F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop Upgrade your 2019 MacBook Pro with custom modifications.

Upgrade your 2019 MacBook Pro with custom modifications.

Upgrade your 2019 MacBook Pro with custom modifications.

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drak_0
Junior Member
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19
12-26-2017, 12:06 AM
#1
Hey there! I originally shared this on r/hardwarehacking, but thought it would be nice to get feedback from the community. I was aiming to boost the longevity of my daily driver machine a bit more, possibly by making some modifications. Below are the details I provided, along with the motivation behind it. For those who prefer a quick summary: - Can we adapt the new MagSafe connector from modern MacBooks to work with a 140W power supply, bypassing the TB3 USB-C circuit (which only supports 100W)? - I don’t need it to be mounted inside the case; it could hang or be placed externally.

Specs: A1990 2019 15'' MacBook Pro i9 9980HK, 32GB RAM, Radeon Pro 560X GPU
Backstory and reasoning: So far, the MacBook’s battery has failed. I removed it from the chassis a while ago after it became a topic in r/spicypillows. I’m testing this under Bootcamp with an external GPU in my Razer Core X using an RTX 2070. I turned off Turbo Boost and ran without issues, but since the battery was taken out, power spikes cause the system to shut down. Fixing this might involve throttling via ThrottleStop, but I’m considering a modification to extend its life before switching to a proper desktop. It’s also been a fun project to solder and explore. If anyone can guide me or confirm if this is feasible, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks a lot! (I know the deskpad is upside down)
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drak_0
12-26-2017, 12:06 AM #1

Hey there! I originally shared this on r/hardwarehacking, but thought it would be nice to get feedback from the community. I was aiming to boost the longevity of my daily driver machine a bit more, possibly by making some modifications. Below are the details I provided, along with the motivation behind it. For those who prefer a quick summary: - Can we adapt the new MagSafe connector from modern MacBooks to work with a 140W power supply, bypassing the TB3 USB-C circuit (which only supports 100W)? - I don’t need it to be mounted inside the case; it could hang or be placed externally.

Specs: A1990 2019 15'' MacBook Pro i9 9980HK, 32GB RAM, Radeon Pro 560X GPU
Backstory and reasoning: So far, the MacBook’s battery has failed. I removed it from the chassis a while ago after it became a topic in r/spicypillows. I’m testing this under Bootcamp with an external GPU in my Razer Core X using an RTX 2070. I turned off Turbo Boost and ran without issues, but since the battery was taken out, power spikes cause the system to shut down. Fixing this might involve throttling via ThrottleStop, but I’m considering a modification to extend its life before switching to a proper desktop. It’s also been a fun project to solder and explore. If anyone can guide me or confirm if this is feasible, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks a lot! (I know the deskpad is upside down)

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xEchoz
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208
12-26-2017, 12:06 AM
#2
Based on what you found on Reddit, the 140W magsafe PSU might not suit your needs. Would a standard ATX or SFX PSU work better for your setup? You have some options to consider.
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xEchoz
12-26-2017, 12:06 AM #2

Based on what you found on Reddit, the 140W magsafe PSU might not suit your needs. Would a standard ATX or SFX PSU work better for your setup? You have some options to consider.

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papercut3
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221
12-26-2017, 12:06 AM
#3
The macbook needs the battery to properly function as the 100w charger doesnt cut it and there is also no way to push more So basically the fix is get a battery
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papercut3
12-26-2017, 12:06 AM #3

The macbook needs the battery to properly function as the 100w charger doesnt cut it and there is also no way to push more So basically the fix is get a battery

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ZehCookie
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23
12-26-2017, 12:06 AM
#4
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ZehCookie
12-26-2017, 12:06 AM #4

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xStriKed
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212
12-26-2017, 12:06 AM
#5
The situation is that there’s not much to modify since you could just create a fake battery—essentially a charger that connects internally to the battery header. However, this approach has a huge problem: if it tries to charge the charger itself, it could cause it to fail. The MacBook can’t get more power from just one source; it requires two inputs, and there’s no way to supply extra power without risking damage.
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xStriKed
12-26-2017, 12:06 AM #5

The situation is that there’s not much to modify since you could just create a fake battery—essentially a charger that connects internally to the battery header. However, this approach has a huge problem: if it tries to charge the charger itself, it could cause it to fail. The MacBook can’t get more power from just one source; it requires two inputs, and there’s no way to supply extra power without risking damage.

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