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    Graphics Upgrade Advice

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by jplapointe, Aug 21, 2007.

  1. jplapointe

    jplapointe Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey all;
    I'm looking at swapping my inadequate x800 based video for a more robust 7800 GTX or 7950 GTX module (I haven't picked yet, it's about $200 difference). I was wondering if anybody has done this and is aware of anything I need to worry about. Tools to have on hand (other than the obvious jewelers set), best way to pull, stuff like that.

    (and in this case by more robust I mean Shader Model 3. Stupid Bioshock.)
     
    jplapointe, Aug 21, 2007
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  2. coriolis

    coriolis Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    coriolis, Aug 21, 2007
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  3. jplapointe

    jplapointe Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes, tons of good information there, most importantly the Clevo module is not MXM - but there are several Clevo modules for this model notebook. I mostly just want to make sure that the Clevo modules are swappable. Has anybody tried this swap (ATI to nVidia) on the D900T?
     
    jplapointe, Aug 21, 2007
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  4. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    In my opinion it is not worth it at all to upgrade your current notebook. You would be beating an old horse - no offense, but the D900T is very outdated. The Pentium 4 is your bottleneck.

    You may not even be able to upgrade to begin with because there are different motherboard revisions of the D900T and only later ones support the newer video cards. You may be stuck with the X800.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Aug 21, 2007
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  5. jplapointe

    jplapointe Notebook Enthusiast

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    This is a good point, that hinges on two things:

    1) Is it worth it to make an upgrade to this machine that costs more than a brand new (now with extendo-warranty) xBox 360? ESPECIALLY if the major driver is games that are going to look just great on that same 360.

    2) What revision is my motherboard (thats a rhetorical question, I need to look)? I have just discovered a tid-bit that indicates if I don't have a D900T with mobo v 5.4 (apparently this should be visible inside the memory area of the case), it's a definite no go.

    Further complicating the matter, it has come to light that I may need a larger power supply than the default, which is another $150 touch.

    Chaz may be right. Just in case anybody is curios, I'll keep you posted.
     
    jplapointe, Aug 21, 2007
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  6. jplapointe

    jplapointe Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ok, ya. So, I'm boned. If I had only stuck with nVidia when I bought this machine...

    Again, proving even in the "high-end" category, you can not upgrade. (So lets see: anger, denial, acceptance... only about 4 more stages of grief to go through...)

    Guess I should start shopping for a new machine.
     
    jplapointe, Aug 22, 2007
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