Replace Dell Latitude D620 Video Card

Alright, I just got a Dell Latitude D620 Laptop with the GMA 950 video card. Although I know the upgradeability of this laptop's video is little to none, I'm just wondering if it is possible to replace the GMA 950 with the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 110M that's in the newer models of the D620

I'd appreciate any feedback on the situation. I'm fairly computer hardware capable so I would be able to follow a walkthrough given directions

So is the switch from the GMA 950 to the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 110M possible?

 

I'm about 99% sure the only way you could do it is to completely swap motherboards as the GPU is soldered onto it. It isn't removable/swappable.

 

Yup, the only way to swap is to gut the machine and put a new motherboard in it.

 

Alright, thanks for the quick reply. Since it's a laptop, I imagine the process is a lot more difficult than a desktop, but is there a step by step guide either of you can refer me to?

 

This should help. I've never gutted this particular model, but usually it's not too bad if you're extremely careful and you document your steps so you get it back together again. The manual should help a lot though.

Documentation

 

Read up on those Nvidias though, I believe there was some problem with them dieing pretty quickly. If it was me I would stick with the intel vid card.

 

I agree I wouldn't go for the Nvidia because of the failure issues.

If you do decide to do it though it can be done for about $100. You will need the motherboard and the nvidia version of the cpu cooler. It is a fairly easy laptop to work with. I've taken mine apart quite a few times.

Something you may consider for a little bit more ($20) is a D630 motherboard. Someone on here has done it. It should only require a little bit of modding since the D630 adds a firewire port. With the D630 you get 800 MHZ bus (You can pin mod a D620 for this though), possible better nvidia gpu, Sata 2, and I don't think the D620 can support 8GB of ram.

Then again a entire D630 can go for $250-300.

 

Alright thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll take into consideration the Nvidia failure problems.

I just wanted to see if I could upgrade to play games at least a little bit better, but I'll keep my options open. I'll probably look into the D630 motherboard

 

The biggest problem is that the machine is just not meant for gaming ,your trying to make a lincoln towncar into a race car. What is not meant to be is not meant to be.

Of course this also depends on the type of games you wish to play.

 

A D630 motherboard won't work in the D620, and the D630's Nvidia option is supposedly even more prone to failure than the D620's. Both of my D620's are on their second motherboards.