How long will battery last with 8800M GTX on full tilt?

I've got an NP5790 but really, the mobos and such haven't changed much. I'm running the T7700 variation of the processor for what its worth, and I've upgraded to the 8800M GTX.

(Just hope the NVidea part won't go and die on me for a few years .. I've kept my 8600 just in case Any idea how lkong till the Nvidea parts do go, with their manu problems and all?)

My question is -- usually when you run the machine unplugged, it runs in really low-grade GPU mode. Fine for applications, but gaming you get what, 5fps or somesuch. As such I grenerally run on AC 100% of the time. But I'd really like to take the lappy downstairs and fire up a game ov Civ IV while watching TV say, or to plug the lappy into the TV just to show it off. I don't want to carry the AC cable around .. to lazy, and my baby girl would destroy it.

So .. questions

1) Given its a year or 15 months old and been used on AC all the time, any idea how long the battery would operate at all in nomrl application mode? I'm assuming I could still get an hour or two. I'll have to run it on battery next time I'm home and see how she goes.

2) Any guess on how long it'd run if I went into the NVidea control panel and had it not run the GPU in limited mode when not on AC? ie: To fire up Civ IV (not all that demanding)? (And what about if I fired up CoD4 or Far Cry 2, say

If I coudl get an hour of gaming in, that would be pretty nifty. If I coudl only get 20 mins, that would be less useful

Thanks for any tips,

jeff

 

Battery life on a 15 month old battery is too hard to predict, and your result may well be different than other people's results.

I would recommend that you unplug it, take it downstairs, and test it in both modes. That is the only way you will get the true answer of what you will get.

Of course the other solution is to buy a new fresh battery...and then you can play just that much longer.

 

I've not even looked into batteries .. I've probably trickle-killed mine by leaving it in the whole time. (Would have been smarter to unplug the battery and then just half-drain/charge it every week to keep it healthy..)

How much is a new battery worth?

What sort of lifespan would I get for low-mode and full-gpu mode, do you think?

(I know its all guesswork

jeff

 

The 8 cell battery is $120. You will find it under the Accessories button on our website.

I'll leave the guess work to others, although you should get at least around an hour gaming as long as you have turned your screen brightness down to an acceptable level and your wireless off.

 

Given that the battery is 15 months old, I assume that it's pretty worn out. You probably get 30-40 minutes of Far Cry 2 in battery mode, but no more I think.

And if you're to lazy to drag the AC adapter into the living room, why not just purchase a second AC adapter?

 

"...my baby girl would destroy it."

 

I suppose to wit, baby girl would destroy anything (laptop included.) But I was thinking of sitting the lappy on top of the tv/entertainment unit and plugging it into the TV to show some photos or the like say, or other casual short term uses. Or for a game.. in the middle of a Civ multipayer match, bring it down while watchign TV wit hthe ife and just do a turn ever few mins when someone elses wraps up.

Unlikely scenarios, but I want the option.

I'll do some timing

jeff