What's the max power output on the Thunderbolt ports on the Helios 500?

DosWasBest
DosWasBest Member Posts: 28 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
edited November 2023 in 2018 Archives
Acer's site doesn't say beyond mentioning that the Thunderbolt 3 spec allows for up to 100 watts.  Which is common knowledge.  Anyone know what the ports actually produce?

Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    >>>Anyone know what the ports actually produce? >>>

    You can only safely assume up to the common knowledge spec without risking a failure. Jack E/NJ


    Jack E/NJ

  • xapim
    xapim ACE Posts: 7,253 Pathfinder
    There is only one way to find out, measure it :)


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  • PredatorHelios500
    PredatorHelios500 Member Posts: 74 Devotee WiFi Icon
    xapim said:
    There is only one way to find out, measure it :)
    This is terrible advice. Either some tech sheet says the maximum safe power or you have to measure it. But measuring it risks destroying it.
  • xapim
    xapim ACE Posts: 7,253 Pathfinder
    edited October 2018
    xapim said:
    There is only one way to find out, measure it :)
    This is terrible advice. Either some tech sheet says the maximum safe power or you have to measure it. But measuring it risks destroying it.

    It should be in the specs pdf or book that comes with the laptop if it's not there and no one can provide it for certainly like i said there's is a way to really find out it's measuring it i didn't said to do it i said it's one of the ways in case there is no info provided (pretty sure there will be some schematics somewhere around on google as this info is not the type of info which would show on normal specs) and if measured with the proper device it wont destroy it if who's doing it knows what they are doing and should not me hard to do with the proper equipment as i said there are digital meters to plug into the port to measure the outputs


    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543

    UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
    CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
    GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
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    HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
    RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
    MBD: Acer Predator G3-572

    I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
    If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks :)
    If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:

    Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
    Acer support:
    https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
    http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/  


  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    If you plan to use a device that might exceed the max power spec, you risk damaging the mainboard. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • DosWasBest
    DosWasBest Member Posts: 28 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
    The spec isn't shown anywhere in helios 500 info that I've looked at so far.  While here in circa 2018-2019, there are no tb3 devices on planet earth that draw 100watts from a tb3 bus, there are a number of devices (sound interfaces mostly) appearing next year that want to see 20-35 watts if bus-powered from tb3.  I plan on getting a few of those devices.

    If Acer has capped the tb3 ports at say, 15 watts, that'll render upcoming bus-powered devices unusable (although there will be wall wart ac adaptors.... which are useless on say, an airplane).

    Sooooooo..... if the Helios 500 actually produces the tb3 high-limit of 100 watts at the ports, I'd be happily surprised as I don't expect external devices needing 100 watts (ie.. a small PA system) for at least another 3-4 years.

    But for right now..... with the various 20-35 watt external devices on the way..... an actual Acer spec would be useful to see somewhere.  I could call Acer... but on the two times I've tried that on other questions, I find I know more than the person on the Acer line.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    >>>Acer's site doesn't say beyond mentioning that the Thunderbolt 3 spec allows for up to 100 watts.  Which is common knowledge.  Anyone know what the ports actually produce? >>>
    >>>The spec isn't shown anywhere in helios 500 info that I've looked at so far.>>>

    If as you claim the ACER SITE mentions the spec allows up to 100 watts, then the spec is up to 100 watts if it has a Thunderbolt 3 port. What am I missing here? Please show me the ACER SITE you're referring to that says it has a Thunderbolt 3 port that allows up to 100 watts. If it says up to 100 watts, then up to 100 watts is what it is. Jack E/NJ




    Jack E/NJ

  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    I imagine @JackE is correct in assuming a port labeled "Thunderbolt 3" would act as such and therefore produce the output a TB3 is known to produce.

    These types of hardware do not change functionality across brands etc.
    - Hotel Hero
  • DosWasBest
    DosWasBest Member Posts: 28 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
    Yes, although Usb C ports are spec'd to provide up to 100 watts power..... as a spec.. if the manufacturer chooses to activate that.  But guess what Acer decided to activate on the usb-c port on the Helios 300 predator laptop?  2.5 watts.  

    I'm just wanting to be clear on how much power the 500 really makes available at the tb3 ports. 
  • DosWasBest
    DosWasBest Member Posts: 28 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
    JackE said:
    >>>Acer's site doesn't say beyond mentioning that the Thunderbolt 3 spec allows for up to 100 watts.  Which is common knowledge.  Anyone know what the ports actually produce? >>>
    >>>The spec isn't shown anywhere in helios 500 info that I've looked at so far.>>>

    If as you claim the ACER SITE mentions the spec allows up to 100 watts, then the spec is up to 100 watts if it has a Thunderbolt 3 port. What am I missing here? Please show me the ACER SITE you're referring to that says it has a Thunderbolt 3 port that allows up to 100 watts. If it says up to 100 watts, then up to 100 watts is what it is. Jack E/NJ

    Here is the Acer 500 page that mentions the tb3 power potential at the bottom- 
    https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/predator-series-design/predatorhelios500

    Scroll all the way to the bottom where you see .....

    THESE PORTS CAN DO WHAT!?
    ThunderBolt™ 31. They’re fast (40Gbps), they’re useful (single-cable docking) and they’re powerful (literally—up to 100W each). And this is just the start.

    If we're all of the opinion that Acer is indeed stating that the ports can feed 100 watts to a peripheral that may need it.... then I'm a happy camper.






  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    >>>But guess what Acer decided to activate on the usb-c port on the Helios 300 predator laptop?  2.5 watts.>>>

    There are all kinds of USB-C ports. A USB-C 3.1 gen 1 which is little more than a USB-A 3.0 port except for the physical form factor. It will not supply 100 watts. Then there's the USB-C 3.1 gen 2 port which can do more than a USB 3 port as a power supply and other functions. It will not necessarily supply 100 watts. Then there's a thunderbolt port that can supply up to 100 watts and do a whole lot of other functions. If it's got a bona-fide thunderbolt port, then it'll supply up to 100 watts.  Accordingly, you should be a happy camper.  :)   Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ