P-7805u Zalmon NC2000 Cooler Mod

While I've never had problems with the cooling with P-7805u (with or without a cooler) since day 1, I'd like to keep my laptop cool so it can last a decade...hopefully.

I've been recently really unhappy with my Zalman Cooler that I was ready to return it and back to using my $10 china cooler from eBay >_>, I've seen around 1-2C drops in GPU Max maybe and thats it and thats what my china cooler does and more sometimes. So I've decided today to mod it so that maybe I didn't have to return it. Turned out way better, which is good. ^o^!

Notes: Zalman never really made this cooler for Gateway P-7805u or gateway never made this for zalman, it does not leave enough room for HD vents. >_<

Results:
====================
Default 7805u - P8400 Processor (No Undervolting Done!)
Zalman Settings:
- Directly Plugged into USB Port (No Hub)
- 80% Fan Speed (with adjuster on right)

Without Zalman - Max Temps with 3DMark 06:
ACPI 1: 56C
ACPI 2: 56C
CPU 1: 45C
CPU 2: 40C
GPU: 65C

With Zalman Normally Placed - All Corners Matching P-7805u - Max Temps with 3DMark 06:
ACPI 1: 56C
ACPI 2: 56C
CPU 1: 45C
CPU 2: 40C
GPU: 61C

With Zalman Placed So The Bottom is Down A Bit (No Blow Holes on HD Vent) So that the Holes on Zalman Actually Blow to the CPU P-7805u - Max Temps with 3DMark 06:
ACPI 1: 54C
ACPI 2: 54C
CPU 1: 44C
CPU 2: 39C
GPU: 62C

With My Zalman Mod - Max Temps with 3DMark 06:
ACPI 1: 50C
ACPI 2: 50C
CPU 1: 41C
CPU 2: 46C
GPU: 57C
====================

Some Basic Instructions on How I Made Mine + Pics:

Materials I Used:
1.) I used Wax Paper but if you have Tracing Paper...Better
2.) Card Board - Strong but not too Thick
3.) Plastic Securing...
4.) A Metal Grid Box Thing (Non needed as it makes transportation of Zalman difficult, but I used it as I don't carry my zalman with me when I move my laptop - its so better vent for Fans (More Space), and easier to secure board)
5.) Knife to Cut Board

What I Did:
1.) I traced the vent holes on the back on my Zalman using wax paper (or tracing)...there was 4 of them...but eventually I found out the HD one was not needed as the Zalman vent holes didn't even have enough space for the HD. And I prioritize the CPU and GPU cooling.
2.) Using the traced paper to cut out to the vent holes on the board.
3.) Match the cardboard with cut vent holes to the Zalman and mark on the side where the USB ports are....later used for matching so you know the exact position to place the laptop on the zalman with the cardboard.
4.) Position the cardboard on the zalman so that the vent holes on the zalman go to the CPU/GPU holes you cut out. Sorry, not enough space for HD vent holes
5.) Slash holes on the cardboard and use secure plastic to secure the board on the zalman.
6.) Put the laptop on the Zalman NC2000 and match the USB ports marks you made earlier so that you know the vent holes on the zalman cardboard match your 7805u.
7.) Plug everything back in and done! Way more efficient Zalman NC2000. ^_^

If I hadn't done this, I would of returned the Zalman NC2000 tomorrow, expensive thing that does nothing/same compared then my ebay china $10 cooler. =_=!

I appreciate your time in reading this...

Pictures for Reference:

 

Great mod, and the results speak for themselves..

Just let me say WOW.. I mean this laptop is a heat magnet... Don't get me wrong, I dont regret getting this, but boy oh boy its a beast. Part of me wonders, after going through all this trouble, why didn't I get a beast of a desktop and then get a netbook to carry around? Then the rest of me realizes, I love playing games and I travel from spot to spot all the time, so in reality, this is a much better solution.

Anyways, I always appreciate mods and the ideas people come up with, this being another one. I can't say that I'm going to do this, but I did however enjoy the reading. I'd love to see how many other mods/ideas get sparked b/c of your mod

 

Nice job.
Have you tried a mod like this for your China cooler? Maybe it does the same thing and you can pocket the zalman money by returning it anyway

 

I sometimes wonder the same thing, but then again I can't carry my PC with me everywhere. So we're pretty much got the this notebook with the same goal.

Thank you =)

The thing is that my china cooler is just two fans blowing up in the middle (its not a large surface area of upward air), doing the cardboard mod would just block the vents entirely unless i did an extra layer upward.

 

@ kazeari--what are your hard drive temperatures before and after the mod?

edit: ah hell...i didnt see the line where it said you didnt have enough room for the hdd vent

 

To add to that, I don't know them since I'm doing a Raid 0. Never worried about my HD temperatures too much either they were never too hot before the Raid 0 configuration. The vents now are kind of in mid air so I suppose they're getting better ventilation.

 

alright...just figured i would ask. im doing raid 0 as well and dont even worry about my temps.

 

well now that i know this i will probably return my zalman. because i feel i should have to do this to my cooler to get better performance.

 

Compared to most laptops, this thing runs cool as hell - without a cooler.

 

LOL you don't HAVE to do this. The zalman still works great if you align it properly. I didn't go as far as this ghetto modding but I did raise the back up so the laptop is leaning forward to improve cooling. I didn't HAVE to, I just wanted to improve cooling even further.

 

Yeah, shame the way Zalman is made that you have to align it a bit forward to even reach the CPU vents.

 

Yea it clearly wasnt designed for the p7801u, but no cooler is. The zalman is about as close as it gets, the zalman iirc sits backwards but it works and works efficiently. Its a nice piece too, I usually take it with me when I bring my laptop somewhere. It allows me to use my p7801u on my lap without having to worry about blocking any vents or airflow with my legs/knees.