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    Is the 1420/1400 8400GS integrated on a PCIe card?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by caveman017, Aug 5, 2007.

  1. caveman017

    caveman017 Notebook Consultant

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    Does Dell integrate the 8400GS onto the motherboard of the 1420/1400 or are they PCIe add in cards you can sort of pop in (obviously very custom.. heh)

    I know some older Dell's you could replace the video cards in.
     
    caveman017, Aug 5, 2007
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  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    We suspect that Dell uses a similar modular GPU design, but will be made only by Dell for Dell I'm sure (as they have done in the past).

    But, I'm not 100% sure because I've never seen one of the new Dell's in pieces. Yet.
     
    Greg, Aug 5, 2007
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  3. hehe299792458

    hehe299792458 Notebook Deity

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    I'm pretty sure you can't just buy a video card off newegg and stick it in there. However, if you do want to upgrade your video card, you could wait for the Asus XG system, which will be an external video card connect via the expresscard slot.
     
    hehe299792458, Aug 5, 2007
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  4. Nedediah

    Nedediah Notebook Consultant

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    One question I haven't seen answered is if models with integrated graphics can be upgraded. Personally I doubt it, especially if these are anything like the last gen e1505 and e1705.. neither of which can be upgraded if they came with built in units.
     
    Nedediah, Aug 5, 2007
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  5. caveman017

    caveman017 Notebook Consultant

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    ^^ thats why I was asking
     
    caveman017, Aug 5, 2007
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  6. coriolis

    coriolis Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    No, if you have integrated, it will be soldered on. If you have a dedicated card from Dell, it will be modular, but only up to what Dell allows.
     
    coriolis, Aug 5, 2007
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  7. Nedediah

    Nedediah Notebook Consultant

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    I think it works like this:

    If you get the integrated graphics on a 1400/1420 then you can't upgrade to 8400M. If you get the 8400M then you *may* be able to install an 8600M but this would certainly be a hack and would take you out of warranty. 7900GS has been installed into e1505s but it takes some fabrication and tweaking.

    If you get the integrated graphics on a 1500/1520 then you can't upgrade to 8400M. If you get the 8400M you should be able to install an 8600M easily.

    The 1700/1720 looks like the sweet machine for future upgrades as it appears to share the same case with the new XPS M1730, provided, of course, that you don't get the integrated graphics.
     
    Nedediah, Aug 5, 2007
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