A Zalman NC1000 for $16?

While this definitely does not have the label "Zalman" on the cooler, it certainly resembles the Zalman in almost every possible way. The only differences I can see are the USB ports are vertical instead of horizontal. Anyone have any reviews on this cheaper Zalman look-a-like?

http://www.meritline.com/15-4-laptop-cooling-pad-2-quiet-fan-2-usb-hub-black.html

I'll be buying this either way to see how it works. For $17, I might as well give it a shot.

EDIT::: Sorry about the title, I just noticed that I wrote $16 instead of $17.

 

definitely a cheap copy. If it works it works but I would have to question if the fans or build quality is the same.

 

Even for being a replica of the NC1000, I like the overall quality. It looks like it has a couple of larger fans would would be able to dissipate more heat and should be quieter.

Edit: Arg, no fan controller. :/

 

$17 & free shipping ain't bad at all... it's got aluminum... so even if the fan cooling is bad, the aluminum and tilted surface should be worth at least $17 right? Anyways, I'll let everyone how this thing works when I get it.

 

Yeah this could be a good opportunity for me to use this as a base for my DIY cooler rather than build my own body. Thing is the NC1000 has a very low profile so its very hard to fit 120mm fans in there like I want.

 

which 120mm fans are you looking at right now?

 

I have a spare 120mm S-Flex laying around that I did not use in my desktop build figured I would toss it inside my NC100 and use the 2nd usb port as a power port and plug it in for super extra cooling but it wont fit in the middle of the cooler only the back area wich is already occupied by the 2 fans so I would have to be more creative I guess.

I had the mod all pland out I was going to cut a hinge door in the bottom so it would be closed when not using the 2nd fan to not lose air pressure and then open it and plug in the 2nd usb port for "turbo" mode where I could have the 120mm fan in addition to the 2 fans already in the cooler it would really boost up the units cooling, even more so if I wire in a 2nd wire for a 12v feed.

 

interesting plan, would you end up using an AC adapter ---> USB for the power? that seems like a mod that I might end up wanting to do, I just don't think the power from my notebook USB is actually that strong. If you do end up doing an AC adapter setup, please let me know how it goes so that I can follow in your footsteps

 

Great Deal!

 

No the stock NC1000 has 2 usb ports so that you can use it as a pass thru and not lose a usb port when using the cooler.

I was going to sever the connection between the two and just have a 2nd small usb cord to connect it to another usb port this way there is no dangling wire to deal with and I only have to use it when I need it. However it would be very easy to use a AC adapter instead or just wire one in. But thats not what I was going to do, for high power I was going to have yet another usb cord that comes directly off the laptop battery connections instead its close to 12v and will work essentially the same but use the laptop power pack instead of having to plug in a 2nd one.

 

that seems to be the BYTECC knock-off of the Zalman.

be aware that these have notoriously loud fans from previous people that have bought them.

 

No, this isn't the BYTECC knock-off. BYTECC knock-off has USB ports positioned exactly like the Zalman. The Meritline cooler has different USB, and looks to have larger fans.

Weird how for a knockoff, BYTECC is still $48....

 

Anyone buy this?
If so, how is it?

 

bumpity bump bump....

i'm curious if anyone has tried this yet...