The new MacBook models run slower without batteries

[MacBytes]

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Category: Apple Hardware
Link: The new MacBook models run slower without batteries (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20081124122924)
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Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)
Approved by Mudbug

[JG271]

Yeah same for the old models too, although i never fully understood - is this just a "just in case" measure or is the laptop always drawing power from the battery, even when plugged in?

[LeviG]

I'm curious as to why?
According to apple (from what I've read) the reason is so that the psu never draws more power than it can supply which is fair enough until you think hang on I can charge my battery and run my cpu at full speed without any performance drop :confused:

[Kilamite]

Old news....why has this even been reported? Engadget reported the same. Nothing new at all.

[fleshman03]

I notice the same thing with my last gen MBP. If I'm not plugged in, I'm running noticeably slower.

[Mindflux]

I notice the same thing with my last gen MBP. If I'm not plugged in, I'm running noticeably slower.

Time to re-read the headline, mkay? Of course on battery power alone you'll run slower. It's a conservation measure. This is talking about running on power with no battery in the unit, AFAIK.

[macFanDave]

The new MacBook models run slower without batteries

So does my Prius ;)

Why would you run a MacBook without a battery? I wouldn't want to leave the case open like that a give dust and junk another path to cause mischief on more sensitive and expensive parts.

[jdong]

This isn't a surprise -- when I am encoding H.264 on both cores on my 2.16GHz core 2 duo macbook, I record nearly a 90W draw from the battery. This is more than the brick is specced to handle. Don't some earlier Apple products do this too? It's not at all unreasonable considering the alternative is to overdraw from the power adapter.

[fleshman03]

Time to re-read the headline, mkay? Of course on battery power alone you'll run slower. It's a conservation measure. This is talking about running on power with no battery in the unit, AFAIK.

Oh I'm sorry. I thought I read it, but I guess I didn't read it closely enough. My bad.
:eek:

[Daveoc64]

Why would you run a MacBook without a battery? I wouldn't want to leave the case open like that a give dust and junk another path to cause mischief on more sensitive and expensive parts.

If you mostly use the computer when it's plugged in, then having the battery in it all the time will degrade the quality of the battery.

[backspinner]

If you mostly use the computer when it's plugged in, then having the battery in it all the time will degrade the quality of the battery.
Apple hardware only starts charging if the battery drops below 95% or something. Therefore you can leave the battery inside without degrading as long as you use plug-in power.