Upgrading a laptop graphics card (oshi...)

[Donut]

alright, iv got an hp dv9339us laptop. current specs are as follows:
HD1: 120 Gb
HD2: 80 Gb
Graphics: Nvidea GeForce 7600, 256 mb VRAM (dxdiag calls it an Integrated RAMDAC)
Processor: 1.66 Ghz centrino duo (duel core) T5500
Memory: 2 Gb DDR2 RAM

running windows vista home premium 32-bit. i want install a new graphics card. this thing is a pretty nice game machine, but i wouldnt mind being able to run some games on higher settings, so i was thinking about upgrading to an NVidea 8000 series or a 9000 series.
i know its an integrated card, but thats about all i know. can somebody help me decide on a good card for my system and tell me how to install it?

im looking for something that has 512 mb VRAM and can run farcry2 on decent settings. right now im running it on all low settings with physics and fire set to ultra high, and HDR turned on. it runs at ~30 fps for me, but as soon as i light a fire somewhere my frames drop to 15, and shooting at stuff becomes more than difficult.

google wasnt exactly helpful... i got a story about a guy who divorced his wife because his laptop wasnt working. thats when i stopped searching

[RecycleBin]

It's soldered on to the motherboard, there are two ways to do:

1. Unsolderd the BGA package (needs a BGA unsolder equipment that costs only 20-30k USD, then you add solder paste to each one of the 400+ balls and then you buy the same package new ATI chip (that is pin-to-pin compatible) and then add massive heat to put on the chip. Even in notebook factories this procedure is only 25% successful since removal of BGA usually destroy the board, any reinsert of a BGA is also highly likely to go wrong.
If you however succeed, then you need to beg HP for a BIOS upgrade for your new VGA chip. It's very unlikely they will do that unless you bribe the BIOS engineer USD5000-10000.

2. The cheapest possiblity is to buy a new notebook

Notebooks are very unflexible on upgrades. ASUS used to have one notebook with upgradable VGA board, but only one version of VGA was available... later they scrapped this idea due to too many problems.
Usually HDD, CD, RAM and CPU are upgradable, but each notebook is different and in many cases only RAM is upgradable.
~ ????????


As for your graphics card, I would imagine the next model or two above your current one.

[Donut]

i read something about PCI express slots being use for graphics cards. anybody know anything about that?
E: and before anyone says something like "why are you gaming on a laptop", i use my laptop for everything, i dont want to be constrained by a desktop, and i game all over the place with my PC.

[RecycleBin]

i read something about PCI express slots being use for graphics cards. anybody know anything about that?
E: and before anyone says something like "why are you gaming on a laptop", i use my laptop for everything, i dont want to be constrained by a desktop, and i game all over the place with my PC.

I'm almost posative you cannot use PCI slots for graphics cards.
Is your laptop new?

[Mr Buckshot]

Your 7600 is a dedicated chip that uses the MXM interface which is PCI-e for laptops. However, think of it as replaceable rather than upgradeable.

[Donut]

so in other words, if this card bites it, i can open this beast up, take the fried card out, and put a new one in without any soldering? is there a port type thing that the card plugs into?
and if i find a better card that uses that same port, what is the issue with swapping the cards out?

[Mr Buckshot]

so in other words, if this card bites it, i can open this beast up, take the fried card out, and put a new one in without any soldering? is there a port type thing that the card plugs into?
and if i find a better card that uses that same port, what is the issue with swapping the cards out?

There are three types of MXM cards - I, II, and III, I is low end, II is midrange like your 7600, III is desktop replacement. They're not interchangeable - a type III won't go into a type II slot and vice versa due to size and cooling constraints.

You can pull out your 7600 and stick in a new 7600, possibly a 7700 (12 pipes versus 8, your performance will improve) and that's about it I think. But you can't put in, say, an 8800M.

Sorry, but to improve your graphics performance, build a desktop with a good video card. If your computing needs call for a laptop more than a desktop, go on Newegg - they have good deals on laptops with geforce 9650MGTs, but note that you're basically stuck with whatever chip's in there.

[Donut]

alright, thanks for the help. i appreciate it.
im going to leave this open incase somebody finds an alternative or something

[Cortexian]

8600M GT, 256MB. (http://www.excaliberpc.com/582445/asus-nvidia-8600m-gt-256mb.html)

That's the fastest MXM II card that you'll likely find. Though swapping MXM cards isn't usually recommended do to BIOS issues. Unless you want to risk destroying your laptop, replace it. Laptops aren't designed to be upgradeable by consumers.

[Donut]

and bios upgrades are like...impossible, right?
is there any way i can find out if my bios can handle the card?

[Cortexian]

Near impossible unless you have contacts within the laptop manufacturer. The BIOS can't handle any card but the one it's shipped with, they're shipped configured to run with what's installed. All you can usually upgrade on laptops is RAM and HDD's.

[Mr Buckshot]

Yeah, as Freelancer said, get a new laptop altogether (and don't get a HP or a Compaq, overpriced). If you're strapped for cash, I think your current setup does fine.

[Warsaw]

The limiting factor on how far you can upgrade a notebook graphics is also dependent on TDP...certain cards will draw more power than they are supplied with and/or get too hot, causing the whole laptop to fry.

Sorry mate, you're best off getting a new lappy.

[Cojafoji]

Buy a new laptop; end of story.

I mean, unless you can place a single order of an outdated GPU, from the manufacturer, craft a custom bios upgrade, and then solder the thing to the board yourself, all without harming any of the other critical components.

[Donut]

well as far as the price of this goes, it was $1200. i thought it was a pretty good deal. i can still live with the graphics i have right now, but ill be sure to come here when im buying a new laptop in a few... years i guess.

[leorimolo]

You could do it with dells, my old Inspiron 6400 you could upgrade its card to another OEM version, from what I understand its like the only laptop capable of doing it easily.

Edit buckshot by no means HP's are overpriced anymore. Check online for cupons, theres plenty of 30% of coupons available from time to time, also 100 dollar off cupons etc

[Cortexian]

Asus has been making increasingly credible laptops for sometime now... Some of their higher end ones are wicked.

[Sel]

And cost a fucktonne.

Put together a desktop. I built one that was 600$ (CAD) and I max out everything aside from Crysis, and l4d.

[Warsaw]

$2400 for a laptop with dual HD4870Ms , 6GB of DDR3 RAM, 18.4" 1080p screen, dual 320GB 7200rpm HDDs, and a quad core CPU is nothing to sneer at...that is a fantastic price considering it is a "mobile" platform.

[AAA]

$2400 for a laptop with dual HD4870Ms , 6GB of DDR3 RAM, 18.4" 1080p screen, dual 320GB 7200rpm HDDs, and a quad core CPU is nothing to sneer at...that is a fantastic price considering it is a "mobile" platform.


Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmm mmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnn

You can make a computer twice as good with under $1500.
1TB Hard Drives
23" 1920x1080 Monitor
Floppy Drive (for BIOS Flash incase the motherboard doesn't support USB Flashing)
24x CD/DVD Burners
Core i7 Motherboard with overclocking tools
Intel Core i7 920 (it's awesome even when not overclocked)
OCZ Gold DDR3 1600 RAM
Stable Steel case
3x $5 Fans for good airflow
TWO ATI Radeon HD 4770 512MB
Micro USB Wireless Mouse
Keyboard built for gaming
5.1 Channel Stereo (Maybe even 7.1)
and a 700W-800W Power Supply

Desktops are pretty nice...

[Cortexian]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmm mmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnn

You can make a computer twice as good with under $1500.
1TB Hard Drives
23" 1920x1080 Monitor
Floppy Drive (for BIOS Flash incase the motherboard doesn't support USB Flashing)
24x CD/DVD Burners
Core i7 Motherboard with overclocking tools
Intel Core i7 920 (it's awesome even when not overclocked)
OCZ Gold DDR3 1600 RAM
Stable Steel case
3x $5 Fans for good airflow
TWO ATI Radeon HD 4770 512MB
Micro USB Wireless Mouse
Keyboard built for gaming
5.1 Channel Stereo (Maybe even 7.1)
and a 700W-800W Power Supply

Desktops are pretty nice...
:ohdear:

Why do people always compare laptop hardware costs to desktop hardware costs like they're the same thing?

It's just as bad as comparing 3rd person shooters to 1st person shooters, or racing simulation games (Forza) to racing action games (Burnout Paradise), ect. They're, in contrary to popular belief, DIFFERENT THINGS.

[Bhamid]

Is it just me or do laptops have really bad overheating problems?

[Cortexian]

Is it just me or do laptops have really bad overheating problems?
That's what happens when you cram hardware meant for desktops into laptops! :downs:

[SnaFuBAR]

:ohdear:

Why do people always compare laptop hardware costs to desktop hardware costs like they're the same thing? They're, in contrary to popular belief, DIFFERENT THINGS.


That's what happens when you cram hardware meant for desktops into laptops! :downs:
:mech3:

:mech:

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

:mech2:
:mech:
:mech3:
heh

[Mr Buckshot]

Is it just me or do laptops have really bad overheating problems?

Mine doesn't and it's no slouch at gaming. Gets 4 hours battery too, despite running a Geforce 8600MGS and a Core 2 Duo T8100 (assuming I turn off wi-fi and bluetooth).

Those that overheat are the over-17-inch-large desktop replacement beasts that cram dual GPUs into the laptop and are too heavy and have shit battery life - basically defeating the entire purpose of a laptop (seriously wtf is up with those 19" and 20" laptops, if I wanted a screen that big I'd just get a desktop). They hardly qualify as laptops and are better described as "expensive gaming beasts that just take up less space on the table."

[Donut]

well mine is a 17" one. i dont have it for its battery life, i have it so i can take a gaming platform + a computer around with me. its never an issue to find an outlet anyway

[Cortexian]

:mech3:

:mech:
I'm sorry but 8800GTX's aren't laptop compatible kthxbai.

[Warsaw]

They don't shove desktop GPUs into laptops, not exactly. A GoForce 9800M GTX is roughly equivalent to a desktop 9800 GT in performance...they aren't equivalents.

The only laptop I know of which quite literally has desktop components is the Clevo D900 series (currently at D900F, which has an i7).

[343guiltymc]

The naming scheme is fucked, a GTX 260M is only as good as a 9800 GT....

[Warsaw]

It's basically an overclocked and die-shrunk 9800M GTX. The GTX280M, on the other hand, is a leap above the GTX260M...it can rival two 9800M GTX in SLi.

[Cortexian]

There aren't any laptops with GTX280M's yet are there?

[Warsaw]

There are. There's the Clevo D900F (Sager NP9280) and the Clevo M570ETU (Sager NP5797). This summer, the Clevo M980NU will be released, featuring the GTX280M with SLI as an option. Outside of Clevo, I've not seen the GTXM series.

[343guiltymc]

So which is better, the GTX 260M or the 4850M? The 4850M is suppose to be as good as the 4830 right?

[Warsaw]

Very good question...it depends on what game you are trying to play...I think the GTX260M is a notch above the 4850M...which is a stand-in for the 4860M until it is released.

[343guiltymc]

Very good question...it depends on what game you are trying to play...I think the GTX260M is a notch above the 4850M...which is a stand-in for the 4860M until it is released.

Really? From what I've heard, the 4860M is worse than the 4850M. Fucked up.

[Warsaw]

It's not even out yet...the 4860M is basically a die-shrunk 4850, with stats that more closely resemble a 4770, which is pretty much just as good in most cases.

[kid908]

hmmm.... i think u guys just gave me my next labtop, Clevo M980NU =P. you can't really upgrade anything (except Ram and HDD) in labtop. labtops are macs basicly; when u need an upgrade, throw the old out and get a new.

i believe that the 260 GTx is better tho so u might want to look at its scores first tho.

anyone got the price for a Clevo M980NU yet? my lab is 5 yrs old and dieing. i consider that a good life for a labtop, but the GPU is really outdated now (it can barely run cod4 and crash with crysis on lowest settings).

[Warsaw]

"Laptop," not "labtop."

The M980NU looks to start around $2400 US, judging by the price they stated in euros on Notebookcheck.de.