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    NV5214u video card

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by FatManChan, Oct 18, 2009.

  1. FatManChan

    FatManChan Notebook Evangelist

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    My dad has a gateway NV5214u. He wants to upgrade the video card in it. What are his possible choices for upgrades? What is the highest card he could put in it?
     
    FatManChan, Oct 18, 2009
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  2. Kamin_Majere

    Kamin_Majere =][= Ordo Hereticus

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    Gateway doesnt have upgradeable GPU's in their laptops. He's pretty much stuck with what came unless he's willing to bay a new notebook
     
    Kamin_Majere, Oct 18, 2009
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  3. FatManChan

    FatManChan Notebook Evangelist

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    Guess gateway lied to him then. Said it was upgradable. Oh well
     
    FatManChan, Oct 18, 2009
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  4. Kamin_Majere

    Kamin_Majere =][= Ordo Hereticus

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    Where did he buy it from? When i was new to notebooks i got suckered like that once as well. COme to find out i got a really nice notebook with a really crappy intergrated GPU that was worthless for what i wanted to do.

    Alot of the higher end laptops are user upgradeable, but its very rarely worth it because some of the "good" graphic cards can run up to 700 dollars (they are very artifically high priced) so unless you just need really powerful graphics its typically cheaper to just upgrade notebooks every year or two (though most people can get by with the same notebook for 4 or more years)
     
    Kamin_Majere, Oct 18, 2009
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  5. FatManChan

    FatManChan Notebook Evangelist

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    He got it from best buy
     
    FatManChan, Oct 18, 2009
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  6. AMD_PhenomX4

    AMD_PhenomX4 Notebook Guru

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    So the graphics chip on the motherboard cannot be removed and replaced with another?
    i.e- replacing a Intel GMA950 with a Intel X3000 or 4500MHD?
     
    AMD_PhenomX4, Oct 18, 2009
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  7. Kamin_Majere

    Kamin_Majere =][= Ordo Hereticus

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    Correct, you need an MXM (Mobile aXcellerated Media) slot to have upgradeable GPU's To save money most manufacturers will typically just solder the GPU to the motherboard.
     
    Kamin_Majere, Oct 18, 2009
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  8. FatManChan

    FatManChan Notebook Evangelist

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    Well he has a ATI 3200 in his. Is that an MXM card or no?
     
    FatManChan, Oct 18, 2009
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  9. AMD_PhenomX4

    AMD_PhenomX4 Notebook Guru

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    The ATI 3200HD should handle most tasks,and its still used in some notebooks,its most likely a integrated IGP,most notebooks that arent a gaming notebook dont have the MXM graphics slot.
     
    AMD_PhenomX4, Oct 18, 2009
    #9