Radeon 1100 Extreme Makeover Project

Hello guys, I found your forum while browsing, looking for answers. I read the thread about what types of gpu's and possibilities of upgrading.

I understand my Acer Aspire 5100 has an integrated gpu (Radeon 1100), and that under most conditions this would be impossible to upgrade.

Never tell a Soldier something is impossible, it just inspires us to greater depths of stupidity, lol.

I am looking at several options but need to know where to start first. My first option is to replace the motherboard for something that is either better in terms of gpu, or supports removable gpu cards.

My second options, and the most extreme, is what are the odds I can un-solder the chip, remove it, and reattach something better or override the gpu port on the motherboard?

Also, is there any chance I could hack/mod the BIOS and open up the AGP/PCI slot for an upgrade? I know there are risks involved in what I am doing, but I want to do it anyway. Any information you guys could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Respectfully,

Celticveil

 

The Radeo 1100 is an integrated GPU, so you have no options to upgrade it by swapping it out.

If you happen to have an expresscard slot then consider a DIY eGPU linked in my sig. Though notebook prices are a lot lower these days so the best bang-per-buck approach would be to upgrade to a Sandy Bridge notebook that can host an eGPU. See the thin-and-light link in my sig for some ideas plus some low priced options.

 

Is there no way to hack the motherboard to open the slots for an added-on card though? Seems like there should be some possibility of that.

 

Never been done. If you can figure it out, you will be a champion of the internet.

 

A good starting point would be to get real.

1st option - do you have a motherboard that is of exactly the same form and dimensions, has the same connectors and connector placement, neatly fits the chassis and yet has an upgraded GPU, AND a heatsink that is compatible with both said motherboard and chassis? Didn't think so.
And even if Acer for some reason did produce a laptop that is EXACTLY the same except for the GPU, it would still be cheaper to just get a new laptop and sell your old one.

2nd option - even if you were Taiwanese and had the expensive equipment and experience to replace a BGA chip, there still wouldn't be anything in the world that is compatible with your motherboard design and is better than your current chip.

Every now and then this type of thread comes up. The answer is always the same: INTEGRATED GPUs ARE NOT UPGRADEABLE.

 

Holy crap! I thought no one was going to have the same Aspire model as me on this forum!

I thought the Acer Aspire 5100 had a 1200x integrated card.
I have an Acer Aspire 5100...and it sucks, so bad, I want to puke everywhere on it.

Sorry, I have been in your position, an integrated pile of crap card is not upgradable.

 

Its a decent notebook. Read: Decent. It does what I bought it for, which was notes and paperwork while I was in college.

That was in 2007. Now in 2011, I recently got back from afghanistan and am looking (unfortunately) to one last deployment in about a year and a half. And since I will not take anything more expensive than a cheap netbook with me overseas (dust killed so many of our work computers, it wasn't funny) I am waiting till after I'm done with deployments before I buy a top line model.

Currently I'm overclocking the CPU and GPU to up performance. no problems thus far. About to upgrade the stock 1.6 ghz CPU as well. So far performance has improved tremendously.

 

Unless you're an assembly level programmer who can write low-level code for a custom bios, have motherboard machining equipment, or a shrink ray...it's going to cost you more than it would to just buy a top of the line notebook with current tech that is future upgradable via MXM or thunderbolt/other eGpu.

Sorry there's not a more satisfying answer

 

Probably better off buying a notebook that really easy to service so cleaning the fans and notebook wont be a hassle.
My own Clevo P170HMx is real easy to clean out, but you dont need anything fancy like that.
Sager / Clevo offers more reasonably priced notebooks too.

Or you could get a AMD Fusion netbook, cheap and probably outperform your older Acers integrated Radeon 1100.

 

I had heard a rumor from a tech guy I worked with that theres a netbook capable of running things like call of duty 4. He didn't tell me the model though, so for now to me it's still a rumor.

 

11.6/12" AMD E350 based systems include a HD6310M gpu. They can do gaming. That would be something like a HP DM1, Lenovo X120E or Sony YB.

If wanting small and mighty, but heavy) then would suggest looking at a s/h 11.6" Alienware m11xR1 or R2. They come with a GT335M dGPU.

 

AMD Radeon HD 6310 - Notebookcheck.net Tech

Laptops/netbooks with the AMD E350 processor and HD 6310 can play CoD 4 on low.

But, for a few more dollars you can get this laptop that is much faster: http://forum.notebookreview.com/not...amd-6520g-399-99-office-depot-store-only.html

I would get a lower end AMD A-Series laptop over a netbook.

 

I already have an acer aspire one ZG5 model, I'm doubting I'll really buy another netbook, at least for now.

I may just hold out until I can afford one of those nice alienware gaming laptops.