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    M1530: Can I upgrade my 8400m to an 8600m through Dell?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by brerben, May 29, 2008.

  1. brerben

    brerben Notebook Enthusiast

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    Or would I have to buy a totally new laptop?

    I know this has been asked before, but I have been getting mixed answers.

    Some say, "yeah you can do it 'cause the card is MXM format" and some say "nope, you gotta buy a new laptop".

    So what is the final answer? Can I contact Dell and have them take my M1530 in to have it upgraded to an 8600m? :confused:

    I would call Dell right now but I'm at work.
     
    brerben, May 29, 2008
    #1
  2. Lucanesti

    Lucanesti Notebook Deity

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    No, you cant. You would need a new motherboard installed.
     
    Lucanesti, May 29, 2008
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  3. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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    The GPU is not replaceable in the M1530. The M1530 service manual shows how to replace every components, there's nothing about the GPU in it.

    You will need to replace the entire motherboard to get the 8600.
     
    Rhodan, May 29, 2008
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  4. wywern209

    wywern209 NBR Dark Knight

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    yeah, the gpu is soldered on
     
    wywern209, May 29, 2008
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  5. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    The only way is to buy a new motherboard that contains the 8600 graphics card.
     
    nizzy1115, May 29, 2008
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  6. brerben

    brerben Notebook Enthusiast

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    So, if I bought the new motherboard off eBay or something, then all I have to do is replace the old one with the new one? Is the CPU soldered on as well? I am not very familiar with notebook architecture.
     
    brerben, Jun 3, 2008
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  7. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    No CPU is not soldered on, but you'll have to remove the thermal paste and apply new thermal paste like Arctic 5 when you stick in the new CPU. Though not all CPUs are compatible. Say Nehalem processors come out, you can't just stick it in to Santa Rosa hoping it'd work cause it requires Montevina architecture.

    If you bought the motherboard off of ebay, it is possible to replace the old one, though you'd have to mess with a lot of things including reattaching display, bezel, hard drive, heatsink, deal with rewiring, the effort required is not worth it and there is a high risk of you accidentally screwing up in the process. This is very different from Desktop architecture as Desktops are much easier to upgrade or swap out parts. Laptops are much more complicated than that.

    I highly recommend not ordering a new motherboard off of ebay as it is highly possible that there will be defects in the shipping process, or other defects that the seller may have noticed, but will not mention to you, such as increased possibility of overheating, possible hardware faults that cause lots of BSODs,etc.
     
    Forte, Jun 3, 2008
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  8. Pauw

    Pauw Notebook Consultant

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    Probably should just get a refund if within 21 days, and order anew
     
    Pauw, Jun 3, 2008
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