Can i plug in my XPS power adapter to my 9400

lordbob99

Senior member
Jun 11, 2001
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According to the information you posted, they provide quite different output wattages.

Watts = Volts * Amps

Unless you know for a fact that the laptops can take the different wattage inputs, I wouldn't recommend swapping them around.
 
Dec 10, 2005
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Check out the Dell Forums at Notebookforums.com. They'll probably have the answer there for you.
 

Pens1566

Lifer
Oct 11, 2005
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Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Check out the Dell Forums at Notebookforums.com. They'll probably have the answer there for you.

QFT. Post back with answer also.
 

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
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A power supply is an AC to DC converter. It takes the 120V AC power coming out of the wall (or up to 220V actually) and converts it to an X Volt DC signal. The XPS power adapter puts out a good amount more current than the 9400 adapter. I can't speak as to how the laptop's power circuity will handle this; hopefully for you it won't allow the machine to boot. Otherwise, you could indeed fry the power circuit or more.

I wouldn't do it. Is using your 9400 for the short period of time until you can get another adapter worth the potential damage?
 
Feb 24, 2001
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Well people who drop 7800GTXs into their 9300s (as well as 6800 Ultras) have to use the 130w adapters or they card runs in the "low speed" mode because it's not able to draw enough power. Wouldn't this indicate there is some sort of circuitry in the notebook to pull however much it needs?

 

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
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Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones
Well people who drop 7800GTXs into their 9300s (as well as 6800 Ultras) have to use the 130w adapters or they card runs in the "low speed" mode because it's not able to draw enough power. Wouldn't this indicate there is some sort of circuitry in the notebook to pull however much it needs?
Possibly, I had thought people upgrading to GTX's had to replace an internal power unit but upon further investigation I must've pulled that out of my head somewhere. Go ahead and do it, let us know how it turns out ;)
 

cyberkost

Lifer
Sep 24, 2005
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I've used a 90W Dell adapter on a laptop that came with a 65W adapter and things were fine. I'd say if the input voltages are the same, then laptop will draw as much current as it needs.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
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Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
A power supply is an AC to DC converter. It takes the 120V AC power coming out of the wall (or up to 220V actually) and converts it to an X Volt DC signal. The XPS power adapter puts out a good amount more current than the 9400 adapter. I can't speak as to how the laptop's power circuity will handle this; hopefully for you it won't allow the machine to boot. Otherwise, you could indeed fry the power circuit or more.

I wouldn't do it. Is using your 9400 for the short period of time until you can get another adapter worth the potential damage?

The XPS power adapter is CAPABILE of putting out that amount of power. The power drawn from a power supply is determined by the load.

If the plug is the same, and the voltage is the same, and the wattage and current are equal or greater then it will be ok.

Example:
The laptop requires a 65 watt PS at 1 amp... the new adapter is capabile of 90 watts and 2 amps. It will work with the lower powered laptop as long as the voltage and plug matches. The laptop is only going to use the power that it needs from the adapter.

Just like installiing a larger (wattage ) power supply in a desktop PC.


pcgeek