Evaluating GPU PCI Interface for upgrade compatibility

Hey- if you guys have a second, I'm shopping for a new notebook, and looking into upgrading the graphics card after I buy it. It would be awesome if you could help me with some questions.

I was looking at buying a notebook with the Nvidia 460M in it, and manually change it out for an Nividia 470M.

I might also buy an HP dv7t Quad Core, and try to manually upgrade the Radeon 6770M to a Radeon 6970M.

I've read about the MXM architecture- here on the website, on Wikipedia, and some of the great stuff Gophn put together for MXM Upgrade- but I'm still at a loss for a resource I can use to help me determine if it those graphics cards would be compatible in an upgrade in terms of size, cooling, PCI interface, and power supply. Can anyone point me to a comprehensive resource I can use to answer my question? I tried asking the retailers, but naturally they're loathe to touch the subject of after-market modifications- ugh.

 

You can almost never upgrade a notebook GPU. You should generally just put it out of your mind. Most notebooks aren't MXM of any flavor, and they also have severe limits on cooling ability so even if you could put a faster GPU in you'd have more heat issues to deal with. At the very best you can usually upgrade to a card that was shipped with the notebook in a different configuration. They aren't generally upgradeable like a desktop.

If you want a laptop with a beefier GPU, you'll want to look at boutique builder that offers a machine in a configuration you want. That's really your only and best option.

 

Not possible to change GPUs on either of the notebooks you mentioned im afraid.
Only notebooks i can think of that can change GPUs are Sager / Clevo and the bigger Alienware ones.

 

add to that list the workstations from HP and dell, and usually only the 17''

 

Rawr. Okay. Man, that's disappointing. Oh well. At least I've learned a lot about the architecture of laptop GPU interfaces.

I think that the GTX 460M on that Asus is probably the best option I have in my price range- it isn't 2011, but it can still put out pretty good work. As far as boutique builders go (Pitabread & DEagleson) are there any that you would suggest or know people have had good experiences with?

Looking at those Clevos is like softcore . Too bad I don't have that kind of pocket change laying around.

 

try xoticpc, malibal, lpc digital....

usually you can get a NP8150 for about 1500