Why Can't You Upgrade Mobile GPUs?

This would save a lot of money, because rather than buying a whole new gaming laptop when it is time to upgrade, you just upgrade the GPU.

Why can't you do this for nearly all laptops? The GPU is soddered onto the processor? Why don't they make laptops where you can take out the GPU and put in a new one? I think this would make tons of sense.

 

Laptops would essentially all be very thick notebooks then - it would defeat being thin and fast.

It's just not logical. It's too late for me to go into detail - maybe I will tomorrow :\

 

They do exist and have existed for the past 3-4 years. An alienware owner on here just recently successfully upgraded his 3 year old m5700 to an ati 4870.
It is called mxm. For more details have a look at this website http://www.mxm-upgrade.com/

I myself intend to swap out my crap 8600M in a couple of weeks

 

Cuz notebooks are small. That is why. Unlike gigantic desktops, there is no space in them to add new components. Also to save space, GPUs in laptops are usually soldered on. Do you want to carry around a gigantic laptop 8inches think?

This is why you should get the best GPU a laptop can come with since you can't upgrade it later like desktops.

 

There was a member on this forum who upgraded his ASUS C90 from a Geforce 8600M GT to a 9600M GT. I'm guessing you're looking to follow the same goal?

 

I think you will find people that own mxm laptops will disagree with you on the 8 inches thick they are no thicker than normal laptops unless you compare them with macbook pros which are super slim

@ cheeseman yeah I have a 9650M GT just waiting to be popping in when I have time.. soo sweet

 

you must also take into account heat, size, shape, and power limitations that are unique to each laptop

 

9650M GT ay? Nice, setting the bar higher than the 9600M GT I'm interested to see how that goes.

 

Don't know why but it is quite a thrill to throw money at the C90S to see what it is capable of, as far as I know tho it all checks out even the memory. Hopefully I ain't wasting 200 quid

 

i think they solder components on so if you drop the laptop its less likely to break.

 

Yaaay for the 8 inch thick laptop

the main problem we have is a combination of differing cooling requirements for different gpu's and vendors not quite hitting the mxm standard.

 

To the posters in this topic who distinguished the difference between laptops and notebooks, I give you my thanks.

 

i must say .. i really do feel like opening up my lap top again and putting some effort into unscrewing those star screws to see if i can upgrade lol ... i wonder whats the fastest GPU my dell xps m-1710 can take without over heating and sucking to much power

 

Can you please show us the post or let us know the member here that has upgraded their M5700 to an ATI HD4870. Thanks !!!

 

i must say .. i really do feel like opening up my lap top again and putting some effort into unscrewing those star screws to see if i can upgrade lol ... i wonder whats the fastest GPU my dell xps m-1710 can take without over heating and sucking to much power

 

This thread, page 3 onwards
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=351500

 

I heard that dell has some Laptops that are able to change there GPU, and some high - end laptops should be able to be upgraded.

 

I think you mean the AW m9750 from nVidia 7950GTX SLi to ATI 3870s in CrossfireX done by ichime

It was possible in this case because the M9750 and OCZ Whitebook are almost the same chassis.

MXM standards aren't used more so manufacturers can make more money selling you an entirely new notebook and design smaller/thinner machines.

 

Ahh I haven't seen that. Very impressive.

 

they do a few models you can upgrade but the upgrades aren't that major and they have to have a gfx card in already.

For example i can upgrade my dell notebook (see signature) but i can only go from an ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 to the slightly more powerful x1400.

 

I don't think it is simply a matter of differing TDP or chassis design. How many people purchase new laptops solely so they can get a much better GPU or play a few more recent games.

I bet one of the biggest reasons for the sale of new laptops is due to a faster GPU. Even the laptops that have MXM, which is a huge selling point is not even advertised or obvious unless you have done research or already know about it.

Technology is always kept exactly where the major players want it to be kept.

How many of you would still buy new laptops if you could so easily swap the CPU and GPU with absolutely any new one within the model range.

 

If you are happy with under average battery performance(Even undervolted to 1.1V and 1ghz my battery won't last longer than a touch over 90-100 mins) then desktop replacement mxm laptops are great fun and last quite a while