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Extending the life out of your Dell battery is nothing new.  Everyone wants to save money on buying a new one, even if it the methods give off a few extra charges to the computer.  Batteries are expensive and computer users do all we can to keep our computer running.  Most of those tips involve our computer activity–dimming the screen, turn down background processes, turning off the wireless antenna after using it and never using the CD/DVD drive to burn anything.  There’s more to conserving battery life than these small favors.

The hardware is the make or break component in battery life.  A lot of people don’t realize this when a ton of software is slowing down the computer.  Optimizing hardware is the best thing for battery longevity whether the laptop is new or old.  In addition to installing power-management utility software a person can turn off ports, configure the display, and create a power-saving profile.  Disabling unused ports and other components like Ethernet, USB and wireless internet can be done through the Device Manager.  The computer display can turn off when unused just by going in Control Panel and looking for Windows Power Options.  The computer can be worked out for various situations by making a power-saving profile.  Right click on ‘My Computer’ or ‘Computer’ and select ‘Preferences’.  This will allow you to configure your hardware and allows you to see how much battery life you have left.

Now that the hardware is configured the next thing to do is to check the voltage.  On the AC adapter there should be a way for a person to know if the charge will not cause the battery to overheat.  It also has to match the computer; the wrong type of adapter or wrong voltage can send the battery into an early grave.  Use a cooling pad instead of a pillow, blanket, your lap and other surfaces that heat easily to allow breathing room for the computer.  The desk surface must be clean.  Do not store laptops and desktops in a warm place (80 degree temperature and up).  Let the computer reach room temperature before using.  If possible take the battery out when it is charged up.  Do a full discharge every thirty charges.

Shopping for Dell gaming laptops should be about looking at battery life as well as features.  Shopping for a new battery is about buying one that will last a long time.  For a new computer get one that is ultra-low-voltage with led display, a smaller screen and a solid storage drive.  All of these components will save on battery life.  For a new battery a person should not buy based on price alone.  Get a brand new battery even if it’s a hefty price instead of a cheaper one that degrades quickly.  Also don’t buy used or expired batteries; look at the manufacturer’s date, whether it is used (or new), and/or how far the product life is.  While it is impossible to tell a top notch battery from a worn out one there is no harm in trying.  Preserving battery life should be one of the most important things for long lasting computer use.