Enthusiast runs desktop PC off 56 AA batteries — Intel computer lasts less than 5 minutes while playing Minesweeper
Source: Tom’s Hardware
Image credit: ScuffedBits/YouTube
Gaming laptops rely on high‑energy‑density lithium batteries to deliver a few hours of on‑battery gaming. But what happens if you replace those specialized cells with ordinary AA batteries and try to power a desktop gaming PC?
YouTube creator ScuffedBits set out to find out. He swapped the original 450 W CX430 power supply for an ATX plug from AliExpress that lets you connect the 12 V rail to virtually any source. The exact PC specs weren’t disclosed, but the build appeared to use an entry‑level Intel CPU, two RAM sticks, a 2.5‑inch SATA SSD, and Windows 10. A GPU was planned for a later test.
Initial attempt with AA batteries
AA cells provide 1.5 V each, so eight in series are needed for 12 V. ScuffedBits connected an 8‑cell pack to the ATX 12 V rail. The motherboard’s LEDs lit, but the measured draw was only about 0.06 A. The fan spun briefly before the system shut down. Adding two more 8‑cell packs in parallel didn’t help—the PC still refused to boot.
Switching from carbon to alkaline cells increased the available current slightly, yet the system still powered on for only a couple of seconds before dying.
Wiring tweaks, mains booting, and more
The main issue turned out to be the thin wires used to connect the batteries; they couldn’t handle the voltage spikes during power‑on. ScuffedBits addressed this by:
- Adding two large capacitors as power buffers.
- Using multiple, thicker wires to distribute current across the system.
- Running the entire setup off 56 alkaline AA batteries.
- Booting the PC with an external power supply, then switching to battery power once the operating system was loaded.
With these changes, the PC could stay on battery power alone, but demanding software quickly drained the cells:
- Steam caused the system to shut off after ~52 seconds.
- A modest game, A Short Hike, lasted only about 5 seconds.
- Finally, ScuffedBits tried to beat Minesweeper (easy). The PC ran for 4 minutes 35 seconds, completing a round before the batteries were exhausted.
To push the limits further, he powered the LED monitor with eight rechargeable AA cells and kept the wireless mouse and keyboard on AA power. This configuration lasted 2 minutes 14 seconds, likely due to the use of partially discharged batteries.
A last experiment added a GPU and ran a full‑screen game. The desktop survived ≈9 seconds on battery power.
The experiment highlights how far battery technology has progressed, yet also underscores the challenges of powering a typical desktop PC with low‑capacity cells. Commenters suggested trying low‑power laptop components (e.g., Snapdragon‑based laptops or Apple Silicon) for a more realistic battery‑only gaming experience.