m17-r2 slim(mer) power supply (sorta)

hey guys quick observation

i had the m17x r-2 with the dual 4870's when it first came out. it ended up being plagued with so many problems that dell replaced my laptop with a new one with the specs i have in my signature (they upgraded my graphics cards).

i still had the extra power supply i bought for my first r2 and when the new one came, i couldn't help but compare the newer r2's power supply. the cord (at part that lights up blue and plugs into the back of the machine) is thinner. also, on the bottom of the power supply, around where it says flextronics, the revision has gone from A01 to A02.

I'd like to get a second of this new power supply (especially since a friend of mine wishes to buy my spare old one), but i don't see how. i checked the part number (or item number if you will) from my old order number (that came with the A01 power supply) and the new laptop's order number (that came with the A02) - the item numbers are identical for both power supplies.

if anyone has had both power supplies and also noticed the difference, is there any conceivable way of distinguishing them for a dell parts order?

as a side note, i'd like to point out that this isn't entirely aesthetic. the cord is thinner, more flexible and slides in and out of the machine easier. it's a lot nicer imho and i'd love to have two (one to be permanently inside my desk and one to be ready to go for traveling).

 

I got my machine Oct '10 and it says A01 as well. So I can only assume all the newer ones come with the A01 power supply. Maybe the A00 just got phased out.

 

Hmm. Now I might have liked a power plug that was tighter, because I have the A01 with the nice flexible cord, but I think the plug is a little wiggly. It doesn't outright fall out (yet) but looks like it could someday. My "old" M1730, which I might mention still runs like a champ, has the thick, gnarley cord with the tight power plug, and I think I like it that way. Well, not to distract...

 

My bad. I meant A02. The old one is A01 and i have an A02. (EDIT: I have both, obviously. But I'd like to get my hands on a second A02)

 

Noooooooo..... Now you've got me all interested in this new fancy power supply.

 

I come bearing proof:

http://i.imgur.com/qpXIa.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Xywuk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/nYIDo.jpg

Left side: A02, Right Side: A01

the cord is only slightly thinner to the naked eye, but a lot more flexible and less rigid as a result.

 

I got an A02 with my m6500. I no longer have my A01 that came with my M17x, but I don't feel much difference.

 

A matter of opinion I suppose. Did you compare them side by side as I have the luxury of doing? The cord is much more flexible.

Also, did u have dual graphics cards with your m17x? there's a 150W power supply that comes with a single GPU non-extreme processor M17x, only its cord might be thinner and more flexible because of the difference in Watts.

Both power supplies in my pictures are 240W.

 

i have the A02 on my R2. it was exactly the same one as my R1, because i compared them before i shipped my R1 back dell. i had been considering keeping the R1 power supply as a backup and wanted to make sure they were the same, which they were. i ended up not keeping the R1 supply because i didn't want to get into any legal issues.

 

anyone know how to distinguish these two different revisions of the power supply?