The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Upgrading the video card *help please*

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Pepitobenito, Jan 17, 2006.

  1. Pepitobenito

    Pepitobenito Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I'm looking at upgrading my laptop's video card, but since this is my first laptop, and the first time I've bothered to upgrade anything, I have a few questions.

    I'm wondering if any sort of regular PC graphics card (Radeon, Nvidia etc) will be compatible with a laptop (I've got a Compaq R4000 if it makes any difference). I'm looking at getting a lower end 256mb card, likely the GeForce FX 5500 or maybe 6200. Is there any sort of special consideration you have to make when getting a video card upgrade for your laptop? And I don't have an integrated card so that's not a problem.

    I've also got no idea about how to upgrade a laptop, so I hope it's safe to assume I can just get it done somewhere, like Future Shop.

    Any help or direction is much appreciated, thanks.
     
  2. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    4,982
    Messages:
    34,001
    Likes Received:
    1,415
    Trophy Points:
    581
    It is unlikely you'll be able to upgrade the card.
     
  3. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    22,339
    Messages:
    36,639
    Likes Received:
    5,080
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Can't upgrade, the card is soldered to the motherboard and non-removable.
     
  4. miner

    miner Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    1,326
    Messages:
    7,137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    As others have mentioned laptop graphics cards are proprietary in design and so are not upgradable. There are only a few laptops in the market with modular MXM graphics cards which can be upgraded unfortunately the R4000 is not one of them.