Targus 180W, Kensington 120W and Stock GW 120W Power Supplies on P7805u Tested and Compared.

My Kensington came yesterday and the Targus showed up today so here is my mostly unscientific test of 3 power supplies with the Gateway P-7805u FX notebook. The power supplies tested are the stock Gateway, Kensington 120W (refurbished) and the Targus 180W.

First, the contenders;


As you can see, the Kensington is very small which bodes well for portability while the Targus is a monster best left at home.

Testing was done with a standard non-overclocked P-7805u and the only thing not stock is the addition of a second hard drive used for Raid and Vista X64 Ultimate was the OS. Testing was done with a Kill A Watt 4400 for power consumption and a cheap indoor/outdoor thermometer to monitor ambient and case temps.

After the system was started then 10 passes of Intel Burn Test 64 were performed then the system was allowed to rest for about 20 minutes and Idle watts and temps were taken. Afterwards, 2 runs of 3DMark06 followed by 5 passes of Firefly Forrest (2nd test) during this time load watts were taken with temps at the finish of this final test. I found Firefly Forrest to have the highest power draw of all tests.

Here is what this travesty looked like;


So now, here are the results;

Code:

[b]Power Supplies               Idle                     3DMark06
                     Watt |Amb Temp |Case Temp |Watt |Amb Temp |Case Temp [/b]
7805u Stock          33W     20.9C     35C       106W    22.8C     43.5C
Kensington           35W     20.9C      39.6C    112W    20.9C     49.9C
Targus 180           33W     21.9C      29.2C    104W    21.8C     35.9C    

I found it interesting how much more wattage the little Kensington used and how hot it became, I guess that is the price of portability. I have been using the Kensington since yesterday and after feeling how hot it was is what made me curious about this. Also, I retested the Kensington a second time just in case but the results were the same.

Obviously, the Targus is not only more efficient but much cooler than any of the others. So I will use the Targus at home and the Kensington for travel and put the stock one back in the box for emergencies.

Kensington Refurb can be found here

I found the Targus by searching “APA05US” on MS Live, found a place called Nothingbutsoftware.com selling it for $49.95 + shipping less 6.5% cashback. Shipping is quick and reasonable and product was New in retail box.

Hope you guys enjoyed this mini review. Thanks for reading.

 

I pretty much came to the same conclusions as you, though I didn't have any magic power consumption measuring contraption. The Kensington gets too hot to handle when put under full load (i.e. gaming) so I'm not too keen on using it as my main adapter. Its portability, however, will no doubt come in handy in certain situations.

I use the Targus as my main, it stays quiet and only gets warm. Love it.

 

Yea, the Targus and the Kensington are pretty much night and day in all respects from portability to efficiency and heat. But the stock unit holds its own if you have a good unit, I have seen a lot of complaints regarding those.

 

which of the adapter are you using on the kensington i bought the ac and the dc one from fys and im using N3 it just doesn't feel like it fits in there just right

 

The N3 is the correct adapter. Just like with the Targus adapter, it will NOT fit all the way in the hole on the laptop. It only goes in a little, so don't force it in anymore. That's what she said. It works fine like that.

 

aight i was just checking i was just worried about it hanging out that far. im only gonna be using this adapter while traveling and at work. hate having to tote the brick to work with me. I guess as long as i don't move the laptop much it shouldn't break the jack. i know on my dells that i bought aftermarket adapter for i usually ended up breaking the power jack. but this isn't really a LAPtop just those.

 

The way they fit is a little unsettling but they work. Just don't unnecessarily move the notebook around while plugged.

Between the Targus and the Kensington, it seems the Targus adapter fits a little better.

 

Eh how can you guys put up with that short plug going from the adapter to the outlit being so short? I plug my adapters directly into the wall so it'd be hanging off the wall..

 

suspended from the outlet might help it cool some.

 

yeah thank god i plug all my stuff into a power strip. something funny i had to do when i first plugged up the kensington adapter i computer went to plugged in not charging. after a lil research i found out i had to unplugg it shut down then unplug the battery. then put battery back in and start it up then go into device manager and uninstall under batteries Microsoft ACPI-Compliant control method battery, then reinstall it by scanning new hardware. then i plugged it up and it started charging. Im running windows 7 ATM so that might of been the issue but i read alot of computer had this prob on vista to. Really freaked me out as i only had this laptop a week and was uneasy about which adapter i needed to use LOL but it is charging now on both adapters so all is good

 

Thats odd. I haven't had the battery in since I got the new adapters so I will see what happens tomorrow on Vista.

 

Yeah mine does the Plugged in not charging thing as well.
Usually all you have to do for that is unplug it, let it drain the battery to pretty low and plug it back in.

EDIT: I'm talking about with the Adapter that came with the laptop.

 

Thanks for the excellent info SSWilson. Rep for ya.

Just an FYI, searching "Kensington 120W" on eBay brings up an auction by partswholesale who is selling a bunch of these things for $30 or best offer with free shipping. I just picked one up for $25 shipped.

 

Thanks choder!

 

frys have them for 21.30 shipped either the ac or the dc version, and i ordered mine 3pm weds and recieved it thursday. Fastest shipping i have ever seen.

http://www.frys.com/product/5729742 DC version

http://shop3.frys.com/product/5729692?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG AC Version

 

Mine has got to be the slowest...ordered Sunday, just got the notification it arrived this hour...

 

Was gonna buy one until I saw this...

http://static.squidoo.com/resize/sq...42942photo_1215978020Kensington_Universal.JPG

The cord doesn't even look like its half a foot long. The hell?

 

The AC cord is purposefully short. It allows the adapter to air cool. With any longer AC cord, the adapter could easily find itself laying in thick shag carpet, and would overheat. It's all part of the design.

Who cares if the adapter hangs like that? Why do people have such a displeasure with the short cord? Is something else hanging there that won't fit with the Kensington????

With regards to power and efficiency...The OP said he uses the Targus because it is more efficient. It is also $35 more costly. When idle the Targus and Kensington use about the same watts. When at full load, there is an 8 watt difference. Let's see, it would take about 35 years of running the computer 24 hours a day for that 8 watt difference to cost $35 and reach the break even point!!! (OK, slight exaggeration, but you get the picture...spend $35 to save a penny a day)....

 

Hey lancorp, the Kensington has its place and is a very good adapter for its compact size and light weight. It is definitely worthy and I am glad to have it for mobility plus I can use it with other notebooks due to all the tips. Not to mention, now that I have recently replaced all our desktops with powerful yet efficient notebooks, I have to rebuild my spare parts inventory. Can't have to many extra adapters around.

The Targus is more expensive but it has more overhead and it doesn't feel like it is being pushed as hard as the stock unit or the Kensington. I guess the years I spent overclocking desktops kind of put me in the mindset of obtaining above average parts and components and spending time figuring out what combination suited what situation. Oh yeah, and always bring a bazooka to a knife fight.

I am concerned about efficiency and heat production, no matter how small the difference and that is why I put it in the OP. Everyone gets to decide for themselves whether or not that is important.

 

I agree. The Targus is mostly a OEM replacement type BRICK, and is also a 180W unit, compared to the Kensington 120W, so it doesn't have to work as hard.

I think most people will keep their OEM charger at home and keep the Kensington in their bag. They are just amazingly slim and light.

Because I use/work on so many different models of notebooks in my business, I keep Kensington's all over the place where I work on them, and am able to just swap a tip and keep working, instead of having to hunt down the corresponding charger (or worse, have 5 different chargers plugged in, eating electricity, just for convenience sake!).

I've never really noticed a heat issue from them. Yes, they get warm, but I've never had one get completely burning hot. Is it possible the 7805 needs a higher wattage adapter when playing games--120W just isn't enough?

 

My Kensington unit gets pretty hot, but its not any hotter than the Gateway OEM unit. I'm also one of those people that will keep the OEM brick at home and tote around the Kensington AC and DC units in my bag when traveling.

I'm sure the 120w adapter is fine even for gaming, otherwise Gateway would have spec'd a higher watt unit. Or at least I hope they would have!

JP

 

Mine gets really hot, hotter than Gateway.
But it works fine and I love how small it is.
And don't get me started on the DC one, have not tested it yet, but it is TINY !

 

Yea, I need to test my DC unit also, your right, it is really tiny.

 

I don't think the 7805u needs a higher wattage adapter for gaming with stock config and no OC but I don't like being that close to the max of the power supply rating. Start OC'ing the GPU or toss a higher TDP processor in and the game changes though.

What I am curious about but have not found information on is how efficient the bricks are. The desktop power supply manufacturers have been pretty proud of themselves for getting over 80%. I know these bricks are not 100% or they wouldn't produce heat but I have no way to test what the actually gets to the notebook from the brick.

 

Is the Kensington supposed to come with tips? I can't figure out how to connect this thing to the laptop!

 

Most of us that bought the Kensington refurbs from Fry's got tips. They should be in a separate bag and N3 is the one that works.

 

Greaaaat...I bought mine from Fry's and got no bag of tips :\

 

Bummer dude, I bought both AC and DC versions and each had the same set of standard tips, I think 5 each.
Try calling them up and exchanging it !

 

Yeah I'll give them a call tomorrow morning. Maybe they can just send out the tips.

 

Will using the Targus 180W Improve gaming performance while Overclocking the 9800M gts?

 

I was curious on this as well.

My stock brick gets really hot and makes a hissing noise. I read on the boards it is an issue with brick and need to call and get it replaced. But I still would like a more efficient charger and take the standard gateway one mobile while I use the targus at home.

 

My new stock one is quiet. The Targus 180w sits at home while the stock 120w is my mobile supply. Works just fine for me like that..........

 

Thanks I will pick up the targus one but didnt see links to buy it in here only to buy the small one. Anyone have any cheap links for it?

 

Just search "APA05US" and that should help you find the Targus adapter.

 

So it should be around $40??
http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.asp?id=48598

Looked at few other links sold out or higher price so seem about right?

 

That particular one is a refurb. If you are comfortable with that then go for it otherwise new will cost $10 to $20 more.

 

For anyone that owns/plans to own/doesn't plan on owning a Targus 180W Power Supply, please see this thread and vote:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=380887

We currently have NO warranty with the Targus 180W Power Supply and our Gateway laptops, I am currently trying to validate a warranty for all of us in case others have problems with theirs in the future. Please vote according to your situation, hopefully we will be supported soon. At the moment, if your Targus 180W dies, goes bad, or doesn't work correctly, you will have to buy another. You will not be able to return it, refund it, or RMA it. Please vote in the thread.

Thank you.

 

Mine at present is well over 2 years old, been going strong since day one too. I've only been using this on the P7805-u since January but this seems to have less power draw than my old XT5000T durring normal usage. With that being the case I expect a fairly long life from the Targus...........