Can I upgrade my laptop? Please HELP! info inside

ok. So I have a Dell 1420 from 4 years ago. At the time it was pretty decent but it has really aged... are there any upgrades I can make to this system. Especially with regard to the video card, I have a Geforce 8400m GS

I have already completely dissembled and reassembled this laptop several times. I am pretty familiar with the components, however I have no unsoldered a card or soldered a card. I am open to learning if necessary. My biggest question is whether I can find a card with the same pin configuration that I can solder into place. I'd also need to learn to removed the soldered 8400m GS card. For example, can I just purchase a 8600m GT and solder it in place? if that's possible, any better cards?

Specs are below. So a lot of unnecessary stuff is listed here. I currently have a Geforce 8400m GS (*shudder* I really didn't research this when I bought this computer).

1 M244D Processor, T8300, 2.4, 3MB, Core Penryn, M0
1 UX281 Heatsink, Central Processor Unit, Notebook, Santa Rosa MeromLanai/Verrazano
1 DF771 CORD..., Power, 125, 1M, C7, 2P Dual, United States
1 PN306 PLACEMAT..., GETTING STARTED..., 1420, DAO/EMEA
1 WM391 GUIDE..., OWNER..., 1420, ENGLAND/ENGLISH...
1 Y870G TECHNICAL SHEET..., INSPIRON..., EXTREME PERFORMANCE SYSTEM..., DAO/EMEA/BCC
1 YK181 Guide, Product, Information Client, DAO/BCC
1 NK750 Keyboard, 86, United States English, Single, Pointing Barents
1 GX808 ASSEMBLY..., ADAPTER..., ALTERNATING CURRENT..., 90W, FLEXTRONICS..., 2P, WORLD WIDE...
1 JX284 Bezel, Plastic, Liquid Crystal Display, Notebook, 1420, W/CMRA
1 PM027 ASSEMBLY..., CAMERA..., 2M, INTEGRATED..., MANUFACTURED IN CHINA..., LITEON..., M08
1 MX846 Card (circuit), Wireless Minicard, DW1505, B1
1 TW430 Hard Drive, 160GB, Serial Ata 9.5, 5.4K, SA160
1 JX282 Assembly, Cable, Printed CircuitBoard, Liquid Crystal Display 14.1, Lanai/Verrazano
6 JX283 Bumper, Liquid Crystal Display Rubber, Arctic Silver, 1420
1 NR444 Hinge, Left, Metal, Liquid Crystal Display, Notebook Lanai/Verrazano
1 W513G LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY..., 14.1WXGA, VIDEO ELEC. STDS. ASSOC...., SAMSUNG..., V3
1 K257H KIT..., Software, VHP32SP1A, DigitalVideo Disk Drive, Multiple, 5
2 2864D Screw, M3X3, K SCREW HEAD..., MICROSOFT..., BLACK OXIDE...
1 DT135 kit, Hinge, NUCKLE, Plastic, 1420
1 FW350 Assembly, Cover, Keyboard Plastic, 1420
1 JX269 ASSEMBLY..., BASE (ASSEMBLY OR GROUP)..., NOTEBOOK..., DISCRETE..., 1420, ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC...
1 XK200 Assembly, Connector, Board To Board, 22P, Lanai/Verrazano
1 JX286 Assembly, Cover, Back, 14.1LCD Black, 1420
2 Y9540 Dual In Line Memory Module 2GB, 667, 256X64, 8K, 200
1 MN127 Battery, Primary, 56WHR, 6C Lithium, Panasonic
1 F987H Kit, Software, Dell Media Direct, 3.5, Digital Video Disk Drive, W1, Inspiron
1 R020C Kit, Software, Works, 9, English
1 P005H KIT..., SOFTWARE..., ROXIO..., 10.2-0, DE
1 DM697 Assembly, Dvd+/-rw, 8x, IDE (INTEGRATED DRIVE ELECTRONICS) ..., 1420 Hitachi Lg Data Storage

I also have a PCI slot on the side of the computer. Is there anything could place there to increase performance?

thank you for any help you guys have to offer. I am completely stumped.

 

Is it the Dell Inspiron 1420?
I dont think its possible to solder on a new GPU on your notebook im afraid.
Dell also used their own design thus making it near to impossible to find a replacement that would fit your motherboard.

Most of us here at NBR would advice that it would be easier to just get a newer notebook.

 

so I can't even do a eGPU?

 

Yes, You can do an eGPU solution as long as you have an Expressport slot.

 

I am reading the DIY eGPU thread... it is daunting.

 

My current laptop is much like yours. It's the Inspiron 1520 in my sig. I've had it for 4.5 years. I've put in more RAM and got a hybrid HDD for it when my original HDD croaked. A month or two ago, I reached a mental threshold where I opened my mind to buying a new one. Fast forward to Cyber Monday and I pulled the trigger on a Clevo P150HM, also in my sig.

Sometimes it becomes time to look for a replacement. I felt 4+ years was that time. Feel free to take that leap.

 

The 1420 has an expresscard slot so I imagine you could do an eGPU just fine. As far as doing an upgrade of the onboard GPU, though, that's out of the question.

 

eGpu is certainly doable and quite easy, though if you have to buy all the parts you're looking at a hefty cost that can be better spent on a cheap used gaming laptop. You can find plenty of older goodies running an 8800m gtx or rebranded variant that still do quite well at 720p gaming

 

That's a sweet GPU you got there.