Hey everyone! I've messed up my laptop charger and now I'm on the hunt for a replacement. The original one is way too expensive, but I found a third-party charger that fits my laptop's connector. My original charger is rated at 120W, 20V, and 6A, while the replacement I'm considering is 130W, 19.5V, and 6.66A. I get that higher wattage is generally okay since the laptop will only draw what it needs, but I'm concerned about the voltage difference. I've heard conflicting opinions about this and wanted to find out if using a charger with a lower voltage might be a bad idea. Any insights would be super helpful! Thanks! :3
6 Answers
If it's a USB-C charger, I’d say go for it; you'd probably just notice slower charging. But with a barrel plug like yours, it might vary based on how the manufacturer designed it.
Just a heads up, certain laptops, like some HP models, can be picky about power specs. They might refuse to charge unless you use the exact charger they came with, so it’s something to keep in mind!
Good to know! Luckily, I checked with the company, and they said I can try the charger before buying.
Make sure to check the polarity of the charger; that’s super important! If it’s wrong, it might not charge at all. But if everything checks out, you should be fine!
Wait, so if I test it and the polarity is off, it just won't charge? That would actually let me know before I buy it!
You should be good! Laptops can usually handle voltages from about 18V to 22V, so a drop from 20V to 19.5V isn't a big deal. Even original chargers often have a slight variation, sometimes 5-10%. As for wattage, your laptop will only pull what it needs from the charger, so the higher wattage won't hurt anything. It's like how you can use a lower watt phone charger in a wall outlet that can handle much more power—your device takes what it requires!
But isn't there a risk of burning out the components? I heard it's best to stick with the manufacturer's specs.
While it's wise to follow the specs, a minor voltage difference like this isn't typically harmful. Just keep an eye on how your laptop performs after switching!
What’s the exact model of your laptop? I can help you find reliable third-party chargers that are certified safe and won't cause issues!
It's an MSI Thin GF63 12VF 639X. I know the original chargers are expensive, but do you have any suggestions?
Honestly, 20V vs 19.5V is practically nothing. Go ahead and use that charger!
Yeah, it’s a barrel plug for MSI, no fancy smart charging here!