AC Power Stops Charging When High CPU/GPU Usage

[CaptAndyB]

I have a Lenovo Legion-Y545, Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9750H CPU @ 2.60GHz 2.59 GHz, Installed RAM 16.0 GB, NVIDIA GeForce 1660Ti GPU, with a 230W AC power charger. This has been operating soundly for the last 4 years. Three months ago I started playing Baldur's Gate 3 and it was running well. As of a week or so ago, when I run BG3, or any high CPU/GPU usage, e.g. Vantage CPU & GPU stress test, the battery charging stops in a minute or so, and the battery temp increases from <25°C to a stable 41-42°C. When I stop the high CPU/GPU usage the charging sometimes resumes once the temp decreases below about 29°C but most times it does not and has to be coxed into charging again with multiple attempts to reset the power input into the socket. The Charging is normal for most not taxing tasks. This situation occurs regardless of battery power mode (i.e. best eff / balanced / best power) and I have checked the fans, battery state (Vantage test and physically) and air passages for dust or blockage.

My thoughts, after much discussion with local computer savvy folk, is that I may have a damaged power socket, however, it may be something in the settings that has changed. My graphics driver updates are automatically loaded. Any ideas of other possible issues are welcome. Thank you in advance for your time.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I don't see how it can be a damaged power socket. Is the plug loose when inserted? Does the connector in the laptop case feel loose? Are you moving the cable or entire computer around when playing this game? I doubt it. If you wiggle the cable around during normal use, does charging start and stop?

I suspect your battery, being 4+ years old, is showing its age. So may the charger. The biggest demand on the charger and the charging/voltage regulator circuits is when charging the battery at the same time it is supporting a heavily tasked computer. This is also when the most heat will be generated, possibly triggering thermal protection measures.

has to be coxed into charging again with multiple attempts to reset the power input into the socket.

Maybe the time you spend dinking with the cable is allowing the system to cool down and reset on its own. Instead of dinking with the connector, next time try shutting down the computer then just walk away for 10 or so minutes. Then reboot and see what happens.

In the meantime, start researching a replacement battery. You might also consider blasting a desk fan across the laptop during heavy use. If the fan helps, you may need to open up the case for some serious cleaning out of heat trapping dust.

 

[CaptAndyB]

I don't see how it can be a damaged power socket. Is the plug loose when inserted? Does the connector in the laptop case feel loose? Are you moving the cable or entire computer around when playing this game? I doubt it. If you wiggle the cable around during normal use, does charging start and stop?

I suspect your battery, being 4+ years old, is showing its age. So may the charger. The biggest demand on the charger and the charging/voltage regulator circuits is when charging the battery at the same time it is supporting a heavily tasked computer. This is also when the most heat will be generated, possibly triggering thermal protection measures.


Maybe the time you spend dinking with the cable is allowing the system to cool down and reset on its own. Instead of dinking with the connector, next time try shutting down the computer then just walk away for 10 or so minutes. Then reboot and see what happens.

In the meantime, start researching a replacement battery. You might also consider blasting a desk fan across the laptop during heavy use. If the fan helps, you may need to open up the case for some serious cleaning out of heat trapping dust.

Nothing moving about during game, or other high CPU/GPU use. Many, many variations of simply leaving to cool down and a new charger has been employed as well. Yes, the power input jack doesn't seem to fit snuggly with either charger inputs. You may have a point about the battery. May be a case for replacing that as well. I do have a fan base now but no significant change in behaviour.

The disconnection with the charger happens with absolutely no movement of the laptop and almost the instant the high demand programs start to wind up. I have no depth of knowledge as to how voltage and protection criteria are set up but I'd imagine that there's a protection associated with a rate of temperature increase, to prevent thermal runaway. I stress that this was not the case two weeks ago. The only other thing I can imaging is a latent setting issue.

 

[Aevum]

could be that, a battery with 4 years use on it... add to that that a H processor is 45watt on paper (and probobly a dozen watt more in reality). and that 1660 TI mobile is around 80 watt on full load, plus drives, motherboard and display, were talking a nice 150 watt draw at 100%, add to that 4 years worth of capacitor and VRM wear, also the thermal paste and pads on CPU, VRM´s and GPU must be trashed by now and need replacing (as well as having a growing dust bunny farm inside), the hotter components are, the less efficient they are, meaning more power consuption, so the first thing i would see is the power usage vs the charger/power supply the laptop has. becuase if the cpu and gpu are drinking all the juice... thats probobly your problem.

Its probobly a barrel jack connector in the 200-240watt range, and the laptop is drawing near 150 watt at full load.

Rambling aside, 4 years the laptop probobly needs a new battery, internal cleaning, and new thermal pads and paste, and pray to god the capacitors, VRMS and voltage regulation circuits are in good condition. happened to me with a huawei laptop, the laptop would connect to the charger, 20V 3.5 amps but before even reaching 5% charge would drop to 0.5A, and would stop charging, the voltage regulator was cooked and would not charge the battery.

 

[Bill_Bright]

the power input jack doesn't seem to fit snuggly with either charger inputs.

There typically is some intentional lack of rigidity or "give" in the laptop's socket mount. This is to help prevent breakage as tripping over or yanking on cords is not uncommon. If the yank is hard enough, or happens one too many times, it can damage the plug, the socket or the socket mount in the case. This is normally a common and relatively inexpensive repair most shops have done many times. In fact, many have a flat rate (plus parts) for the repair for most laptops - assuming it can be repaired/replacement parts are available.

However, if the plug or socket is damaged, the telltale sign is you can wiggle the connector and immediately see that charging is stopping and starting.

but I'd imagine that there's a protection associated with a rate of temperature increase

Rate of increase? Nah! That would be too sophisticated and unnecessary. It is just a simple, pre-determined temperature threshold that when crossed, triggers some protection feature (assuming everything is otherwise working properly).

I stress that this was not the case two weeks ago. The only other thing I can imaging is a latent setting issue.

And where do you live? Are you moving into the warmer months? Has your ambient (room) temperatures increased in the last couple months?

Latent setting? Have you changed any setting recently? Dinked around in the BIOS?

Again, if, for example, something in the environment changed (ambient temperatures, heat trapping dust building up, fans failing) that may create a new scenario where a previously unactivated setting is now triggered, then that could make sense.

But I'm still leaning towards an aging battery.

 

[CaptAndyB]

could be that, a battery with 4 years use on it... add to that that a H processor is 45watt on paper (and probobly a dozen watt more in reality). and that 1660 TI mobile is around 80 watt on full load, plus drives, motherboard and display, were talking a nice 150 watt draw at 100%, add to that 4 years worth of capacitor and VRM wear, also the thermal paste and pads on CPU, VRM´s and GPU must be trashed by now and need replacing (as well as having a growing dust bunny farm inside), the hotter components are, the less efficient they are, meaning more power consuption, so the first thing i would see is the power usage vs the charger/power supply the laptop has. becuase if the cpu and gpu are drinking all the juice... thats probobly your problem.

Its probobly a barrel jack connector in the 200-240watt range, and the laptop is drawing near 150 watt at full load.

Rambling aside, 4 years the laptop probobly needs a new battery, internal cleaning, and new thermal pads and paste, and pray to god the capacitors, VRMS and voltage regulation circuits are in good condition. happened to me with a huawei laptop, the laptop would connect to the charger, 20V 3.5 amps but before even reaching 5% charge would drop to 0.5A, and would stop charging, the voltage regulator was cooked and would not charge the battery.

Fair points all round. :,(

I have checked out the battery, it looked OK both on test and physical observation, and was also surprised at the lack of dust in most areas in there. There's no way of knowing the toll of heat and time on some components really. It may be time to pull up the anchor on it, however, I'm still reluctant given the sudden nature, over one day being fine and the next not, suggesting to me that most components are fine. maybe just the socket and battery?

The definite need to replace the power jack is well founded however, as it does disconnect if I knock the charger cord too hard, even though I can be fairly heavy of deck movement even now without disconnection.

Battery Report

COMPUTER NAME	LEGION-K133A8FJ
SYSTEM PRODUCT NAME	LENOVO 81Q6
BIOS	BHCN42WW 05/21/2021
OS BUILD	22621.1.amd64fre.ni_release.220506-1250
PLATFORM ROLE	Mobile
CONNECTED STANDBY	Not supported
REPORT TIME	2024-04-0516:35:23

Installed batteries

Information about each currently installed battery

	BATTERY 1
NAME	L17M3PG2
MANUFACTURER	SMP
SERIAL NUMBER	6276
CHEMISTRY	LiP
DESIGN CAPACITY	57,000 mWh
FULL CHARGE CAPACITY	48,850 mWh
CYCLE COUNT	84

Recent usage

Power states over the last 3 days

�

START TIME	STATE	SOURCE	CAPACITY REMAINING
2024-04-0217:04:53	Active	AC	100 %	49,260 mWh
17:15:41	Suspended		100 %	49,260 mWh
2024-04-0308:16:46	Active	Battery	98 %	48,270 mWh

Battery life estimates

Battery life estimates based on observed drains

�

	AT FULL CHARGE		AT DESIGN CAPACITY
PERIOD	ACTIVE	CONNECTED STANDBY		ACTIVE	CONNECTED STANDBY
2020-03-23 - 2020-04-06	3:11:32	-		3:11:03	-
2024-03-29	0:42:16	-		0:49:14	-
2024-03-30	13:35:51	-		15:50:00	-

Current estimate of battery life based on all observed drains since OS install

Since OS install

2:17:38

-

2:40:36

-

Battery capacity history

Charge capacity history of the system's batteries

PERIOD FULL CHARGE CAPACITY DESIGN CAPACITY

2020-03-23 57,144 mWh 57,000 mWh

2024-03-30 48,951 mWh 57,000 mWh

Latent setting? Have you changed any setting recently? Dinked around in the BIOS?

Not that I'm aware of. Is there a way to investigate recent changes?
I haven't been in the BIOS settings on this laptop.

Live in UK, up North. Same miserable cold wet weather all the time

 

[Frick]

Many, many variations of simply leaving to cool down and a new charger has been employed as well.

So you've tried a new charger? Then it's almost a guarantee it's the battery/battery circuits.