Thinkpads Forum

I bought a used X200 laptop a while ago and now that I'm handing it over to my brother I want to see that everything is in check.

A used laptop dealer sold me a 90W power supply (bigger than the usual 65W one) together with an X200 and a docking station. He said the bigger power supply is bigger because of the docking station. I was mildly surprised, but it made some sense: all the additional devices (both internal and external) one might connect to a docking station draw additional power, so a bigger power supply might be in order. When I brought my laptop home, I saw that the dealer might just not know what he's talking about: the power supply had a sticker attached to it reading "IBM TP T400", clearly stating the model of a laptop it was intended for. I didn't mind that, though: I use the bigger power supply together with a docking station, and I have another, smaller one, that I actually take with me.

Now, when I'm handing it all over to my brother, I wonder whether I should exchange the bulkier 90W power supply for the smaller 65W one, given the possibility, or he might actually need a 90W one, for use with a docking station? I understand that this is a power supply for a more powerful laptop with a beefier graphics card, but still, maybe there's an extra degree of reliability in using a more powerful power supply or something?

One last thing, I think I'll actually exchange my X200 for an X200s with 1440x900 screen and hand down that.

Nickolai wrote:
Now, when I'm handing it all over to my brother, I wonder whether I should exchange the bulkier 90W power supply for the smaller 65W one, given the possibility, or he might actually need a 90W one, for use with a docking station? I understand that this is a power supply for a more powerful laptop with a beefier graphics card, but still, maybe there's an extra degree of reliability in using a more powerful power supply or something?

I'd stick with a 90W adapter.

The docking station is best run from the 90w adapter. As mentioned above, stick with the 90w and you'll be fine. Nice thing about 90w adapters is that they work with most other Thinkpads such as T60, T61, T500, etc that runs best off a 90.

Personally, when I used a 65W power adapter, even on a LV cpu machine, the adapter got really hot when the machine was under heavy cpu load and charging the battery at the same time. This can't be good for your charger long term. I believe you would be fine with 65W on a normal voltage machine, when the battery is off the machine.

As for the docking station, I always use 90W adapters, too, to be on the safe side.

The reason that A 90 watt supply is recommended when used with a media slice is the extra power is needed to run DVD writers and all the USB ports etc. DVD writers are power hungry beasts when writing.

In line with the other posts, the 65 watt adapter is a great gadget for carry-around use. For stationary use, there is absolutely no reason to use other than a 90 watt adapter. Stressed less, it will last longer.