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    Stupid Question For an Inspiron 8500

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by killerbeans33, Dec 27, 2005.

  1. killerbeans33

    killerbeans33 Newbie

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    I was just wondering if anyone knew about upgrading the video card for my Dell Inspiron 8500. I currently have the crappy little 64 Mg NVidia Go 4200. It's not that I don't like NVidia, but 64 Mg is pretty weak when trying to play intense 3d games. It was great when I bought it 3 years ago, but as technology barrels ahead, so do games, which means that my little 64 Mg can't keep up. Any suggestions on where to get an upgrade for it? Thanks for the help!
     
    killerbeans33, Dec 27, 2005
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  2. coriolis

    coriolis Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I'd phone Dell to see if its even possible. In most cases, it is not possible, yet even if it is, it may not be worth upgrading it!
     
    coriolis, Dec 27, 2005
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  3. killerbeans33

    killerbeans33 Newbie

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    possibly right. i know that it is removeable, i have done it to clean it. now to igure out if i can upgrade. i think the only reason that I want to upgrade is because my wife won't let me buy a new laptop. darn the bad luck
     
    killerbeans33, Dec 27, 2005
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  4. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    Were there other video cards offered with your model? If so, then you could probably slip that in there. I know that the Inspiron 8600 - basically the same thing as the 8500 - had a 128MB ATI Radeon 9600PRO Turbo option.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Dec 27, 2005
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  5. pilot1997

    pilot1997 Newbie

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    I have a dell 8500. In fact i upgrade mine from the nvidia 64meg card to the 128MB ATI Radeon 9600PRO Turbo card. You have to buy the card from dell for about $230, after you get the card you have to remove the heat sink from the card and custum install a small piece of sqaure copper as a replacement heat sink. The 128meg card runs hot. Just last week my dell 8500 motherboard and lcd displaced cracked becase of i dropped it. I needed a new laptop so i bought a cheap hp one. I still have the 128MB ATI Radeon 9600PRO Turbo and it still works, has the heatsink on it and all. Give me a email so we can talk about this some more, [email protected]
     
    pilot1997, Jan 22, 2006
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