FW16 performance using 90W PD from monitor

Framework Laptop 16
1

I have a Dell U2722DE monitor that can provide 90W via USB-C PD. I would very much like to use this instead of needing a second cable for my at-desk use. When travelling, I can bring a 100W charger.

I will have the laptop plugged into the monitor almost at all time. I’m not going to be gaming on this machine.

Is 90W likely to cause me grief since a 100W charger is recommended?

Thank you.

2

I don’t see why not, assuming that you are not using the dedicated graphics card. I just ordered my 16 and have the Dell U2720QM, so I’ll test it when I receive my laptop.

3

I am using a MSI display (MAG 323UPF), which can deliver up to 90W (not sure if it is effectively delivering that, but it is what the manual says). My FW16 (without gpu) gets charged even while under heavy load (e.g. compiling or gaming).

So I think you’ll be fine charging your laptop through your screen.

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4

For light workloads, like web browsing, I’ve used a 45W phone charger without issue. I can often even get by with a 15W phone charger.

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5

This reply is probably redundant, given all the others above, but I’ve used both a 100W and a 65W charger on mine, while doing C++ and Python programming work. I haven’t noticed any dip in the battery charge at any point, even while doing a five-minute compile on four cores at once.

6

Thanks everyone for the reassuring replies. I look forward to ordering my FW16 in January.

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7

I’ve tried using the Caldigit TS4 which provides 98W.
When using the framework power supply, the cpu gets to 99°C during stress tests, but if I use the TS4, it never goes above 94°C IIRC.
The cpu power usage shown in s-tui is also lower. So it seems that it somehow limits the CPU.

I don’t have the dGPU module.

8

I just tried it last night and it worked great (after I realized that I had to use the USB port on the bottom, not the one on the side).

9

Does 15W charger charge your FL16? My FL13 only accept 18W and above charger

10

I can use my FW16 just fine with the 90w PD Charging of my LG Screen. It is not giving the CPU its full Power but for nearly any Work its just fine. I use the 90w Charger in Conjunction with my eGPU so all GPU Computing is externally, but the internal Screen is still powered by the iGPU. The System or Charging is never overwhelmed.

11

It will. I like to use my laptop for writing my book, and this workload only sips ~7W, so it’ll charge at about +8W. Naturally, if I’m doing something more intensive, it won’t keep up.

12

It would be nice to have some official spec on the minimum CPU power and its limits.

13

You may find my minimum power draw competition interesting then:

5-7W total draw is the lowest an optimized-but-still-usable system has achieved so far, ignoring the occasional momentary spike.

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14

That is indeed interesting! But my comment was more about figuring out the minimum power input for the CPU to throttle. I was expecting that even with a 90W power supply the CPU will not reduce its power consumption but would just use some power from the battery instead (because I think it does that with high GPU usage).

15

Ah. I have an eGPU with 100W charging available through it, and I believe it would do some semi-invisible throttling at the EC level. I don’t remember why I believe that though, I haven’t used that eGPU in a while.

16

On mine I have a 98W dock. Running a CPU stress test with that, the CPU warms up to 94°C. With the stock power supply it goes to 100°C.
Clocks also don’t get as high.

17

The System is definitly throttled when using the 90w charger.

Here a Part of the EC Configuration according CPU Power:

When using a Charger above 80Watt and below 100w its throttled to 30w sustained/36w slow ppt/44w fast ppt

} else if (active_mpower >= 80000) {
if (mode == EC_AC_BEST_PERFORMANCE) {
power_limit[FUNCTION_THERMAL_PMF].mwatt[TYPE_SPL] = 30000;
power_limit[FUNCTION_THERMAL_PMF].mwatt[TYPE_SPPT] = 36000;
power_limit[FUNCTION_THERMAL_PMF].mwatt[TYPE_FPPT] = 44000;
power_limit[FUNCTION_THERMAL_PMF].mwatt[TYPE_APU_ONLY_SPPT] = 0;
thermal_stt_table = 12;
} else {
power_limit[FUNCTION_THERMAL_PMF].mwatt[TYPE_SPL] = 30000;
power_limit[FUNCTION_THERMAL_PMF].mwatt[TYPE_SPPT] = 36000;
power_limit[FUNCTION_THERMAL_PMF].mwatt[TYPE_FPPT] = 44000;
power_limit[FUNCTION_THERMAL_PMF].mwatt[TYPE_APU_ONLY_SPPT] = 0;
thermal_stt_table = 20;

@Abilio_Costa that your System is hitting 98C with 30w TDP you should have a Look at the Uneven Thermals Thread. You are definitly affected by Liquid Metal Runoff.

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