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    Video card upgrade question

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by zillafan, Aug 31, 2007.

  1. zillafan

    zillafan Newbie

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    When custom building a Dell laptop online several of them come with integrated video with an option of upgrading to a dedicated video card. If you choose the dedicated video card option, do you get a different motherboard as well? One without the integrated video on it? If you choose not to upgrade to dedicated video and stay with integrated video, can you upgrade to a dedicated video card later (aftermarket)? This wasn't specifically addressed in the sticky post.

    Thanks.
     
    zillafan, Aug 31, 2007
    #1
  2. coriolis

    coriolis Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yes, the motherboards with the integrated cards are different(they have the soldered on integrated solution) while the dedicated video card has a slot on the motherboard.

    For Dell, the general rule is that:

    1. Upgrades only available if you originally had a dedicated video card
    2. Upgrades only available from Dell
    3. Upgrades are only available from within the notebook size series
     
    coriolis, Aug 31, 2007
    #2
  3. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    We should just stick to the more general rule: YOU CAN'T UPGRADE YOUR GRAPHICS CARD!

    Obviously it's not 100% true, but if you had a notebook that can have an upgraded GPU, you'd probably know w/o having to ask anyone.
     
    Lithus, Aug 31, 2007
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  4. Iceman0124

    Iceman0124 More news from nowhere

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    With laptops ALWAYS go with the notion that core component upgrades are impossible, while sometimes they are possible, they usually arent worth it in the end, buy what you need or think you may need from the getgo.
     
    Iceman0124, Aug 31, 2007
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  5. adinu

    adinu I pwn teh n00bs.

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    Well, he's talking about specific dell models that can be upgraded, given that they originally came with a dedicated card and there's a better option available for that model.

    So while you're statement is somewhat true when dealing with notebooks in general, the OP is discussing about models that CAN BE upgraded. Thus your statement is useless.
     
    adinu, Aug 31, 2007
    #5