Dell, just like Lenovo, uses 3 pin charger plug, third pin being there for type detection.
While Lenovo is a simple resistor, Dell uses 1 wire eprom DS2501.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_QxHb8aito

intermittent = non solid PS_ID connection. Charging port or cable, cracked solder joint or ripped cable inner core.

Personally I use ThrottleStop on my Lenovo x230 ‘home server’ with 65W adapter, because it kept insisting on battery/90W charger, and I was too lazy to solder a new cable.

I know it’s not official in the slightest. For what it’s worth oddly enough when I got home it started acting normal… It’s a la150pm121 which is the 150watt one. Maybe it’s just getting old.

No pressure

I’m going to stress that this isn’t official support, this is just me trying to help out.

And I end up (officially) supporting too many laptops from 2013 (although not Alienwares, it’s all Latitude and Precision).

I’ll have to check. Although on boot it did say something about not being a Dell PSU, although it most certainly is. I would have guessed it’s the 220v, but what is funny to me is that although I picked this laptop up in Japan, it didn’t start this weirdness the moment I got back to Hong Kong.

I’ll report back on the brick and the BIOS. I know a 2013 device would get zero support, but seriously, thanks dude!!

That usually means it’s either the brick or the socket in my experience.

Try going into the BIOS and seeing what it detects for a power adapter. My guess is it’ll either say it can’t detect it or it’s -1 or 1 watt or something. If that’s the case and you’ve got another Dell power brick (I think this machine used the standard Dell power socket), try it even if it’s undersized – even if it is undersized, the BIOS will still report what it is, if the socket is fine.

(Disclaimer: I work for Dell, but this post is my own personal experience.)