Upgrading Video on Dell E1505/6400. Ambiguous Answers!

Hey guys,

I got an e1505 with integrated video, and so far I haven't had much luck running 3D games. I'm assuming it's because of the video.

I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to upgrade to ATI x1400 by buying it from Dell spare parts.

Before you answer, read this though. I did do a search and I saw people online saying it's impossible to upgrade integrated video.
Next thing I did was call tech support and talked to 3 separate techs, 1 of which said it's not possible, while the other 2 said there's an expansion slot and it is possible. The last guy said, just go to the BIOS and disable Integrated video (the option I don't see in the BIOS at all). I ordered anyway, as it was only $110 shipped. I can always return it and possibly make them upgrade it with w/e means, because they led me on.

As you can see, there are mixed opinions. Now, I'd love to see hear some of yours. It would seem really dumb if you couldn't upgrade, because it's such an essential part of a computer. Thanks.

 

A laptop should be no different from a desktop - onboard graphics can be disabled and a dedicated video card can be installed. The only issue I see is making sure the card fits in the laptop.

 

well, it's the card that was offered originally with the laptop, I just didn't upgrade. I know only x1300 and x1400 fit, and I ordered x1400.

I want a 100% answer, all the ones I keep getting are "maybe"s.

 

you cannot upgrade. a notebook is not like a desktop. the only way would be to replace the motherboard with one that accepts a dedicated gpu and then buy the gpu also.

 

what drumfu said, if you had bought the x1300 then you could upgrade to the x1400 but you can't go integrated to dedicated with the e1505

 

wtf are those people at Dell getting paid there for! jeez, well, I'll make them install it then, at their own expense for leading me on to order.

 

Well, I am pretty sure that other companies does that, other then Dell.

JC

 

caveat emptor

 

well, I talked to the 4th tech, who assured me that everything is upgradeable. I'm waiting for the card and settling this question for good.

 

NOTE: A removable video card is optional and present only if ordered by the customer. Standard video is integrated on the system board and is not customer removable.

 

nobody said that I need to remove integrated video. i mean... it's integrated. they're saying there's an expansion slot for the video card. the statement you pasted doesn't contradict this...

 

so, did it work?

 

[venting]
OK, so here's what's happened as of now.

The card I ordered on or around 5/17 took 10 days to change status.... to "cancelled". Pissed off, I called Dell and made them send it to me with no shipping charges via Next Day.

Received the card 5/31. Took laptop apart according to the instructions on the Dell's support site, which btw were quite easy and detailed (with pictures). That took about 45min because I was careful the first time. I would imagine it would take 10 min the 2nd time. So did it work after 3 Dell techs told me it would? HELL NO.

Indeed, the problem is that there's an integrated video connector that connects the motherboard to the screen that sticks out from the motherboard in the exact spot where the expansion card would fit in.

After spending 2 hours with Dell and so far getting nowhere, I'm either going to make them come out to me and replace the motherboard or have them unsolder the connector or just return the card.

At this point, Dell is at the top of my ****list for extreme unprofessionalism, bureaucracy, and being 100% outsourced when it comes to customer service for home users. It may or may not be the fault of idiot CSRs who just learned to speak English but as of right now, I'm never buying another computer from Dell again until they set their **** straight (btw as of today they announced adding of 1000 jobs, dunno if it'll fix CS or not). My next laptop is going to be IBM/Lenovo.

[/venting]

 

so... here's the final word. Dell refused to come out and another tech now told me that they don't support replacing a motherboard in these cases.

He also told me that gfx companies are expected to come out with express slot video cards that will be compatible with integrated video systems in Q4 of 2006. nvidia may be one of those companies.

I don't know if I believe him but that sure will be nice. I'm sending the card back for now. Finally this fact is proven and we can put an end to this question.

 

so apparently nVidia go 7300 is available for E1505s now. Can we upgrade to that, does anyone know?!

 

No, as long as you have an integrated card - you can not upgrade to a better card. Only the users with dedicated cards can do upgrades with dell, and generally Dell is the exception to that.

As long as you have the integrated card, the BIOS will not recognize your dedicated card. You can try it with every card that dell offers for the E1505, and I'm 99.9% sure that you will get the same results as you did before.

Eventhough Dell claims you can upgrade it, but look at the responses that you've gotten from Dell. You have them on both sides of the fence - in other words, they don't know if the card can be upgraded. From what I know, they supposedly use an online tool to troubleshoot your problem (as least supposedly that is what is stated), so that is probably where some of the confusion.

 

Are you saying that there is a pci-express slot for the card but there is also a connector for the screen where the card should fit?

If that's true, then my suggestion is to remove the screen connector with care and propper tools from its place to provide place for the card and I am sure once you flush the bios and install the card in its pci-express slot it will be recognized like a piece of cake!

Otherwise I am sorry for your lose...

 

There's no way I would be willing to screw up my warranty by trying to unsolder the onboard connector from the motherboard. I returned the video card already, but one of the techs was telling me that they have some nvidia cards coming that would go into an express slot (not sure which one he meant), which is available even on machines with integrated video. I'm going to have to look into this when I get back to the US.

 

OK folks, I too am trying to upgrade this E1505. Dell is telling me the Nvidia will work. I have the ATI X1300 installed now. My question, Is mine integrated? How do I tell short of looking inside? I found this in the manual but it doesn't name the card it's referring to. http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6400/en/sm/video.htm#wp1006368
I can fix anything, but not till I understand it....

 

The Radeon X1300 is dedicated; the Intel GMA950 is integrated.

Which Nvidia card is Dell telling you will work? I'd take whatever they say with a grain of salt.