Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2022 June 5

= June 5 =

HP vs Dell vs Asus 4.5*3.0mm DC plugs
I'm trying to find the correct DC plug adapter for my laptop. I have a Asus Vivobook Pro 16X, which according to this non-official site, uses the 4.5*3.0mm DC plug.

I found various sizes of DC plug adapters online like the "4.5*3.0mm for HP" and the "4.5*3.0mm for Dell", but no Asus 4.5*3.0mm unfortunately.

1. What's the difference between "4.5*3.0mm for HP" and "4.5*3.0mm for Dell"?

2. Which of the two, if any, is closer to the Asus 4.5*3.0mm plug?

Thank you. Daniel T Wolters (talk) 06:47, 5 June 2022 (UTC)


 * If you pay a bit extra for a universal adapter (comes with a choice of plugs, polarity switch, and various voltage settings) it will forever be useful. Shantavira|feed me 11:26, 5 June 2022 (UTC)

Most of the shopping site are all (understandably) banned on Wikipedia, so I cannot post any links to the products that I have found. As an alternative, here are some screenshots of the products. Daniel T Wolters (talk) 06:52, 5 June 2022 (UTC)
 * You can post them inside  , which people can copy-and-paste. The filter only is applied to hyperlinks. Example: https://example.com --47.147.118.55 (talk) 08:14, 8 June 2022 (UTC)

In a sane world — which I confess I am not always certain we live in — a 4.5×3.0mm plug would be a 4.5×3.0mm plug, and that would be that.

I suspect — but this is partly a guess — that the "4.5×3.0mm for HP" and "4.5×3.0mm for Dell" adapters you have found are 100% identical. I suspect that those words "for HP" and "for Dell" are put there for the benefit of imperfectly-informed shoppers, and not because they describe any actual difference. But (unlike you) most shoppers looking for adapters for their laptops probably have no idea whatsoever what the dimensions of the barrel plug need to be. So words like "4.5×3.0mm for HP" are almost the best of both worlds, letting uninformed HP and Dell owners find what they need, but letting owners of other brands (as long as they do know their required dimensions) find what they need also.

Obviously you'll also want to make sure that the voltage ratings match, and that the current or power ratings of the adapter are equal to or greater than what you require. —scs (talk) 15:24, 10 June 2022 (UTC)


 * I have been told (by the local computer repair shop) that some adapters signal their identity to the computer. I don't know the exact technique, but I'd guess some form of AC superimposed on the DC.  If the computer does not recognise the adapter it should still charge albeit slowly.  If they do recognise each other then the permitted current is increased, presumably by signalling back to the adapter.  In my son's case a charger of the correct voltage and significantly higher current rating could only just keep the machine going, whereas the pukka Dell one charged it up quickly, despite having a lower current rating and the same nominal voltage.  Getting back to the OP's question, I'd guess that the "for Dell" or "for HP" indicates that the chargers speak Dell or HP respectively, and may (repeat may) under perform with other machines. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 18:40, 10 June 2022 (UTC)


 * Yes, Dell and Apple at least uses the 1-Wire protocol to communicate between the charger and laptop - https://hackaday.com/2014/03/03/hacking-dell-laptop-charger-identification/ -- Finlay McWalter··–·Talk 13:54, 11 June 2022 (UTC)