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    Battery draining while plugged in!

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by robert77, Feb 18, 2017.

  1. robert77

    robert77 Notebook Guru

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    I bought a Alienware 15 R3 Nov 23/2016 (cpu 6700 and gtx 1070) When I play games at max it will drain the battery even though it is plugged in! I do not think this is normal I have already received a replacement charger from tech support thinking the first one may be faulty! After trying a few games the issue is still there! Any suggestions would be appreciated!
     
    robert77, Feb 18, 2017
    #1
  2. Wormwood

    Wormwood Notebook Evangelist

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    Are you sure that you are using the appropriate charger? I think the 1070 needs a more powerful one although I might be confusing it was the 17 R4 with the 1080.
     
    Wormwood, Feb 19, 2017
    #2
  3. robert77

    robert77 Notebook Guru

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    Yes it is the correct charger from Alienware!
     
    robert77, Feb 19, 2017
    #3
  4. Wormwood

    Wormwood Notebook Evangelist

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    How much wear is your battery showing?
     
    Wormwood, Feb 19, 2017
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  5. Jared_T

    Jared_T Notebook Evangelist

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    Your adapter should be the 230w. Anything less and you'd be getting that issue. Can you confirm that its rated for 230w?

    Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk
     
    Jared_T, Feb 19, 2017
    #5
  6. robert77

    robert77 Notebook Guru

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    It is as follows:
    240W
    output : 19.5V 12.3A
    Adapter Model GA2400PE1-00
     
    robert77, Feb 19, 2017
    #6
  7. robert77

    robert77 Notebook Guru

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    2.4% ware is what it is telling me! It has been at that level since I first got it!
     
    robert77, Feb 19, 2017
    #7
  8. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

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    Which games? This only occurs when the adapter is not supplying enough power to the system so the battery begins to drain to supplement it.

    Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk
     
    Mechanized Menace, Feb 19, 2017
    #8
  9. t456

    t456 1977-09-05, 12:56:00 UTC

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    Check the draw from the socket with a watt-meter; if it consumes 265W or more then a 240W is not enough (+10% conversion loss). If it draws less than 265W and still drains the battery then the adapter is defective or overheating.
     
    t456, Feb 19, 2017
    #9
  10. Jared_T

    Jared_T Notebook Evangelist

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    Im putting my money on the adapter being defective. Had one do that a few years ago. Wasnt very fun

    Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk
     
    Jared_T, Feb 19, 2017
    #10
  11. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    With the system properly undervolted and on full load, the battery will not drain. I have confirmed this myself with multiple 17 and 15 systems that has come in for a repaste.


    The only exception is if you have an overclockable CPU and you try to push both component at the same time.
     
    Mobius 1, Feb 19, 2017
    #11
  12. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    check if you have desktop mode enabled, right click on the battery icon in the tray and check for the related option.
     
    abdullah_mag, Feb 19, 2017
    #12
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  13. robert77

    robert77 Notebook Guru

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    I do not have that option in windows mobility center!
     
    robert77, Feb 19, 2017
    #13
  14. alexnvidia

    alexnvidia Notebook Deity

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    my R4 OC to 4GHz CPU, default clocks on GPU, had battery drain once with the latest BIOS while testing one of my games. the GPU reached 190W, that's when the battery started to drain. and im on 330W PSU
     
    alexnvidia, Feb 19, 2017
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  15. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

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    This smells like Dell's software engineers play with firmware. Same as Msi did with the old Gt70. And Dell's engineers is well known with hybrid functionality after the mess with the first AW Echo models.
     
    Papusan, Feb 20, 2017
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  16. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    power drain on OC HK cpu and 1070 is normal

    power drain on a properly undervolt HQ and 1070 isn't normal, ask for a replacement psu
     
    Mobius 1, Feb 20, 2017
    #16
  17. alexnvidia

    alexnvidia Notebook Deity

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    mine is a 6820HK + 1080 GPU, but im on a 330W PSU, not the 240W. is that also normal?
     
    alexnvidia, Feb 20, 2017
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  18. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

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    No!! :cool:
     
    Papusan, Feb 20, 2017
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  19. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Oh

    yes it is normal

    the 330 is too small to power an overclocked HK and 1080 at the same time
     
    Mobius 1, Feb 20, 2017
    #19
  20. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

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    I have pulled +425w from the wall with max clocked 980 and @4.8Ghz. Single 330w. And 980 OC'd pulls more power than Pascal. Use a Kill-A-Watt and monitor max power draw from the wall.
     
    Papusan, Feb 20, 2017
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  21. alexnvidia

    alexnvidia Notebook Deity

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    i dont OC my GPU, only CPU OC to 4GHz that's all. i will test again the same game see if i can reproduce the same result.
     
    alexnvidia, Feb 21, 2017
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  22. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

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    Papusan, Feb 25, 2017
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  23. robert77

    robert77 Notebook Guru

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    As others have suggested "desktop mode" whitch is funny because Alienware has removed it from their drivers! How about the one for "under volting the CPU" If I go that route then I am not getting the full performance I paid for! It is not normal behavior and needs to be addressed with a motherboard replacement! This is my 11th Alienware laptop and the only one that has had this issue!
     
    robert77, Feb 25, 2017
    #23
  24. VICKYGAMEBOY

    VICKYGAMEBOY Notebook Deity

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    desktop mode charging option shows up once you install alienware onscreen display driver.. dell softwares have messy names and messy functionality these days.. and latest dell bios is crap..
     
    VICKYGAMEBOY, Feb 26, 2017
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  25. erodeox

    erodeox Notebook Enthusiast

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    I can confirm even with i5 7300HQ + GTX 1060 + FHD Gsync panel @60hz, the ****ty machine is draining the battery when gaming.
     
    erodeox, Feb 8, 2018
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  26. rinneh

    rinneh Notebook Prophet

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    I came across this last week with my old charger. I had 2 240watt chargers and one of them couldnt keep my machine running so i had battery drain (same part number as the one that came with my laptop). The charger also felt really hot and made an annoying coil noise sound.

    Be sire to check if your psu is okay.
     
    rinneh, Feb 8, 2018
    #26
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  27. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I use UWP app called Powerplan switcher to switch Power options based on AC/battery.
     
    Vasudev, Feb 10, 2018
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  28. rinneh

    rinneh Notebook Prophet

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    Mine does it too. 240watt is not enough" tried 3 chargers
     
    rinneh, May 17, 2018
    #28