Chosen Solution
I am dealing with a machine that never shipped with a battery (bottom cover is intact, so I believe it may have expanded, or they removed it due to older Dell softcells expanding due to age to avoid UN3841 issues) or cable, so I need to install a battery. However, I have a choice: Match the original 3 cell 42Wh battery (retains 2.5” HD bay)Install the 60Wh pack (will lose 2.5” HD bay) On average, how much of a difference does the extra 18Wh gained by giving up the 2.5” bay? With how cheap NVMe SSDs are these days, it’s looking like a compelling upgrade path to me, especially since I’m starting over on SSD storage, RAM (originally 16GB, stripped down to 4GB) and the 2.5” drive if it was ever present and I did not get the drive caddy with the laptop so I think mine never had it but the previous owner decided to leave the option there by getting the smaller pack.
Hi @nick , There may be too many variables to be accurate i.e. system power requirements over the same amount of time in use e.g if gaming then high CPU/GPU/ram demand plus audio and inputs etc versus just browsing or doing less demanding tasks etc. You’re getting a 30% increase in power availability but this may not translate into the same increase in actual time duration. Also being of a greater capacity means although it will last longer between charges it will also take longer to fully recharge, when being charged.
