Why does my Framework 16 lose battery while plugged in during gaming?
Asked by
MellowCedar42
I'm using a Framework 16 running Ubuntu, and I've noticed that the battery can still drain while I'm gaming, even though the laptop is plugged in. After about an hour of playing Scrap Mechanic, the battery was empty. This seems to happen mainly during gaming, although it may occur at other times too.
System monitoring reports roughly 75 W of usage. When I connect a power bank that displays its output, it reports sending around 90 W to the laptop, yet the battery does not charge. The system monitor also shows another reading of about 13 W. Is this caused by charger limitations, power-conversion losses, or a hardware problem?
Answers
Check the wattage of the power adapter, not just whether it is the original one. A Framework 16 can need substantially more power under sustained gaming loads, especially with the discrete GPU. A 60 W adapter may run the laptop but still leave too little power to charge the battery. For full performance, use a properly rated USB-C adapter—potentially 180–240 W depending on the configuration.
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The numbers from the operating system and the power bank may be measuring different points in the power path. The laptop’s reported usage can be system-side power, while the power bank measures what it supplies over USB-C. Conversion and charging losses explain some difference, but a roughly 30 W gap during gaming is more likely a sign that the adapter is underpowered or not negotiating the laptop’s maximum power profile.
NorthStarLime5: Some loss is normal, but that much seems excessive if the laptop really needs around 75 W for the workload. I’d verify the USB-C charger’s negotiated wattage and test with a correctly rated adapter.
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A battery failure is possible, but the fact that the problem appears during demanding games points more strongly to insufficient input power. If the adapter is only 60 W, the laptop may prioritize running the system and let the battery discharge to make up the difference. Try a known-good, high-wattage charger and check whether the battery holds steady under the same workload.
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MellowCedar42: I assumed 60 W would be enough because that was the adapter I received, but it looks like the included or current adapter may not be the correct high-wattage one for this system.