Upgradeing from intel to a 7900gtx

Has any one done this before?

I am ordering a e1705 with an intel graphics chipset. I then plan to upgrade to a 7900gtx. I was wondering does the intel version of the laptop have all the fans and connectors needed for a 7900gtx??

I know that I need to do some bios flashing and use a 130 watt PS, but anything other than that??

 

Is there some advantage to doing it this way?

 

If you mean buying a graphics card to put into your notebook after you get the notebook, then no, it is impossible to do so, as far as I know.

Unless the e1705 has the slot for the graphics card, which I don't know of.

 

Yup you can't get integrated graphics in a notebook and then upgrade to a dedicated card in the future. Do not get integrated graphics if you want to have a dedicated card.

 

'tis what I thought.

Then, to the original poster, select the 7900GTX option when you buy the notebook, otherwise you'll be out of luck and stuck with an Intel GMA950.

 

You can only change graphic card in Dell systems if you start with a dedicated card first, and you MUST use a Dell branded card that was offerd for that system . The motherboard comes in two flavors, discrete and integrated, integrated boards have the Gma 950 chip on the motherboard with no connection possibilities for a dedicated card, the discrete form is the oppisite. In theory you could get an X1400, and upgrade to the 7900gs, they dont offer the GTX for the E1705, so it will be unsupported by the system bios, I say in theory as its hardly a practical matter, the cards are hard to come by, and unless your very lucky, will fetch a very high price, the 7900 gs goes for around $500 or more by itself + another $100 for the X1400, vs the $299 cost to order it with the system, basically IF everything goes right, you'll be paying at least double, plus running a great risk of bricking your sytem. Save your money and order what you want from the getgo, core components in a laptop "can" sometimes be upgraded, however its seldom ever a "practical " upgrade. There is also a substantial risk in performing said upgrade, and it will void your warranty.

 

so the GMA950 is not a card...

What about upgrading from a x1400??

 

Like Iceman pointed out, it'd be possible, but highly impractical both price wise and technical wise, unless you're highly skilled with computers.

 

i agree with iceman... consider yourself buying a 17in paper weight.

just get the 7900GS. it will cost you more if you are planning on replacing the integrated grahics. i even doubt it that you can replace it.

 

i dont believe the e1705 even supports the 7900 gtx and if you messed up while flashing the motherboard you just losta lot of money

 

I should clarify the warranty bit. The replacement of the part will be treated as an upgrade. That is it will only void that part of the warranty. It doesn't really matter where you get it from. It will also cause any repairs that are required due to the part you installed to not be covered by the warranty. An example might be if you used a non-standard power supply and the motherboard fried then it isn't likely to be covered even though only the power supply was replaced. They will likely deem the non-standard power supply to be the cause of the failure and charge you for the repair.

 

The way I understand it is that if you mess with any of the "core" components, mobo,cpu,gpu, the warranty is null and void. I could be wrong but that is how it was explained to me.

 

ok. because one tech told me that if I replaced the monitor that it the warranty would be void. Then I had him clarify and he said that just the monitor part would be voided. I guess if the cpu, gpu, and or the motherboard was replaced the whole thing could be voided.

 

ok well I thought I would chime in here considering I sell the go 7950gtx, the go 7900gtx and the go 7900gs

to be very clear the following laptops WILL run them just fine

M1710
e1705
inspiron 9400
M90

I have either assisted or seen dozens of these upgrades and have been doing them since back in the days of the I9300 and the 7800gtx

not sure where people are getting thier information from

as far as warranty go.

If you upgrade keep your old vid card and swap it back out of you are concerned.

Techs who come to do onsite repairs are 3rd party company contractors and don't really care one way or the other. When I had my 9300 with the 7800gtx in it and had to get my LCD swapped out the tech thought it was cool as heck and didn't have any problem with it. Heck he told me point of fact he makes $40 a service call regardless of how long or short the call is.

 

If you bought a laptop with integrated graphics your not entirely out of luck.

http://usa.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=5469

Mike.