Maintaining a handheld is my largest gripe. Nobody seems to interested in doing things that ensure the long term use of these machines. Like the thread I made about the Legion Go recently. No matter the handheld, from any brand. People who discuss them seem to ignore the key parts that keep them functioning. The AC adapter and the batteries.

If a machine cant turn on, it doesnt matter what the use case and specs are.

If interested the Go has detach able controllers too. But nobody seemms to know if it will run without the battery(AC power only).

Was it the thread where someone mentioned they didn't find the charge limit options in BIOS settings but had to use a Windows application to change that (to e.g. limit the charging to 80%)?

I meant to comment there that it seems to be the case with many Lenovo Legion laptops too. I think my Legion laptop used to have the option in the BIOS/UEFI settings to limit the charging by selecting one of three profiles (one charges up to 100%, one to 80%, and one to 60% I think; the last one is the one to use if your laptop is 99% of the time connected to power, like mine is), but it seemed to disappear from there with some UEFI update, not sure why? I am quite sure I did limit it there earlier but then couldn't find it anymore after some UEFI update.

Luckily that limit can still be set with the Legion Windows application (also the third-party tool someone made that can be used instead of the official Lenovo app), and apparently it changes something in the BIOS/UEFI level because the limit works also on Linux, or when charging the laptop when it is shut down. Not sure if there is a similar tool also to Linux, kinda shitty one has to boot to Windows to change that setting.


If testing Legion Go without a battery, be sure to test whether its performance will stay the same. My understanding is that some laptops (including Macs) limit the performance of the laptop if they detect battery is removed or not working, like the CPU is forced to run on lower frequency etc. I think the idea is that since it can't get extra power from the battery in case the laptop is using lots of power when CPUs and GPUs run at overdrive, and the power supply can't give enough power momentarily, then bad things happen. With a battery installed, it would normally get that needed extra power from the battery.

So I am wondering if Go has a similar limitation, in case it even works at all without the battery.

Oh man, I've just checked and it really seems to have achievements! Does it also calculate your playtime? I like that feature of Galaxy.

I love my SteamDeck (sorry GOG hardcore fans), but when I play GOG games, I usually do it on PC (like 95% of time) as I lunched 2-3 games on deck via Galaxy (yes, on SteamDeck) but performance was a bit worse and things like to crash here and there (or it used as I haven't launched GOG game on SD for months or longer).

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Thank you DSHLK, you made my day! :)

That reminded me that I do have a handheld, a Nintendo Switch (and of course an Android phone and a tablet that I guess can play some games too)... I just never got an urge to take it with me in case I want to play (Minecraft or some Zelda game) somewhere else. My laptop is usually enough for that, and allows me to do other stuff too like writing to this forum.

Why not going full harcore mode and buy one that fits a desktop and a CRT. Maybe a couple of batteries and a solar panel to help when there's no power :)
I believe this has been discussed a lot in the past, maybe a year or two ago.
I wonder if they run without the RAM plugged in as well, damn greddy hardware manufacturers.... Pretty much this, except I don't love the Deck.
Oh and add a Windows tablet and a Linux Laptop as well.

Good to know the laptops may have the power options(depending on model and drivers). MSI laptops seem reliable without batteries, on AC power only too.
https://www.gog.com/forum/general/legion_go_question_for_anyone_that_has_one/


For so odd reason, I see Steamdeck, GPD and most of the others never having a conversation about whether or not these handhelds will run solely on AC power. Its very odd to me. I dig the battery bypass chips though. Some devices have chips for it. Seems as you mention Lenovo laptops may do it with software. Interesting.

Do you happen to have a Legion Go?

Ive been trying to contact customer service at Lenovo. But they dont have any contacts at all unless you buy something lol
24/7 Buying. Have a problem? F**k off! lol

No. Nintendo Switch and some Android phones/tablets are the only "handhelds" I have at this point.

Legion Go seems to have nice specs and now is on sale (599€, normally 795.95€ here) but still I consider the price so high that I can't escape thinking "I could get some ASUS TUF or even ROG laptop for that price...".

If I at some point get several thousand euros of excess money, I might buy one just out of curiosity. Or even a Steam Deck.

https://www.gigantti.fi/product/gaming/pelitietokoneet/kannettava-pelilaite/lenovo-legion-go-kannettava-pelilaite/653040

Well, supposedly Lenovo would supply a uefi option to change battery max charge. and switch over to AC power. However, this does not cover the future of the device. When any battery dies, this creates ewaste when a owner disposes the device. Im curious about any handheld, when the battery is unplugged; what happens when using AC power?

Legion Go happens to be of interest lately, because it may actually be functional without a battery. But nobody who owns one has tested this. But Tim, mentions some Lenovo laptops may do this....maybe.

edit: oops, wrote Tin by accident....changed to Tim

I meant it (my Legion laptop) has an option to limit to which level you charge your battery, but you need to use a Windows application for that even though it apparently changes some BIOS/UEFI ACPI setting or something (because the limit works also on Linux and when the machine is shut down). Not sure if there was an option in UEFI to disable the battery; it may be there was, with a note that it is meant for maintenance purposes. in order to make the system totally powerless when maintaining it, changing parts etc... or something like that.

I haven't tested whether the laptop works without a battery, but I presume it does. However, I have reason some (many) laptops and Macs limit the performance of the device if you remove or bypass the battery, and I wondered whether Legion Go has a similar limitation (in case it works at all without a battery).

Oh well, worth asking. Heya....you mentioned Minecraft for switch I think. A guy on youtube Modern Vintage Gamer, made a video showing a Switch running Minecraft running better somehow. Dunno if that may be of any interest to you.

Ill try and find the info if that is of use.
I will consider their laptops then. Good to know it has power options :)

Drawbacks of doing so:
* A bigger purse is more bulky, which is a pain if you're carrying it around everywhere. (Reminder: Women's clothing, for whatever reason, doesn't usually have pockets.)
* Some events do not allow backs (which includes purses) bigger than a certain size.

For situations where I need to carry my laptop, I have a backpack with a laptop pocket that I can use. (I am, however, looking for a new lightweight laptop to fill that pocket.)
Actually, a mini pc that fits in a backpack can be useful if, say, you need to bring the computer to a convention to show off a game you're making.

Of course, there's the issue with the monitor, and unless you can find one that folds somehow, fitting it in a backpack could be a problem, and carrying it separately, of course, is annoying. (I've done that in the past, but they were to smaller events where I could park close by.)

I don't know if I'm in the minority, but I'd actually prefer my playtime to *not* be tracked, not by the game, and not by the launcher. It's one of the complaints I have about lutris, for example, that it tracts time with no option (that I could find) to disable it.

Nice! Thank you for the answer. Then I can finally play my GOG games on SD without hacky way or push it to PC only.

Damn, that's a great news :D

More like this, please : ) SDxc are great all-rounders. Testing for a year and work everywhere! ^

I don't have one but i have a Linux Mint laptop for traveling, and when i'm at home i use my Windows desktop.

For games that fits better on PC than a console like simulation and strategy games, a laptop is better than a handheld.