Upgrading integrated video card?

I'm looking at purchasing a laptop, and its an absolutely great deal, the only thing is, it has an integrated video card. I would like to do some medium to heavy gaming (graphics wise, eg far cry 1&2, battlefield 2&2142, most intense being fallout 3), so needless to say, I will definitely be upgrading the card shortly after purchasing it. Now, I am totally new to computer hardware, so I was just wondering if it would be a significant undertaking to put in a dedicated video card myself. Having heard that integrated means on the motherboard, I have no clue on how to disconnect the old one, where to connect the new one, etc. If the process is horribly complex, I would be willing to pay for a pro to install it for me, however, if this upgrade isn't possible, I will definitely reconsider making the purchase. Another total newbie question is - the replacement card I'm looking at is this http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10111363&catid=20397 Is this a video card suitable for a laptop, or are there specific models I need to find? I am sure my local best buy guy could help me with that, but better that I go in not looking like a total idiot, right?!

 

I'm sorry, but it cannot be done. Laptop graphics cards are rarely upgradeable, and integrated graphics NEVER are.

 

Reconsider

 

sorry it cannot be done. laptops with the exclusion of 0.1% of them cannot upgrade the graphics cards.

Yours is soldered on the motherboard, and that is why it cannot be done, actually it is technically part of the motherboard.

 

Actually, just for the sake of being specific...

Integrated video is directly embedded into the chipset. It isn't even a part soldered onto the motherboard...it is a small piece of another part soldered onto the motherboard .

 

thats kinda what i meant aha.

 

These days, there are so many decent gaming notebooks around the $1k mark, integrated just isn't in the discussion anymore.

 

Did you even read the gaming stickies before posting ?

If not, read them now, you'll find your answer there.

 

nope I agree, but they do conserve battery life, which is what some ppl want.

yes read the stickies.

 

1. Integrated graphics processors are a part of the chipset, so therefore the motherboard does not have a connection for a dedicated graphics card, and thus cannot be upgraded.
2. The link you provided is for a desktop graphics card. That thing won't fit in ANY notebook!
3. There are a wide variety of gamer notebooks out there waiting for you to enjoy, in almost any price range. From the Radeon HD 3200 at the low-end (a far better integrated card than anything Intel's ever done) to a 8600M GT/9600M GT in the middle range, to an 8800M GTX on the heavy-duty models. Go do your research!

 

Facepalm...

 

Good examples of the 0.1% of laptops which you can upgrade the card are some Sager/Clevo rebrands and the OCZ/Arima whitebook. Of course you would only be able to upgrade them with a laptop GPU, but otherwise, you can take a look at XoticPC or any other Clevo/OCZ resellers for some ideas. In the case of most of those laptops however, they give you several options to choose from when customizing your system (generally of the relatively higher end variety), so I don't see any need to upgrade the card yourself.