Installing the RADEON HD 4650 to my Aspire 5920g

Hello everyone. Im new so im josh. Nice to meet you. Now, to my question. I have read on this forum it is possible to upgrade the graphics on the 5920g by using another MXM II card. And i have seen on here i could upgrade it to a 4650 HD. Is this true? And, if so, will it just be a case of, taking out the screws of the 8600m gs card, taking out the 8600m gs, and slotting the 4650 HD in. Will i need any extras, or copper mods? Or any thermal pads or paste? And, does the card always come with Acer vBios? Or only certain 4650's. IF you could help me, that would be great. Because i don't feel confident handling the card myself.

 

First post of this thread has everything that might interest you.
BTW- you keep talking about 4650 or 5650?
Don't count on 5650- it's gonna be available as MXM-A rather than MXM-II

 

Sorry, dunno why i was putting 5650, mind not working today. Thanks for post on the thread.

 

I read the thread about the succesful upgrade. Do you think my local pc hardware store could install the card. And, is the copper or aluminium mod neccesary as stated in the upgrade thread?

 

Installing a card is not a problem the whole thing is about making the cooling system work. If other users needed to mod their cooling so do you- I wouldn't count on PC hardware store to mod it for you though.

PS I changed the title thread.

 

Well, there is a hardware install shop for pc's in my town that installs cards. It isn't like a proper shop, just one for installing stuff. He apparently has experience in this field. So, i will ask him.

 

Well, the guy says he doesn't want to do something that could go wrong. He said to go safe, and buy the 9500M GS, upgrade the bios on my Aspire 5920G and then take the laptop + 9500 to him, and he'll fit it in. Then, he said he can find the correct driver to install, or, if i know where to get the 9500M GS driver for the 5920G, do that. Do you think this option is sensible?

 

I'm not really sure if it's worth any money spent on it.
Compare the benchmarks of 8600M GS and 9500M GS and think of it this way- will you be able to play games you want to play with 9500M GS?
Upgrading to HD4650 makes sense because you get a lot more power and you get closer to the current generation of mid-range cards.
Going from 8600M GS to 9500M GS means you're some 3 years behind yet it costs you quite a lot (some $150).
9650M GT would make more sense but that's about $250 which is one third of a price of a new notebook equipped with HD5650.

 

Thanks for a quick reply. How easy is it to make a copper mod, and apply one? Well, as well as that. I found a 4650 on Ebay.

NEW Sapphire 1GB ATI RADEON HD 4650 PCI-E Graphic Card on eBay (end time 10-Nov-10 13:31:29 GMT)

Is this one that would work? Cheers again for the quick reply

EDIT: Found this one on amazon as well bit cheaper. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-HD4650-DDR2-PCI-Graphics/dp/B001ULU1MU/ref=pd_cp_computers_2

 

What you found is a desktop version of the cards and what you need is this- an MXM-II Mobility Radeon HD4650.
As you see there's a significant difference in price (and size).
The MXM upgrade thread (I've already posted this link here) has all the information about MXM cards. I encourage you to read first two posts.

 

I've bookmarked your Ebay link. And also the MXM Card Compatibility thread. Thank you. The price difference is significant indeed.

 

Read the last half of the comments of this link:
The Acer Guy Blog Archive Morris’ Aspire 5920 GPU Swap/upgrade

Depending on your location this might be usefull, although no coppermod is mentioned here:
Acer 5920G MXM upgrade

Still have a 5920G & a HD3650 here, with copper from CPU Heatsinks, and Arctic Silver5 Paste to replace my already replaced 8600mgt. Maybe I'll put it in this month.

 

Know where i can buy this copper Koen? I would be greatful. Cheers.

 

I don't know whether a copper mod is needed for 4650 or what size, but the last of the 3 links I gave is where I got mine, for HD3650 size was 0.7mm x 15mm x 15mm, search the comments (control f and type 4650 ) on the first link for other people who upgraded to 4650.

 

I've heard the ATI cards that work in a 5920g need thicker thermal pads to help cool the laptop. So, i would imagine we would need the same copper to necessitate the cooling needs of the 4650.