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    Can GPU be upgraded in the studio 15?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by DaimyoDan, Oct 28, 2009.

  1. DaimyoDan

    DaimyoDan Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm looking on the dell outlet website for a refurbished system, and the I like the idea of an upgrable notebook. I have another thread called "Help with choosing an upgradable all-rounder" on the which notebook should i buy forum, which highlights my specific needs. on the Dell outlet website it shows that some include a 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450 graphics card. This leads me to think that t can be upgraded. Is this true? thanks ;)
     
    DaimyoDan, Oct 28, 2009
    #1
  2. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    No, you cannot upgrade the GPU.
     
    sgogeta4, Oct 28, 2009
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  3. ickibar123

    ickibar123 Notebook Consultant

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    ickibar123, Oct 28, 2009
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  4. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    Oh now is that true ?

    No your responses are both wrong.

    The graphics card is upgradeable in the Studio 15.
    However you need to buy the studio 15 motherboard with the dedicated graphics card, and the heatsink which is designed for the motherboard with the ATi 3450 on it.

    I have done the swap for a young man on this forum, I know its possible. I did the switch in about 90 minutes
    Before the swap, he had the Intel GMA, afterwards he had the 3450ATi

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Oct 28, 2009
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  5. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    K-TRON, from his other post, he intends on buying the Studio 15 on a low budget of £500. If the OP was going to buy a Studio 15 with an integrated GPU, it would be possible to swap the motherboard with one with a better GPU, but at the same time, it would probably be more cost effective to just purchase a Studio 15 w/ the HD 3450. If that is the case then that's the highest the OP can go and hence it would no longer be upgradeable and why I have stated my answer as above.
     
    sgogeta4, Oct 28, 2009
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  6. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    It is probably better off to get it with the 3450 to begin with.
    However the upgrade doesnt have to be all that expensive

    When I did it for member "    <link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CK-TRON%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w :punctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w :DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> chlwotjd678", he bought the motherboard for something like $125, and the heatsink for $40
    If I remember correctly, he sold his Intel GMA motherboard and old hetasink for $130, so the upgrade wasnt all that expensive.

    If you find the intel integrated studio 15 on the Dell outlet, but not the one with the ati 3450, you can always make the most out of your laptop with the integrated graphics, and than at any later time you can upgrade to the ATi 3450.
    I dont know about prices in Europe, but here in the states, you should be able to sell the intel gma board and heatsink to afford the ati model.

    One thing you should know is that the studio 15 motherboard with the dedicated graphics will bolt up until the chassis with one screw as an exception. One of the motherboard retention screws by the heatsink does not have any where to screw in. Its not a big deal, cause once the heatsink is on, it doesnt matter.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Oct 28, 2009
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  7. Trottel

    Trottel Notebook Virtuoso

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    Being able to swap the motherboard between the integrated graphics version and the discrete graphics version (old ones have 3450, new ones have 4570) can hardly be considered upgradable graphics.
     
    Trottel, Oct 28, 2009
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  8. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    My question is, why buy the old 1535/1537 models with the ATi 3450? The 1555 has the 4570, which is better in every aspect.

    Daimyodan, the only way to go from the Intel 4500MHD card to the ATi is to swap the entire motherboard. You cannot remove the graphics card alone.
     
    Mastershroom, Oct 28, 2009
    #8