Is it possible to swap GPUs in a 1400?

Been digging, might as well keep going... can't find anything showing it on the training page, is the GPU a built on item or a removeable unit?

I am talking an 8400 for a different 8400 btw here...

Thanks!

 

Short answer, no.

Longer answer, Dell uses a certain connector to connect the card to the laptop mainboard. It has been possible in the past to change out for a better card in the future, but it is costly. I haven't seen anybody try and open it up to see if it is this same setup.

The card is unchangable in almost every laptop out there, there are very few exceptions, I think the Asus C90 may be one.

 

Thanks, I edited my post to clear up what I am trying to do. The issue is that one of my vostros has a video card that o/cs like a champ, the other can't do crap... wondering if it's even within reason to try and get Dell somehow let me keep on vid card when replacing a mobo (the one with the good vid card has a flawed mobo).

 

Graphics cards are exchangeable between the same model. For example, removing one 8400M from a Vostro 1400, and replacing it into another Vostro 1400, which originally came with 8400M. If this is what you mean, then yes, it is physically and mechanically possible.

If your talking about remving an 8400M from a totally different notebook, then it can't be done, as the form factor of the cards will differ. There is no standard for upgrading notebook graphics cards, except a couple of designs, which no Dells use.

 

Yeah I am thinking of doing it between two identical 1400's... I am not at all confident Dell will ever send me a laptop that has everything working right and I am trying to figure out how hard it will be to swap the good parts to make one decent franken machine.

Any diagrams or what not as to where it is so I can guage the difficulty and likelihood? Didn't see anything on the training pages about that.

 

Dell is quite good in that they do provide dissasembly instructions and guides on their website. You could have a look there. If you can't find any, then there may some on the Internet, but your best place would be the Dell website.

 

From the Vostro 1400 service manual:
Discrete
The Vostro 1400 offers one discrete solution: the 128 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400M GS (G86), which is explained in greater detail here. This graphics solution is known as a ‛discrete down‛ configuration, which means the video card is soldered to the system board. In the event of a failure, replace the system board.

So there is no way to upgrade or swap the video card...

 

If there was, they would offer the option of 8600GT, the only reason I did not get the 1400. I would have bought 1400 in a heart beat if it had 8600GT