way out of my budget for this year)?

 

Where abouts is the GPU located? From the pictures of the bottom it does look like the Notepal infinite will work well but the center vents wont be covered too well.

 

Uh, have no idea exactly, to be honest. I looked at the bottom, but it doesn't seem to note whereabouts exactly is the GPU. But since the GPU seems to be the hottest part usually, I'd hazard it to be somewhere near the left palmrest... Dell's Owner's Manual doesn't say either, unfortunately.

 

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1420/en/SM/sysbd.htm#wp1106487

Zoom in on that pic of the mobo. It looks like its dead center of the notebook unfortunately...

 

well the zalman nc2000 failed...time to give this cooler a try. i just passed on the nc2000 to my brother. the only reason i am hesitant to buy this right now is if this doesnt work well, ill just have thrown away 42 bucks...

 

What notebook do you have again?

 

The M-152XL

Heres what the bottom of my notebook looks like
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk87/Lakjin/bottomofmylaptop.jpg(those are just some measurements I took to see what was the "cooling" area of my notebook.)
I checked it out, it will fit fine on the infinite. I am only worried that it wont perform any better then the Zalman NC2000 or the Belkin cooler, both of which had a 3-5C drop in all areas.

Right now I am just trying to see if there is any way I can knock down the price a little bit, so that even if the cooler sucks, I wont be out of too much cash.. I was ecstatic when I found a $25 off a $25+ order via paypal coupon but turns out my account isnt eligible...bleh!

I was also considering that Zalman NC1000 knockoff for 20 bucks. Was thinking maybe the larger fans in there might cool my notebook better, but the website doesnt list dimensions for it...so I dont know if it will fit properly.

 

I think I have said this before but it looks fine except for the center vents.

 

Ya I remember, thx for that.

The thing is, after my experience with the Zalman NC2000, which was supposed to perform great on my notebook, I am hesitant to order a cooler online, because I wont be able to return it(or I would have to pay a restocking fee + shipping) if it sucks o_o nor can i just pass it off to anyone, my brother already has the NC2000 now thx to my screw up.

If only someone with my notebook had tested it, hehe.

 

so, i just caved in and orderd myself an infinite. should be here in 1-2 weeks (they have to ship it from europe =( )

so, johnny, me and you can start our own club now

 

How much did you get it for? Also I am quite surprised that there are many more people than i thought who owns the cooler...