Can I use the smaller 65watt charger with my T61?

[Mr-Pacman]

Hello,

I have an X60 with work that uses a 20V, 65Watt charger. It's a bit smaller than the 90watt (20V) charger that came with my T61.

Would there be any harm in using the X60 charger with my T61? Would the only disadvantage be that the 65w will charge the battery more slowly than the 90w charger?

Thanks,
Pacman

[awolfe63]

If you have Intel graphics then you can. Nvidia Graphics - no.

[Mr-Pacman]

I've got the Nvidea "discrete" graphics.

Just out of curiousity, why can you use it with Intel, but not Nvidea?

I'm not the brightest guy when it comes to these types of things, so excuse the sillly questions.

Thanks,
James

[TTY]

The models which have discrete graphics use more power than the integrated chipset graphics models.

[erik]

this thread will help explain things:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=51110

[LIVE4SPD]

I have a T61 with an Nvidia NVS-140. It works fine on the 65watt.

[josh999]

It is the same connector?

[erik]

I have a T61 with an Nvidia NVS-140. It works fine on the 65watt.

"works fine" is a relative term since it's been said in the above linked thread that a T61 under full load can draw 100W.

It is the same connector?

yes, it is.

[hellosailor]

Eriks point about a "full load" is the crux of it.

At a rough guess, a 90W power supply can provide 45W to recharge a battery plus 45W to run the computer, or some similar split. (30/60, whatever) If your battery is fully charged, or is not present, the smaller supply should work. But it can charge, or run, not both at once. You might overload it and have it shut down--or burn out--if the battery and computer both try to make demands on it.

It just depends on how much "stuff" is running (dvd and hard drive running, CPU at max, screen bright, etc.) and how much power the computer will demand. You could use a wattmeter (Kill-a-watt is one) to actually see how much AC power your laptop draws in different situations.