Review: M1530 with notebook Cooler NC2000

Because of the number of threads regarding heat issues for the M1530,
i thought I would present a compact review of the effects of a Zalman NC2000 working with the system.

The official Zalman Site for the product can be found here:
http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=340&code=030

The GPU of the M1530 is overclocked from 475/700 to 583/853 which is approximentaly 21-22% increase. I have performed 3dMark06 tests with the following setups:
(1) Notebook on a wooden table
(2) Notebook with Zalman NC2000 activated with full throttle
(3) Notebook raised about 1cm from table with coins taped together.

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Appearance
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Notebook with Zalman NC2000.


Notebook raised 1cm from table with a premium lifting device (Patent pending)


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PERFORMANCE
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(1) Notebook against table - 3Dmark06 score 5212 and a max GPU temperature of 76 degrees celsius (169 Fahrenheit). Average idle temp 60 degrees celcius (140 F).

(2) Notebook with NC2000 - 3Dmark06 score 5206 and max GPU temperature of 74 degrees celsius (165 F). Same idle temp as (1).

(3) Notebook raised from table - 3Dmark06 score 5226 and max GPU temperature of 74 degrees celsius (165 F). Same idle temp as (1).

(Unnecessary programs where not active during test)

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CONCLUSION
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The marginal differences in 3Dmark06 scores are of no importance since a average of three runs probably would have generated more even results. During these short tests, there is a limited improvement with using a cooling pad but this result can just as well be matched by raising the computer with 10 SEK taped together (equivalent to 1,5 USD).

One of the shortcomings with the Zalman NC-series when using on M1530 is probably the fact that there is no cooled air reaching the air intake. Seeing as this one of the cooling pad's soul porposes (probably the biggest), then the pad is more or less rendered useless. See picture;


I have therefore decided to return my cooling pad and do something more useful with my 85 USD
(probably produce more Swedish premium lifting devices seeing as the demand is about to sky rocket after this article )

Comments, questions, rep is appreciated

 

Haha i like your premium lifting device. I have been known to use similar devices in the past.

 

+1 . Coolers are a waste of money , if your notebook needs a cooler something is wrong with it .

How bout a review of the A4 3xfire mouse instead , does it work well in shooters ?

 

Damn, they're a lot bigger then I thought lol. I've just ordered the black version of these so I can keep the machine cool. I'm a bit nervous about my 1530 dying from heat, as my previous one almost did that.

 

Hehe the notebook needs cooling if you want to overclock it as much as possible =)

Yeah the 3xfire mouse works quite nicely. Its a real plus that one doesn't need to have any program installed rather that its in the hardware itself. Works very nicely with crysis btw ^^

Kainz, I would advice you to purchase another cooling unit than the NC-series seeing as not much cooled air reaches the intake.

 

Lindstroem, thanks for the update on your setup. Always appreciate reviews like this.

 

This is not true. If you do gaming the cpu can run a little hot. ALso sometime you get dust in your laptop which can also cause it to get a little hot

 

Glad to hear it, feel free to add rep =)
Is your clocking setting stable? Maxtemp?

After a long while of playing Crysis I can now reach the maxtemp of 78

 

hey lindstroem,

what mouse is that
it looks really nice...and thnks for the review also

 

Its a A4 Tech - X-718F, you can find a official link here:
http://www.a4tech.com/en/product2.asp?CID=102&SCID=103&MNO=X-718F

 

Nice review and definately saved me $54 from getting the Zalman cooler. Now I need to find another cooler, which actually gets air into the intake. Where is the intake located anyways?

 

If you look at the Zalman-Notebook Cooler picture I've attached, the area where the intake for the M1530 is pointed out.
You can also see it here:
http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/29197.jpg

 

interesting....just ran CS:S for about an hour and i am getting 66 degrees on the NC-1000??

 

With what temp with you run with out?

Please note that the NC-1000 and NC-2000 differs some which may lead to better cooling with a smaller model when the air holes may reach the air intake

 

I've had my m1530 for about a week.

I use it on my lap.
Ever so often I feel a sudden hot spot on my left leg. At first, I thought the hot air output was right there on my leg. But then I realized it is the cool air intake.

I feel the hot air from the intake when right when the fan turns on. I'm not sure why that is. It is just a puff of super hot air, and then it fades away.

I might want something to keep my legs from getting so hot. Seems like some kind of wooden board or some cloth of the right material might work.
Any recommendations?

 

The hot spot on your left leg is most probably caused by the fact that your left leg with cloth is blocking a part of the air-intake which makes the fan unable to cool the computer sufficiently. By just having a plain hard surface to put the computer on in your lap would probably to the trick. I would advice against cloth seeing as it may clog the air intake (unless you especially take the intake in consideration when using the cloth so that the intake is free from blockage).

 

Alright.

WITHOUT NC1000
Idle - 60-66 (varies for some odd reason)
Gaming - 73-78

WITH NC1000
Idle - 54-60
Gaming - 65-70

 

Thats well into 2 hours of TF2 with the Zalman NC-1000.

 

Good review, but yeh, you have to position the laptop so the air intake is directly on top of the ventilation, otherwise the cooling potential isn't even tapped. Maybe you can do a retest? It'll help others out a bunch.

 

Did you try to see how the temps are when the laptop is slid down a little further so that the fans are below the main intake?

 

I wouldn't mind a retest as well

 

i wouldn't mind one either. I was about to purchase the zalman 1000.

 

Yes I will perhaps try try again, but during my usage when positioned right, the result is not staggering.. But I can do a correct and thorough test, but I will take a while.. Moving to a new apartment.

 

I agree...if coolers are needed then something is wrong.

 

that's faulty logic.

Of course, laptop will work without cooler. But with cooler it won't overheat if you do an intensive task or play a game. Coolers actually do help.