Question Power bricks for laptop max wattage?

MeeLee

Distinguished
Aug 27, 2014
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Hi,

My PSU for my PC is only 300W, but it has a fan built in.
I see power bricks for laptops at 200W and they have a plastic enclosed casing. No air ventillation!
Is this even safe?
How come they don't need any cooling like a desktop PSU?
And what is the maximum wattage a power brick can have, without overheating?
 

Lutfij

Titan
Moderator
They're both designed on different platforms. You can work with PICO/Nano style PSU's that work off of power bricks mean for high end Dell/Alienware laptops but that can only be possible with context. You can't take the highest wattage power brick and pair it with just any laptop since their internal circuitry will be designed differently.

That being said, what are you trying to ask here? Do you need a solution for your desktop(PC) or for a laptop?
 

MeeLee

Distinguished
Aug 27, 2014
92
11
18,545
I need an answer on how it is possible that there are enclosed power bricks as powerful as 200W on the market , while most PSUs in computers need fans.
Is this a newer technology?
I know power bricks use digital power convertors, while PSUs in PCs use analog transformers or coils sometimes.