This new VR backpack features a cable-free design.
This new VR backpack features a cable-free design.
We also verify this by checking other indicators. Besides the Max-Q GPU, there are additional issues. Most laptop batteries aren't built to handle high power demands from top GPUs and CPUs because of safety limits—more power means higher current, which generates more heat, leading to battery failure. This explains why performance drops significantly when the device isn't connected.
I'm interested in learning about the timing and specifications of those models. From what I can find online, laptop batteries are built to limit the safe discharge to no more than two times their capacity. Looking at the original Surface Book batteries, which offered 7.5V at both 2387mAh and 6800mAh, a one-time charge would be around 69W. The GTX 1060 is said to draw 80W in its standard version and 60W at the lower MAX-Q setting. Even with the MAX-Q model, only about 9W remains, which isn't sufficient for the rest of the system. Obviously, this calculation assumes identical or comparable batteries were used. You could increase the discharge rate to double, but that would cut battery life in half. It seems the only way this laptop could match its performance on battery is with a much larger battery, such as 100WHr or more. Even then, it wouldn't last long. The reported 17-hour runtime applies mainly to simple tasks; real-world use would be much less.
I understand the 17-hour battery isn’t intended for gaming, I’m leaning toward around four hours. I’d like to mention a few laptops I’ve used before that run on full power: my Alienware 14 with a 860m GPU, which could handle games but limited to 30 FPS unless the power-saving setting was off; my Razer Blade 14 featuring a 3200x1800 and GTX 870M, which works fine when unplugged for about 40 minutes of gaming; and an Asus G73 GH that I customized with a 7970m chipset. It kept full performance without issues while unplugged, though it only lasted roughly 20 minutes. I’m considering the math and haven’t seen performance drops with some unplugged setups, especially since GTX460 and similar models were known for throttling. Another idea is using battery banks to keep the laptop charged while it’s not plugged in, which could be a practical alternative.