Thinkpads Forum

Greetings everyone. I am from Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
I recently bought a lenovo T60 second hand, it has the following configuration:
Intel Core Duo T2500
1GB DDR2
60GB HDD
Intel GMA Video

I have a question and i can't find an anwser for it. The problem I have is the following: If i keep my T60 on AC with the battery removed I get around 20-25 fps in Counter-Strike 1.6 . If I put the battery in the T60, even though I set the Power Manager to charge when under 20% up to 90% (so I have 0 battery usage, AC is plugged) I get 60-70 fps constant. WHY? I mean what is the difference between NO battery and battery which is not used at all?

Please help me, because i don't want to keep my battery in the laptop all the time, it already is second hand, and I want to be able to use it once in a while when i truly need it.

Thanks in advance,
Tofan Alexandru
Technical University in Cluj-Napoca
Student

This is a common design element in modern laptops. When operating at highest CPU speed and with high current usage peripherals attached (CardBus cards, USB devices, etc.), the required operating current may momentarily exceed the capability of the AC Adapter. When the battery is installed, the battery can supplement the power during the momentary peaks. When the battery is removed from the ThinkPad computer, it switches to "Battery Optimized" speed (lower speed) to reduce peak power demands and to prevent the possibility of input voltage dropping too low, causing the ThinkPad computer to power off.

The problem is that i look in the Power Manager and it says:
Batter status: No activity
Current: 0.00 A

I understand what you are trying to tell me. I have just one more question and after that the admins may close this topic: Will keeping my battery in the laptop, with the following setting: charge if under 20, charge up to 90, decrease the battery life, or nothing wrong can happen. Because if it will damage my battery (it is a 9 cell) i think it would be best if i buy a cheap used 6 cell battery only to keep it inserted while i play.

Thank you again,
Tofan Alexandru
Technical University in Cluj-Napoca
Student

bam1988 wrote: Will keeping my battery in the laptop, with the following setting: charge if under 20, charge up to 90, decrease the battery life, or nothing wrong can happen.

Many people use that same setting without issues, so I think it would be fine.

bam1988 wrote: Will keeping my battery in the laptop, with the following setting: charge if under 20, charge up to 90, decrease the battery life, or nothing wrong can happen.

Harryc wrote:Many people use that same setting without issues, so I think it would be fine.

Where and how can I make such settings?

You install ThinkVantage Power Manager (and Power Manager Driver).
After that you launch the Power Manager, go to the Battery tab, Battery Maintanence, and then you select custom, and there you can set the top and bottom limit (charge when under bottom up to high)

P.S. You have to switch from Basic view mode to Advanced in the power manager.

Hope it helps
Tofan Alexandru
Technical University in Cluj-Napoca
Student