The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Adding dedicated graphics card

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by guaschibo!, Mar 3, 2006.

  1. guaschibo!

    guaschibo! Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Is it possible to add a dedicated graphics card to a laptop, if it has a pci express slot, even if it comes with integrated graphics? I'm I guess it has much to do with size so it could be a problem of geometry/cooling. Am i right?
    Thank you.
     
    guaschibo!, Mar 3, 2006
    #1
  2. segadc

    segadc Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    43
    Messages:
    188
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    No it is not possible. I thought I read somewhere about this... I am sure I can get someone to back me up...
     
    segadc, Mar 3, 2006
    #2
  3. drumfu

    drumfu super modfu

    Reputations:
    436
    Messages:
    3,651
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    sorry, can't be done.
     
    drumfu, Mar 3, 2006
    #3
  4. Jenson

    Jenson Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    677
    Messages:
    663
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yep, segadc is correct, if it comes with an integrated card, you're stuck with it, and if it comes with a dedicated card, 99% of the time, you're still stuck with it, unless it uses MXM or AXIOM technology. Dell has a few video cards that can be switched, but only with other Dell cards in the i9300 for example. In most cases, dedicated cards are soldered to the motherboard.

    Matt
     
    Jenson, Mar 3, 2006
    #4
  5. qwester

    qwester Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    366
    Messages:
    2,755
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    integrated graphics chipsets don't even have the option of a pci-ex slot. And in case of dedicated there is the question of it being replacable, not soldered on-board.
     
    qwester, Mar 3, 2006
    #5
  6. miner

    miner Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    1,326
    Messages:
    7,137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    As evry one has already mentioned replacing the GPU is not possible in 95% of the laptops. Only a few have replacing graphics and even fewer have the option of using dedicated as well as integrated graphics. Laptop GPU's are also proprietary by design, so they are custom built for a model by the manufacturer. So one size wont fit all. In some cases some manufacturers have replacable GPU's but at very high price which makes it not a good value.

    So, yes you are correct that integrated graphics in most laptops are not upgradable.
     
    miner, Mar 3, 2006
    #6
  7. robbo2003

    robbo2003 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hey ... i think hes asking if you can upgrade the graphics capabilities through using the PCI Express Slots, im in this situation aswell and need some assistance for obtaining a PCI GC that i can get in my laptop and even conformation if it is EVEN POSSIBLE!

    Soz i cant be of any help but what i understand is, as long as your motherboard, size of the unit (PC/Notebook), Power supply and cooling can withstand it all then you should be able to upgrade the grahical capabilities of your PC/Notebook through PCI Express Graphics cards :)
     
    robbo2003, Jan 22, 2008
    #7
  8. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

    Reputations:
    5,504
    Messages:
    9,788
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2015
    Lithus, Jan 22, 2008
    #8
  9. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    466
    The answer to the question is right here, and a few posts above this as well.

    End thread.

     
    Greg, Jan 22, 2008
    #9