8800M GTX integrated/dedicated

8700M GT is integrated, oh the hate.

What about the 8800?

 

Its a dedicated GPU, but that doesnt mean it cant be soldered to the motherboard instead of using an MXM adapter.

THe 8700 is a dedicated GPU as well, but i'm assuming you have a typical notebook and have it soldered directly to the motherboard. Most laptops have their GPU this way, its only with the higher end systems/GPU's that you start getting away from that norm (though as with all rules there are exceptions)

 

I will assume that you're speaking about your M1730. So do correct me if you're referring to something else.

Your M1730 is not an integrated card. NEITHER is the 8700M GT SLI in your M1730. Who ever told you that, (I presume it's some Dell rep) they're full of lies and deceit. I have changed M1730's GPUs before from an 8700M GT to dual 9800M GT SLI.

The M1730 has never been, or never will have an soldered on GPU as some idiots as Dell tech has said.

The M1730 uses a proprietary designed GPU by Dell. It's neither MXM.

This is what your M1730 will look like when you pry open the Palm rest. The GPU is at the extreme upper left hand corner.
As you can see the CPU fan is slightly dusty, was about to do my spring cleaning and just took a pic of it.
Anyway the GPU fans are facing downwards for it to draw air in.



When removed, (Lift it upwards from the board) this is what it looks like. As pictured above, this is my 8800M GTX SLI card.

Once again I will assume that you're speaking about your M1730. So do correct me if you're referring to something else.

Hope this helps... Good luck.

PS... Mods, are the pics too big? I can do an "Click to enlarge" feature if you may. Thanks.

 

Thanks for that post, incredibly useful.

Though, it does strike me that it says integrated memory in the picture below.



I've always been lead to believe that if I were to install more RAM, the GPU's integrated portion would be able to intake more of it into gameplay. Is this true? My M1730 stands at 2gb and I could easily go 4~8 gb.

 

Some GPUs are capable of using the system RAM in addition to their own discrete sets of RAM. However, system RAM is much slower for a GPU to access than its own set of RAM, so the performance difference will not be that great if you add more RAM (and therefore let the GPU access more system RAM). The bottleneck is the GPU, not how much RAM it has.

 

So, my M1730 wouldn't benefit in anyway I take.

 

Your GPU has its own dedicated ram and system ram which is used as Video ram... having more RAM will increase the shared video ram your system has and anyway having more RAM would speed up your computer especially if you have a windows vista OS... 2 GB of ram is a little bit too little to use with vista.. go and get a 4GB ram kit containing 2 2GB ram modules.. will speed up your system and ensure you have more system grpahics ram...

 

I'm running W7 and I seem to be doing fine on most of my games.

RE5 runs with 60 constant and occasional 30~50 in fights. Still very playable though.

RAM would only speed up boot, no?

 

not sure but in day to day life system with more RAM helps especially if u got vista... also u get more shared video memory with GPU with more RAM so go ahead and get 4GB of RAM......