Dell Precision 7530 (Refurbed) - Power Cable

BlazingSaddler

Hi all, I bought a Dell Precision 7530 from Refurbed for my daughter for college. It is 15.6" so knew it may be a bit on the big size, however the spec is very good. It arrived yesterday and sure enough it is quite heavy but manageable but the thing that caught me by surprise is the power cable!, It's an absolute monster!, she may manage taking the laptop to college, but the laptop and this power cable no way! I got onto refurbed and they said that those devices need 240v of power and these are original charges. There are non original out there but would recommend against it. Any ideas please?, is there an alternative smaller option out there that i'd get away with?!! Thank you!

z80CPU

Google " Approved DELL support " Owner of DELL inspiron here, but it has a small power brick though

10-10-20

It's a full-on workstation with a powerful GPU, it's not really an ideal luggable student's system. In so-far as using it to it's full potential it would need the 180w PSU, which is a big lummox of a thing alright, but if you're just using it for note-taking then a smaller PSU will sustain it, but the system de-rates/underclocks the GPU and CPU (as the power system isn't capable of supplying the demand). If you power it off a smaller PSU but you'll get a message on boot (as far as I recall).

So yeah, try a smaller PSU for interest sake and see if it works for your daughter.

BlazingSaddler

Thank you so much for the reply, I take it the lower the W the small the PSU?, would I get away with trying a 65W just for when she's in college?, I have a Dell latitude and my PSU is 45W, the connector into the laptop is smaller than on the Precision. Would this be 3mm on the Latitude and 5mm on the Precision?, using a ruler to measure that seems about right!!

10-10-20

Yes, larger power = larger & heavier PSU.

I have used a 90w PSU (7.4mm barrel) on a somewhat similar Precision and it was fine for my needs. The smaller 65w might work too… except as far as I recall the battery doesn't charge while the system is in use if the PSU is too small as the PSU has to support the power needs of the system. So if she needs it to charge the battery she might need to leave it plugged in and in a suspended/sleep state.

from:

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-ie/000125125/how-to-troubleshoot-ac-adapter-issues

BlazingSaddler

I really appreciate the help. I've just found a 90W PSU for an old HP that fits. I'll tell her to use the 240W at home and make sure it's charged but keep the 90W in her bag for college, if the battery runs out use the 90W but i'll tell her this won't charge it but she should be able to use it when plugged in!?

z80CPU

Be careful OP.

Lookup the YouTube channel JaysTwoCents

A bit wacky with his Filipino sidekick but

Jay has published a video on why you should tread carefully when trying a different manu facturer power supply even if the connection fits.

Glaceon

As mentioned, the Precision range are mobile workstations intended for the likes of CAD users. They’re not designed to be the most portable, rather they’re designed for performance. HP’s equivalent is the ZBook range. A 130W power supply (or higher) would be normal for these.

BlazingSaddler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122675933#Comment_122675933

Thank you. Will bear this in mind. I think I may send the laptop back and change it. I got my fingers burned a few years ago on an absolute donkey of an Acer laptop so overdid it on the spec this time around!

Nowso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122675933#Comment_122675933

that was a good video - not something you would think off off the bat