Video card upgradability on 1720

I went with the 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8400M GS, but was wondering if down the road I'd be able to upgrade it to the 8600M GT or even better. Is this a component that's upgradeable (like RAM or HDD) or too intergrated to be able to do that.

Just don't have enough of an idea about whether my Son would even see any difference between the two Nvidia cards with the kind of gaming he does to justify yet another $100...

uuuughh... tough decision!

 

You do have to take apart the whole chassis to get to the card. from there it is easy to change out (mind this is coming from a dell tech's perspective). The hard part is finding an aftermarket card that is made for it. If you buy it from dell parts it will fit but will cost an arm and a leg.

 

Thanks for the feedback. As a Dell Tech, I'd REALLY like to get your take on whether I should make yet another upgrdae to teh higher Nvidia card (after all the other upgrades I've already done!)

Here's my specs (currently in production):

My Components
Midnight Blue
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
Genuine Windows® Vista Home Premium Edition
Glossy, high contrast, widescreen 17.0 inch display (1440 x 900)
128MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8400M GS
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
Size: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini-Card
Integrated 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)
High Definition Audio 2.0
My Software & Accessories
Norton Internet Security™; 2007, 30 day trial
Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007 - Word, Excel + PowerPoint
Yahoo! Music Jukebox - Music Player
Blue - Logitech V200 Cordless Optical Notebook Mouse
My Service
1Yr Ltd Warranty and Mail-In Service
Free 3 GB Online Backup for 1Yr
No ISP requested
Also Includes
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Windows Vista™ Premium
Intel® Core™2 Duo Label
Premium Deep Navy Blue with Soft Touch LCD back color w/ 2.0M pixel Camera
Inspiron 1720

 

It looks good. Make sure you are snagging a coupon to get a discount. If you are willing to, I would down the memory because it is cheaper to buy after market and then up the battery. I love my 9 cell battery and for being toted around school it will come in handy. Make sure you price Office and make sure you are getting a good deal. Sometimes students can get a better deal buying at their bookstore. The university my wife used to go to practically gave office away for free to currently attending students. The one I go to gives a really good discount (under $100). So make sure you aren't paying more by getting it through dell. Other then that it looks good. What is the price if you don't mind?

 

A little under $1500 inc tax and a color mouse.

So you think I'm ok with the 8400GS vs 8600GT then?? It's the only thing I've been stressin about.

Besides, of course, the endless saga of trying to get a definitive answer on the IR remote for the 1720. See other thread for background. If you have any info / help on that, pleeeeeeease let me know.

Thanks again

 

If you want to play newer games, I would definitely pay for the 8600 GT. Nothing is more frustrating than having and new computer that can't play new games. The 8400 is a low to midrange card; the 8600 is the highest mid-range card. No 15 inch portable will power anything faster because of overheating. New desktops are equipped with 8700's and 8800's that are high end and many high end game will not run smoothly with out such a fast card. So, if you want to run game smoothly, the 8600 can at lower resolutions, but the 8400 not smoothly but maybe annoyingly at lower res.

 

Thanks, but with everything I'm hearing about it being DDR2 vs DDR3? If the 8600GT turns out to be DDR2, do you think that would lessen the performance gap between the 8400GS and 8600GT?

 

Well, How old is your son. If he likes to game and you can afford the upgrade he will love you forever by getting the nicer card but if he isn't into gaming and graphics then you will do fine with what you have. If he plans on playing anygame besides the simple windows ones, get the nicer card. As for the IR remote? what is your questions. They have a bluetooth remote that will fit in the express card slot. It recharges while plugged in. The only down side is that it sticks out about 1/4 inch or less. Not much but a lot of complaints about it. Price is good though. I paid just a tad less for my 1505 which is almost identical. I didn't get any software with mine (since I got it through my school or work) so I was able to get the nicer video card, Intel wireless card and Bluetooth (free upgrade with the coupon I used), and I got the in-home service. Since I worked for them I wouldn't trust the depot since I wouldn't be able to see them physically work on it. Plus, due to my position they are more willing to just send me the parts and replace them myself whereas a normal customer can't.

 

It does lessen it a bit over DDR3 but since even the discrete video cards still use some system memory (I.E. my x1400 is 256 MB but is really 128 built on and 128 of system) you are going to be slowed during high memory usage. It kinda defeats the purpose of having the nicer video memory. The advantage of this though is if you don't use all of your memory during the game it can lend more to the graphics. (I.E. my x1400 will use more then the 128 system if it needs it and they system is not using it.) Plus, for what gaming most people do with notebooks, the performance doesn't go down by that much.

 

Thanks again YoJr, I really appreciate your take on things.

RE the remote- there's alot of confusion out there on this. Even take a look at Andrew's review of the 1520. The remote is infrared, not blue tooth, looks similar, but distinctly different than the $50 thingy. Fit's into the express card slot.

THAT's what I want and so far have come up with nothing working with the reps- although some here apparently have been able to get it included saying you have to ask for it (free upgrade). That's kinda hard to do when no one there knows what I'm referring to.