HELP!upgarding graphics Card question

I want to buy a dell studio 15 ( with the new centrino technology) It has an intel core 2 duo P8400(3MB L2 Cahe,1066MHZ FSB),4GB DDR2 800MHZ RAM,LED backlit display.The only thing that is not perfect is the graphics card ( ATI RADEON Hd 3450, 256 MB).Could I buy an Nvidia 9600M GT or something with 512 MB DDR3 and put it on this laptop???
I really like the configuration that this laptop has and it's only 999$.
Maybe you could recommend me another laptop that doen'st exceed 1200$ that has a much better graphics card.
btw,with the ATI card, could i play spore at least on medium???

Thanks in advance

 

i am not a hardcore gamer, so i won't play crysis or far cry 2 or some other games like that....just games like spore,sims 2,need for speed,star wars battlefron, and grand theft auto and maybe some strategy games.So would you recommend me this graphics card for games like these ( i would like to play the on medium at least, maybe high), or it can't even manage need for speed?

 

You can't upgrade the video card.

Otherwise, fill out the FAQ in the "what to buy" section if you want to get other recommendations.

 

the dell uses hybrid graphics technology, so upgrading the laptop can only be between the 3450 and the 3650 ati cards. However the 3650 card will most likely not fit in the dell studio 15 chassis, since its only available in their 17" models.

K-TRON

 

but are there 512 MB HD 3450 cards??

 

512 memory makes NO difference. read stickie.

 

the amount of video memory mattered from the beginning up until the last 2 years or so. The amount of memory used to indicate performance, but that is no longer the case. The memory interface is more important than the actual amount of memory.
For example a 512mb 64 bit memory graphics card will perform much worse than a 128mb 512bit graphics card. The 3450 is still a powerful card, and it will be able to handle light and middle level gaming.

K-TRON

 

would you recommend me to buy an HP HDX 16 which is 1100$ with the same P8400 processor,but only 3 GB RAM ( the dell has 4GB) but has an Nvidia 9600M GT 512 MB???The only drawback is that it doesn't have LED backlight.And the resolution is 1366*768.I would like to buy a laptop mostly for watching HD Movies, and play some old games (not crysis,far cry 2,etc), so the screen is very important to me, and dell has a res. of 1440*900.
I can play Spore on my PC with everything at MAX., but when I ran 3D mark06, i only got 687 3d marks.so,the dell,whic has 2500 or 2800 3d marks, i think i can even play NFS most wanted at max.
What do you think I should buy, The HP HDX 16 or Dell studio 15??

 

I think the studio 15 is the better option. The hybrid graphics technology will allow for great game play, and when typing or just doing basic work, the onboard graphics will be used, reducing heat generation and maximizing battery life. The 3450 from ATi also does not have the core leakage problem the nVidia 8 and 9 series chips have, so it is pretty much a win/win for the dell.
The HP has a larger screen and a heavier weight, but it does have a slightly better gpu.
However with the games you are playing those games will run fine on high settings.
A friend played NFS on a 9200GS and it played okay. A 3450 is a big step up from a 9200GS, so it should play fine on medium to high level.

K-TRON

 

ok,i'll buy the dell then.Thank you very much!!!

 

K-TRON... are you sure the Dell Studio Line uses hybrid graphics? You may have it confused with the Lenovo T400 which does use the ATI 3470 and Intel X4500M HD.

I'm not sure the Studio's are the same.

 

uhh oh.
wow I thought it had hybrid graphics power. It apparently does not. I will email the OP and let him know.

The ati 3450 is still a great card. It is pretty power efficient to, so it should be still fine for his uses.

K-TRON