Upgrading the GPU in a HP DV6000Z

Hey,

I am thinking of ordering a custom HP DV6000Z from shopping.hp.com. One of the main reasons I am going to order a custom laptop directly from HP, instead of getting a stock option from BestBuy/Circuit City is that I don't want a integrated graphics card.

But you can only upgrade the GPU to a NVidia GeForce Go 7200. And I can't seem to find laptop GPU's for sale anywhere on the internet... Can you not upgrade graphics cards in laptops? If you can upgrade, does anyone know where I could order a NVidia GeForce Go 7400 or even a NVidia GeForce Go 7600? And if either one of those cards would be compatible with a DV6000Z. I would be open to other after-market graphics card suggestions as well.

By the way, I am not a big PC gamer, but I do want pretty good performance when I do play.

Thanks,

Brandon

 

No, you cannot upgrade the GPU in the dv6000z or in fact any of the major brands. Dell allows you to upgrade from within the GPU options they have for the particular laptop. There are modular graphics like MXM available but you are unlikely to find these in mainstream brands.

 

Nope, like 95% of laptops aren't upgradeable with the GPU

 

I have herd that the reason that most GPUs and some CPUs are not upgradeable is that the chip is soldered to the bored.

 

Bingo. MXM, AXIOM, and Dell laptops are the only significant upgradeable machines I know of off the top of my head.

 

Thanks for the advice, I am 17 and this is my first computer so I didn't realize everything was soldered in. So, with that in mind, I think I am going to be getting a better laptop, and will be going with a dv6500t with these specs:

Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7300 (2.00 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
15.4" WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
2GB of DDR2 Memory (2 Dimm)
383MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS (128MB Dedicated, 255MB Shared)
Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive

~Brandon

 

You know the 6000t has a 7400 right?

 

Read my post again.... I said the dv6 500t, not the dv6000t

 

I wasn't referring to that, you were considering the 6000z, why not the 6000t with the 7400?

 

Oh, sorry, I misunderstood you. And actually, I am going to be going with a Dell 1520. To get a 8600M GT, and more upgradability.

 

That's a better choice for gaming, but you're still getting the same upgrade ability as with your initial choice: 0%

That's because there is no other card that you can pop into your 1520.

 

Oh, Ok. Greg posted that Dell laptops we're upgradable. I suppose he only meant at the time of ordering...

 

I think what he meant was if you bought the 1520 with the 8400M then you can upgrade to the 8600M even after purchase. No other upgrade is possible. Plus if you bought it with integrated graphics you would most likely have to replace the motherboard to upgrade.

Basically laptop graphics cards are pretty much not upgradable and even if it is upgradable your option are very limited.

 

Their only upgradeable up to the best card offered for that model.

But since the 8600gt is the highest for the 1520, you have nothing else to upgrade to.