The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Battery life on XPS 16

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by WildmanCAL, Feb 9, 2010.

  1. WildmanCAL

    WildmanCAL Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    121
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I am looking for real world feedback for the 6 cell battery on the XPS 16. This would be mainly word processing and Internet surfing, with the screen at about 1/2 brightness. Can anyone provide me with their experiences?

    Thanks.
     
  2. chewyeong90

    chewyeong90 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    77
    Messages:
    528
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    3 hours++

    With RMClock undervolted, Power Saver Mode, Dim LCD brightness.

    I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to lower the graphic card performance in Catalyst Control Panel so the battery life would last longer.
     
  3. Brendanmurphy

    Brendanmurphy Your Worst Nightmare

    Reputations:
    199
    Messages:
    1,007
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I get 4 hours or so with my 9 cell with powersaver, lowest brightness, and dells power saver enabled. 6 cell i get about 2 and a half
     
  4. WildmanCAL

    WildmanCAL Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    121
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thank you for your feedback. I notice both of you have Core 2 Duo's so I'm hoping Core I series will extend it even further.
     
  5. shuttlexp

    shuttlexp Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    1hr,4mins. That's terrible

    Lowest brightness level
    power saver mode

    is that normal for a 6-cell battery? i think corei7 really needs a lot of juice.
     
  6. chewyeong90

    chewyeong90 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    77
    Messages:
    528
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Sorry to say but i series consume even more power
     
  7. hitokiri1

    hitokiri1 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    637
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    9Cell, gets me roughly 2 1/2 hours on power saver with minimal tasks at half brightness, I haven't received by 6 cell battery yet but i would assume half that. (although its supposed to be 2/3 of a 9cell)
     
  8. wil1688

    wil1688 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I get about 1 1/2 hour @ 70% brightness, I am tempting to pick up a 6 cell. Any idea where to get on for reasonable price?
     
  9. Fenikkusu

    Fenikkusu Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    43
    Messages:
    569
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    On a power plan I created (very similar to power saver) when everything is set to minimum I can edge out a little over 3 hours of use (browsing the web, MS office, MSN messenger etc...) I use it when I'm in class with no outlet lol :D
    In performance mode it's like 90 minutes...at best. The i7 is a hungry little chip.
     
  10. WildmanCAL

    WildmanCAL Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    121
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I believe the Core i5 series does not consume more power. You are thinking of the i7 series.

    Thank you all again for your feedback.
     
  11. amheck

    amheck Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    6
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I got around 2 hours, with my model from Best Buy (that I ended up returning). Wifi on, brightness about 60%. Just not enough time away from the power cord for me. And too hot. But it was a nice laptop for sure.
     
  12. DuranXL

    DuranXL Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    42
    Messages:
    501
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    My battery life (6 cell) on 720qm, 4670 is absolutely horrendous. Count on 60-90min battery life max