Lenovo X201 - Battery Issue?

Hi everyone! I know there are many threads about battery issues with Lenovos, but I couldn't find the answer to my particular question.

In January I ordered an X201, Intel Core i7-620M Processor (2.66GHz, 4MB L3, 1066MHz FSB), Windows 7 Home Premium 64, 500 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm, with the 9 cell Li-Ion Battery.

I love this machine, replacing my crusty T61 that crashed after several years of hard use!

Anyway, the initial battery at full charge increased to 95%, and within a week it had drained to 89%. I have kept it plugged in (not using the battery) almost the whole time. I called Lenovo for a replacement battery, was told this level of charge was totally normal, but they would send me a new battery anyway.

Several weeks later, I got the new battery and it charged to 96% at full charge. Now it's at 94% after around a week. Again, not using the battery, it's been plugged in.

Is this normal? Is there something wrong with my processor or something else internal that is causing such a battery drain? Or is the tech correct by saying this is normal? I've had non-OEM batteries on other computers that charged to 100% and stayed there for a long time.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

Aren't you supposed to see 2-3% drop per week?

 

2 to 3% per week is too much. Using that rate, you would need a new battery every 6 months or so. My battery drops by max of 2% every two months with a battery kept at 95%.

 

I meant normal discharge from the battery not the battery capacity, lead_org.
The OP states that the machine was plugged in.

 

Thank you both for your input! It's now down to 92% (at full charge, plugged in) after just a few days. I looked at my 1.5-year old (junky) Toshiba, and its battery is fully charged at 100%. They both stay plugged in and turned on. I just don't want to start exchanging this battery again if the problem is with the system. I do have battery stretch disabled and around the middle setting between high performance and high energy savings. Thanks again for your help!

 

Why not take a look at the difference between the "design capacity", "remaining capacity" and "full charge capacity"? They may give you a fair idea as to how far down your battery's capacity has slipped.

In my case, my battery was manufactured in 7/09. It was first used in 05/10. It is 3/11 today and the info on my battery reads as follows:

Design Capacity: 56.16 Wh
Full charge capacity: 46.91 Wh
Remaining capacity: 46.91 Wh

The last two categories should always be the same (assuming that your battery is charged to its current and available capacity) and the differential between this and the design capacity gives the level of capacity degradation that your battery has undergone.

I think - and it is only a guess - that in my case the degradation is a little higher than what I would have expected because the degradation of the battery started when it was originally manufactued (7/2009), which is over a year back even though I started using it much later (5/2010). Btw, I do use the battery liberally everyday and have set it to calibrate itself in Power Manager.

 

So your battery discharges 8% in a few days.
My previous Acer laptop discharged 3% a day (when it was turned turned off or when it was plugged in all the time).
My current x201 discharges only 1% per 4-5 days though.