Zalman NC 1000 Cooling Test on xps m1530

Zalman NC 1000 Cooling Test on 15'4 inch notebooks
*test utilizing the xps m1530.

Foreword On this Review

As potential buyers in the laptop cooler market, consumers all need to make informed decisions on their purchase. This includes price/performance balancing, lifestyle needs, or simply the fact that laptop cooler acts as a sort of insurance against hardware toil and ware.

To all of you guys, I want to suggest searching and reading up different sources so that you guys could make the best purchase. This include some of best reviews put up by different users here on this forum.

Notebook Coolers: A Buyers Guide

My review serve as one of the many points of reference for this cooler and its capabilities. Remember that this test will show the general capabilities this cooler will have to offer. You might get better or worse performances based on each individual laptop. So its very important to closely inspect your laptop to see how well this cooler will fit your laptop's cooling needs.

Lets get started with my review!

OKAY SO HOW DOES THIS THING LOOK?!


Product Details

* Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 13 x 1.6 inches ; 3.6 pounds


First of the Cooler is smaller than the 1530, and the sides of the laptop overhangs. Some people might not like this, but I personally think its gives the laptop a FLOATING look to it. Here are some pictures to decide for yourself:



as you can see, the NC1000 is slimmer than the xps 1530 but longer in length.



The NC 1000 raise the laptop about an and inch and a half off the back and half an inch in the front. It feels alot better to type in this position.



After finding the perfect spot for optimal cooling this is about what you'll get in positioning. Half an inch overhang on both sides and plenty of room in the back. There is also a front overhang of half an inch.

It also feels Very stable on a desk, I can find no wobble, even if i tried really hard to jerk the laptop, it will stay in place.



The position of your laptop will be lifted off your desk surface an inch or so. The incline of the keyboard to the screen makes typing even more comfortable.

Break Down of the XPS 1530 Cooling system and NC1000 Cooling Mechanics:



>>So the red area is the most important cooling area, it is where the only m1530 fan is located. It is also an intake, and thus by sucking in air, it cools the system. Since the NC1000 blows cool air upwards, if you fully position all of this area over the NC1000's cooling outlets, you can see ~2 C of temperature difference.

>>The green areas are less important, they are also intakes, but for the hard drive/provides additional circulation, not fulling enclosing them with in the cooling outlets will not yield temperature differences.

>> The xps m1530 exhaust system is located @ the rear of the computer and blows hot air out. Thus a cooling system that blows air towards the computer from the back would drastically INCREASE system heat, the NC 1000 will do no such thing.


Enough with the aesthetics, I wanna know how well it actually RUNS


Performance Test:
From the NC 1000 box: 'This product description guaranteed about 10-15 degree C temperature drop...'

My Verdict: I find this promise fulfilled at times while coming short during other instances:

Temperature prior to using the NC 1000 (highest setting):

Truly Idle: 45C
Day to day computer work: (cpu throttled at max 2.2ghz constant 11x undervolt: 1.1) : 57-58C
Gaming: Mass Effect (cpu and gpu intensive, OCed gpu @ 650/880, after 1 hour) : CPU: 78C, GPU:93C peak, 90C average

Temperature with cooling pad:

Idle: 34C
Day to day computing: (cpu throttled at max 2.2ghz constant 11x regular volt: 1.2): 52-53C

Gaming:

Mass Effect (OC gpu @660/880, after 2 hour) : CPU: 65 GPU:75C peak. 72 C average

Team Fortress 2 after 2 hours: CPU: 62 GPU: 69


Elder Scrolls Oblivion: (1280x800 Larger Texture, High Settings, OC gpu 660/890 after 3 hours): Max:74 C, Low: 69, Average: 72

Gears of War: (1280x800, settings all max, gpu 680/880 after 3 hours: (Max:82C, Low:65C, Average: 75C)

As you can see, max temperature b4/after using this cooling pad dropped at least 10 C, this is constant with its marketing.

However regular work see very little temperature drop. Given that the cooling test was done @ higher voltage which pushes the temp up about 2C, thats still only an overall 7 C drop while performing daily computing tasks.

In this instance, the NC 1000 does not deliver its 10C temperature drop promise. Part of this is due to the fact that the system exhaust doesn't turn on during regular work, which may limit the performance of the cooling pad.

However, gaming is really where this cooler shines. up to a 20 C drop is truely amazing. w/o coolingpad, my system would super hot and I wouldnt be able to game for more than 1 hour with 650/880 OCed clocks, in fact I had to underclock my CPU to 1.6 mhz to run the system stably.

Now I can OC up to 680/880 with cpu running @ full and still experience dramatically lowered temperature. With this cooler, I am experiencing and utilizing the True Overclocking Potential of my 8600m gt DDR3.

Noise Levels:

This cooling pad will not be quiet under its highest setting where you'll most like stay. While, it is not distracting to sit by this cooler, you'll have to get use to living what sounds like an air conditioner for a while. The noise level however is negligible under its lowest settings.

How much am I paying for this setup?
*Price Comparisons: Taken From Amazon

Notebook Cooler, black, Zalman NC1000
Price: $49.38
You Save: $8.96 (15%)

*Note, this is considered high for notebook coolers, average pricing around 35 USD

Now What do I think of The Zalman NC 1000 as a purchase decision

Verdict: The NC 1000 is a great cooling pad for gaming purposes. Due the many laptop's inherent design of not utilizing the exhaust during regular work, this cooling pad is less useful during regular computing tasks.

Aesthetics: it is not too heavy, smaller than your 15'4 inch notebook thus making it an easy carry. it is also overhangs from sides and front which may not be your choice. Overall great craftsmanship, weight and stability.

Other thoughts : I think the biggest plus of this cooling system is the careful thought towards user comfort that you wont get with your average cooling pad. The cool air leak over the sides making those long typing hours pleasants. The natural incline created by the pad also makes the palm rest feel alot more natural. The screen is also a bit more closer to your natural field of vision when sitting down on a normal chair. No more turtle necking towards the screen guys.


Closing Comments: This laptop cooler gets huge props for delivering on its quality. This cooler will be able to achieve as much as a 15-20C drop while gaming on many systems, leaving more head room for overclocking and boosting performance potentials. However, its price is its premium and may not be worth it for other users who doesn't do heavy overclocking or gaming. People who are considering buying a Zalman 1000 should also consider the Zalman 2000 as an alternative. It is a bigger cooler built for 17' systems and may possibly offer better cooling depending on the system you use.




Hope you've enjoyed this review.

 

Great job and good review.

 

I'm not sure exactly how much of a difference the Zalman NC-1000 makes to my temperatures; I don't game without it and very rarely use my laptop anywhere but my desk on the cooler, but I didn't think it reduced the temperature as much as that for my laptop. I'm sure it has reduced temperature by at least 5 degrees to the GPU and 3 for the CPU, but like you said, if the laptop's fan isn't on it doesn't make as much of a difference.

For my Toshiba A210 I have to slide the front feet off the front of the cooler to get the fan vent over the holes in the cooler (I use dominoes to support the feet), that helped reduce temperatures a further 2 degrees from having it all on the cooler. I can't see the cooler at all sitting at my desk; which I definately prefer to a large cooler sticking out the sides.

I recently tried undervolting my CPU and was suprised how much it helps temperatures (and is free). So far it has reduced my CPU's max temperatures by around 5 degrees (RMClock). Now I can overclock to 2ghz without going over 60 degrees, compared to 64 degrees max at 1.8ghz with default voltages.

 

I'll test the nc1000 on a HP Pavilion dv6500z in the coming few weeks... That laptop has a heaty exhaust as well...

 

Hi WileyCoyote,

NICE Review ... it really helped me ... and I love your "Handle" ...

Thanks!

G!

 

I don't think this question is answered directly in your review.

Does the NC1000 direct air away or towards the laptop?

I think you imply that it directs air away from the laptop, but I'm not completely sure.

 

It blows the air into towards the laptop's bottom... so it should be direct air towards the laptop.. I have the nc1000 too

 

updated and lunateck answered your question: every opening on the bottom of the m1530 is an intake, so the NC1000 fits well with this system by facilitating intake with providing cooler and fast flow air.

 

I see, I was checking as your earlier text gave me the impression that it drew air away from the bottom of the M1530.

That sounded odd as I had previously read that the NC2000 blew towards the notebook.

Good job with the review. Your desktop is pretty funky.

 

Pretty much all notebooks with fans intake air from the bottom and exhaust the air on the back and/or sides.

I do not know why some people still think its the other way around.

Notebook coolers want to increase/improve the airflow by pushing more air to the bottom of the notebook.

If it was the other way around, than that would be very counter productive... don't you think.

Nice write-up BTW.

 

Exactly why I asked.

 

Hi WileyCoyote,

Q1: For your XPS M1530 ... if you had a second thought ... would you still go with the NC1000 versus NC2000 model?

The reason I am asking is not so much for the "Cooling" ... but the fit of the 15.4" laptop to the NC1000 vs NC2000 ... since their respective WIDTH sizes are as 13" vs. 15.75".

Actually for anyone who is interested (since I had to look thru like 50 sites to dig this up) ...

NC1000: L x W x H is 12.1" x 13" x 1.57"
NC2000: L x W x H is 12.52" x 15.75" x 1.67"

So as you can see the major difference between the two units is mostly the WIDTH.

Thanks,

G!

 

Yes I would. I was pretty skeptical about the dimensions right after i ordered the nc1000, if you go back on these forum threads, you'll see me trying to confirm my irrational fear that the laptop is somehow gonna fall off the cooler.

But in reality there are big advantages to having a smaller cooler. For one, all the cooling goes into the laptop vents, a bigger cooler will have unused outlets when used with a 15'4 inch and thus waste cooling potential.

And plus I just think its way cooler to have the floating look.. check my pictures to see what i mean.

 

Hi Wiley,

Would you believe it if I say after I posted my earlier comment I actually went ahead and "Printed" your pictures so I can look at them ...

And after this last post and reply of yours

... make even more sense to go with the NC1000 ...

Thanks,

G!

 

Good to hear that i helped on your purchasing decision man!

 

Thanks for the review, I just got a 1530 and was looking around for a cooler.

rep to you!

 

Wrong, many notebooks have vents for memory, hard drive etc that require cooling and the vents are used for that. Also for cooling the under chassis. A drop in chassis temperature can bring upon temp changes for the system in general

I will be writing a review identical to my nc2000 with the nc1000 and post a comparasion and I bet that resaults will be almost identical if the 2000 doesnt win by about 1C

 

Well what you said is true, but that doesnt make what i said false.
If bigger coolers have unused outlets, it does turn into wasted cooling, which would then give smaller coolers that doesnt waste cooling great cost effectiveness.
Thats given that bigger coolers will leave some cooling outlets unused, its not true for every cooler however. I actually saw a picture of how a 15'4 inch fits on the nc 2000 on your thread, and it fits well. So the NC 2000 will cool just as well if not better.. due to bigger fans I assume? But just from looking @ how a 15'4 fits on a 2000 as oppose to a 1000, there are big differences and it becomes an aethestical choice. If i got the NC 2000 for my laptop would I like it? sure, but I'll have a harder time carrying it around and would have paid more money for the bang. Getting a bigger laptop cooler also changes your desk area since its noticeably larger.

Glad to see you're writing additional comparisons, it'll help anyone tittering on the edge out alot. i would like to see the results myself. Hopefully everyone realizes that you should get different sizes based on individual laptop specifications, personal use and preference, price, etc.

 

Are those PCMCIA laptop cooling cards that insert into the PCMCIA slot with a fan effective?

 

No they are are a waste of 15-30$.

 

I'm thinking of picking this or the NC2000 up, but will be using it mostly while sitting on my lap. Is this suitable to be placed on a lap?

 

No, if you would like it on your lap I recommend the Cooler Master Notepal Infinite as it sucks air from the back instead of the under side

 

Good job on the review! very helpful

 

Thanks for the review!

 

Will the 9cell battery sit outside the cooler, or will it stand on the cooler.

And if it stands on the cooler, do you reckon it will work against or for the ergonomics?

 

So we don't have a definite conclusion yet between the NC1000 and 2000 for the M1530. The NC1000 seems like the better price-to-performance choice though.

EDIT: Scratch that. We also have the CM Infinite in the running.

 

NC2000 is the conclusion!

 

Too expensive and too big for my liking.

 

More evidence supporting the NC1000 to synergies better with the 1530?

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=208650&highlight=cooler+m1530

 

How less expensive is the NC 1000 compared to NC 2000?

 

New price guide up, taken from amazon. You'll have to pay 20 more for the 2000 series.

We should get other cooling test on the m1530 and I'll be happy to post them for a even more comprehensive buying guide.

 

Thanks, so for just $20 extra I would go for NC2000, instead of the NC 1000.

 

Great if you've considered all your options even though for alot of people, paying upwards of 72 with tax and shipping compared to 54 with tax and shipping is going to be a bit of a stretch. Still, hope the 2000 specs really fit your needs. Do you think you'll up to making a review of how the nc 2000 runs. I'll be happy to reference your thread in mine!

 

I think you'll see slightly less cooling performance of maybe 1-2 C. You might think about running the laptop without batteries if you really really need the performance.

 

i think one of the biggest problems with consumers, in this particular area, is that they're not physically checkin under their systems first. at first, i was gonna go with the zalman too, but decided against it. all i did was take a look at the under side and locate where the main vents/fans are. the m1530 has vents around the middle of the underside and the most important one towards the back. from there i browsed alot of coolers and narrowed it down to coolers with the fans towards the back of the cooler.

i ended up goin with the nzxt cryo LX (brushed alum & black to match my m1530 ). i love how (any) laptop looks while sittin on top of the cryo lx. and there is so much more surface room so i can adjust my laptop to get optimal cooling. i've also used a toshiba satelite with main fan/vents towards the middle/side of the laptop. all i had to do was move it around a bit to find the cooling sweet spot and enjoy. i haven't done any official testing but the toshiba runs pretty hot. i had my buddy that has no experience with any coolers try it.

i asked him how it was and this is what he told me: "man the bottom is cool, the palm rest is pretty cool, and my friggin legs are cold now"

 

yeh, sounds like you ended up making the right choice then! when it comes to laptop cooling, i think i prefer a different style. I like the cooler to be almost invisible but still have all of its cooling outlets directed towards the intake.

My m1530 looks like its just floating on air right now, pretty cool looking and all and the position and incline is also really great for typing so im pretty happy about it. The best part is that it cools really well of course.

 

Just find a local store that will price match... points to how I got mine for 56$ Canadian. (NC2000)

 

hey great review and it was very informative. rep'd ya =)

so we can conclude: if u want the "floaty" look. the zalman nc1000 is the way to go

i may have to do a new m1530 + cyro lx review, but with temp readings this time.

 

since this havent been up for a long time, thought this bump might help those forum foragers still needing to decide on a laptop cooler.

 

I ordered this cooler today.
Hope its worth the money!

I paid $61 CAD (includes shipping and tax) for it.

p.s My laptop is xps m1530

 

I don't get all the praise coolers are getting. I've got the XPS M1530 and I first bought a cheap $10 cooler off ebay which had 3 fans. It did nothing to my temps...if anything it made it warmer for some reason so I stopped using it.

Then I go out and buy the Zalman NC1000 since everyone's talking about how good it is. Um the thing is...honestly why do I not notice any significant difference in temps?

Played CoH for about an hour each time, and my temps on HWMonitor were practically the same with and without using the cooler...and this is with the fan on max. The difference if any is so insignificant that I can't even tell if there is a difference.

What gives? How are you getting a 10 degree drop? I can feel the cool air coming from the cooler. The vents aren't blocked or anything.

Would like to hear if anyone else experienced similar disappointing results.

Spent $77AU on this which is kind of a waste of money if it doesn't make a difference.

 

it can be a couple of factors:
- first and foremost, the ambient temp (environment temp) will affect the total efficiency of cooling for the notebook's cooling system, as well as the cooler's
....... if you are using the system in a heated room, then you cannot expect it to get cooler with or without a cooler
- next, the vents of the notebook have to be cleaned out
- the notebook must be used on a clean/hard/flat surface (or the notebook cooler)
..... however, there still needs to be a slight gap between the bottom of the notebook and the cooler.... which is what the legs are for... unless if they fell out (which is when you have to prop up the system with an erase or post-its to make it up)
- lastly, make sure you are not blocking the fans/vents of the notebook cooler itself.... so do not put the notebook cooler on laps, beds, couches, etc...

 

Tilt your Cooler a bit to give more space for air intake. It helps tremendously.