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    Advice Needed for Laptop Upgrade

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by ULL_Scott, Apr 23, 2006.

  1. ULL_Scott

    ULL_Scott Newbie

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    Hey guys, I was looking for a few opinions on an upgrade. I want to raise my laptop's preformance as far as gaming is concerned but am not sure if I should upgrade my RAM with an additional 1G or purchase an external video card like a Radeon X1300.

    Currently I have a Radeon X200m which is an intergrated video card. My computer has a Pentium 4 running at 1.73 GHz and have 512 MB of Ram. What do you guys think would be better? The additional 1G of RAM of the External Video Card?
     
    ULL_Scott, Apr 23, 2006
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  2. diGit_S

    diGit_S Notebook Guru

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    You'll have to go for the extra RAM, 1 GB should be enough for gaming. You can always think of putting a faster harddisk as well.

    Placing an extra videocard is not possible if your current graphical chip is onboard. Components in a laptop are usually already cramped up in a tiny case, adding extra components is impossible.
     
    diGit_S, Apr 23, 2006
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  3. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    You can't do anything about the card, but upping the RAM is your best option for better performance. The minimum I would go with for gaming is 1GB as mentioned. The processor is fine, Pentium M is great for games.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Apr 23, 2006
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  4. pbcustom98

    pbcustom98 Goldmember

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    in most cases (dell not included, along with MXM or axiom) once you buy a laptop with a dedicated GPU, you are stuck with that GPU.

    having more ram will be your best bet.

    pb,out.
     
    pbcustom98, Apr 23, 2006
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  5. lukealexander

    lukealexander Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    Just a slightly offtopic question: most software has spec requirements based on Pentium 4's ie "P4 2.0Ghz" but of course mobile processors have lower clocks. Is there any good guide to what mobile chips equate to which P4 chips?
     
    lukealexander, Apr 23, 2006
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