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.

    How interchangeable are Dell/Alienware PSUs

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Nalada, Sep 30, 2011.

  1. Nalada

    Nalada Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    23
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Got new M14x.
    I see the Power supply plug looks the same as M1330/M4300 etc.
    Of course the wattage is greater... 150W vs 65 for M1330 and 90 for M4300.
    Now the M4300 can work on the M1330's 65W supply - by default it will issue a warning and not charge the battery while on.. but it will run.

    Is the same true for the M14X? Will it run ok a 100W or 90W Dell PSU? What about a 65W one? (I don't want to blow a PSU).

    [I assume I can power the M1330 and M4300 with the 150W PSU - but please let me know if I am wrong]
     
    Nalada, Sep 30, 2011
    #1
  2. Kantide

    Kantide Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Yes, it will run on lower wattage but as you stated, it wont charge most likely or charge at a slower rate in some cases.
     
    Kantide, Sep 30, 2011
    #2
  3. Nalada

    Nalada Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    23
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks. Yes I can confirm the following:

    Using either 65W Dell PSU (for M1330) or 100W Kensington PSU works to run the machine but does not charge the battery at the same time.
    If plugged in at boot the BIOS will warn that you are using a 65W or 90W PSU respectively and that the machine may rujn with reduced performance and reduced battery charging. (There is also an option to turn off this warning in future).

    So far as I have been able to see so far - the PSUs do not charge the machine when it is in standby either. Perhaps they would if it was fully shutdown (I like to think so).

    Note also the adjacent thread here on a BSOD "A clock interrupt was not received" (on the secondary processor within the allocated time interval).
    It looks like it can occur when using a weaker PSU than the stock one.
     
    Nalada, Oct 7, 2011
    #3