NVidia vs. ATI

As Night said, you can't upgrade the Dell beyond the options that the Dell has. For instance, the E1705 originally came with a Go7800. However, later on, they released the Go7900GS for it, so users could buy a 7900GS from Dell and put it in their laptops. However, the E1705 was never offered with a 7900GTX, so users can not upgrade their E1705s to a 7900GTX. Similarly, the only "upgrade" you can do is to the Go7300, which is actually a downgrade in performance.

 

Why is this? Why can't you just remove the x1400, and plug in a new one, I mean, if you have the slot?

 

Midrange cards actually represent the biggest percentage of all graphics card sales.

Most laptops have the graphics card integrated onto the motherboard. Thus it's impossible to replace the graphics card because then you'd have to replace the whole motherboard, and thus the whole laptop. There are several exceptions (the E1705 is one of them), but replacing the graphics card is complicated. If you don't know what you're doing, you'll destroy your computer. You will also void your warranty, so if you mess up while doing it, you will be left with a $1500 paperweight. Read this thread for more info:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=86864

 

well i dont know if you read this but some guy did it and put a 7950gtx in his
e1705...it was here... but he hasnt showed any pictures of it being done...but im assuming it would have to be a 7950gtx straight of the xps rig..

 

see my sig for spec and score

Oh and to the OP, dont worry if you dont want to return the laptop with the go7300 the difference is marginal at best. Both the go7300 and x1400 are budget cards and the ~300 difference in 3Dmarks translates to what a couple of FPS?

im a cusal gamer and im very happy with the go7300. I play quake 4 on medium 800x600 and thats based on the doom 3 engine. I play guild wars maxed out 1280x800 and also neverwinter nights the same.

the go7300 is aite for the budget gamer.

 

Dell uses a proprietary connection socket for their laptops (as most manufacturers do). This allows them to easily swap out graphics cards with other Dell cards, but it limits you to only use Dell GPUs. Currently, the only Dell GPU options are the Go 7300, the Go 7400 (on XPS M1210), x1400, x1800, 7900GS, 7900GTX, and 7950GTX. You might be able to stick a 7400 in there (just as another user put a 7950GTX in the E1705), but it wouldn't be supported in your warranty. The x1800 and the 7900 series are too big and too hot to fit in a 15.4".

 

You think this would still be a good system to get for the price, and based on the specs? Like I said, I'm not the hard-core gamer I used to be. As long as I can play Sims2, Half Life 2, and maybe Battlefield 2, with some settings turned down, I will be happy. If I were to get teh x1400, would I still be able to upgrade to say a Nvidia 7400 in the future if i needed to, or would I have to have the 7300 installed from the factory to replace it with other NVIDIA cards? Thanks!

 

Hey, Man, I made the same mistake you did. Dell let me return my computer, but you have to be careful, If you have any thing downloaded to your Hard Drive that is not standard and you send it. They will send it back to you and say clean it up, then send it back. But they do have a 21 day return policy. Good luck!

 

It is not so much as a Video Card, It is an ATI X1400 chipset. Which is unremovible, unless you get a new chipset, which is a pain in the rear end.

 

My setup: Dell e1505
Dual Core 2 Ghz
100 Gb 7200 Rpm HD
2Gb 667 Mhz RAM
ATI x1400
19" Samsung 940BX LCD
Zboard
Logitech MX518

Just to get a clarification, am I reading correctly that I won't be able to upgrade my video card? I was wanting to switch to a better performing Nvidia or ATI. Nvidia preferably. I use my laptop mainly for BF2, including the EOD, PR, and DC Mods. Just curious.

Thanks

 

No, you definitely cannot.

 

Even if u can.. i doubt the better card would fit in..
If ur thinking bout upgrades, consider the barebones of Asus..

 

Thanks for the info.