Upgrading Vostro 1500 graphics card a year or so from now?

I read in the Vostro 1500 Q&A board that the graphics card is upgradeable, which is excellent, but isn't a concept I even thought was possible. I was always told that it's virtually impossible to upgrade laptop graphics cards and this new finding just makes me go all happy inside .

However, I'm not familiar with upgrading hardware in laptops at all (the 1500 will be my first laptop) and have a question.

Are certain cards simply not compatible with certain laptops? For example, my Vostro will come with an nVidia GeForce 8600M GT card. In a few years' time, instead of buying a new laptop, would I be able to replace this with any card, or does it depend on aspects such as the make, size, whatever? What about cards that are not yet released? Are there any limitations as to what I can put in there?

Thanks all.

EDIT: Also, how difficult would this be to do? Should I go to a computer shop to get this done or is it a fairly simple procedure?

 

While the laptop graphics card may be replacable, you will be very limited in options. It would be relatively easy to upgrade from the 8400M GS (the other option given) to the 8600M GT, any other cards probably wouldn't fit.

 

Aw, that's not good. What about when, say the GeForce 8800 comes out? Since it's kind of in the same 'line' of graphics cards, do you think there'd be a chance that it would fit?

Thanks for the reply

 

can you upgrade in the vostro 1400?
it would be nice to upgreade to at least 8600 (gs or gt) =)

 

Here is your answer. You have to buy a NVIDIA MXM graphics card.

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NjE1

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=86864

I was told the geforce 8600 GT was a MXM card so I don't know... ges we will just have to wait till someone tryes it

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=91715

Last Edit: looks like the 8600 gt is a Type II mxm slot

 

It's modular, the word upgradable is a bad word to use. Pretty much you can interchange the 8400 and 8600 in the 1500/1520, but thats it.

And Dell does NOT use MXM cards, they use their own proprietary reverse MXM cards, which means you can only 'change' the video card through Dell, and Dell only.

 

So what do they offer other cards besides those 2 and when and if they release a lets says 8800 card do we just order it from them or what.... hope one is on ebay

 

Yea, that's if they release it, which I doubt they will. But, who knows?

 

I really hate how they do that. I wish you could custom build laptops like you can desktops so you don't have to deal with this type of crap. I mean all they have to do is try just a little and eveyone would beable to upgrade all there laptop graphics cards.

Edit: Is it just that they are money hungery and don't want anyone buying form anybody but them>?

 

I can tell you that I plan on waiting a year for the warranty to expire, then I'll probably get a better video card and better processor off of ebay and it'll be like getting a whole new computer.

Thats why I always buy the lowest end of a given platform.

8400M GS => 8600M GT or better
T5470 => T7500 or equivalent penryn if they will drop right in (they should)

 

I would say that in a year or 2 you might be able to change it for a 9600 (or the next generation 8600 card.). BUt for a 8800 I would seriously doubt it.

And you also have to consider heat, even if it is possible to use the 8700 or 8800 it would probably increase heat.

 

Hmm ok, thanks for all your replies. I guess I'll have to sit and wait a year or two to see what's getting released

 

I also thank you for your replies, I knew there was a way to do it i just had to get someone to speak up Would it just be plug and play or would the new card need some convenceing to work properly. Also what kind of card would you look for. A upgraded card that came out of the same model or just any dell laptop card that looks like the original

 

The card would most likely have to come from another 1500, maybe also from a 1700. You must get the card from Dell, as they use their own designs.

These laptops are fairly new, so no one is 100% sure about being able to swap things around.

 

I have to agree. I will also wait a year until I upgrade to the 8600 and most likely a faster processor. However, being that the 8400 and 8600 in the 1500/1520 is modular, I would assume that the upgrade would work. Dell actually has a place on their webpage where you can order replacement/upgrade parts for your laptop. Being as how these laptops are brand new, they only have RAM available although I'm not sure if they will ever provide the video card. Can anyone confirm this? Or else it's ebay time...:\