I cannot get this simple thing figured out.

m1730: I want to confirm the graphics card installed. I had the notebook replaced once by Dell and I did not keep track of what they put in it.

 

i just went to the Dell site and saw my order. They installed: 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT

This is what I have: XPS M1730, Intel Core 2 Duo T8300(2.4GHz, 800Mhz, 3M L2 Cache)

Is it possible for me to upgrade the processor or the grphics card on this motherboard?

 

You can upgrade both the CPU and GPU. On the CPU side, you can use any 800MHz FSB or slower Socket P processors. On the GPU side, you're limited to graphics cards made specifically for the M1730; I think there's a 8700, 8800, and 9800 (all in single and SLI flavors) available... if you can find 'em.

 

The 8700's seem to be the most stable (i.e. non prone to failure) right?

 

Hard to tell with this one. I haven't heard of any 8700s in M1730s failing, but I don't think I've heard of any 8800s or 9800s in M1730s failing either. Then again, there aren't too many M1730s out there in the first place, so while the failure rates may be the same as those of 8400s and 8600s, we just don't hear about 'em.

 

Got it. I hadn't realized that the M1730 was the unpopular. I thought it was their flagship model for a time.

 

I wouldn't say it was unpopular... it probably was Dell's flagship laptop for a while, but how many people go out and buy flagship laptops? You aren't going to see too many people with an M17X, and in the same vein, we never saw that many people with an M1730. It's just overboard and/or too expensive for many people.

 

There is a whole thread now +50 pages long dedicated to gpu failures in the 1730. there is also another couple of 100 pages in the owners forum. Commander no dis' but you need to get out more often.

1730 problem thread

Sunnah yes and yes cpu and gpu are upgradeable. If you are getting 8700's what did you send in?

 

Well there you go then. I don't pay too much attention to flagships, so I'll eat my words.