is it technically possible to upgrade from the 8400M GS to the 8600Gt or 8700?

I have a dv2500t with the 8400M GS 64MB dedicated graphics

i never play games but am just wonderring if this is even possible to upgrade from the 8400M GS to either the:

8400M GT
8600M GT
or even the 8700M GT just released?

would the 14.1" casing be small for the heat generated?

is it atleast possible?

any info would help!

 

Nope, u can't upgrade laptop graphics cards because they're built into the motherboard, unless if u get a desktop component notebook, but that would only be in a larger size

 

thanx, was thinking that since it used the pci-e, it just slid in, like a desktop - just a much smaller version.

 

EDIT: I posted a crapload of stuff, and didnt see what size notebook u actually had LOL.


No, your card is integrated, and s not swappable. Only laptops 17" and bigger have swappable cards, and not all of them.

 

oh well i never play games and doubt that will ever even cross my mind, only was wondering just because i knew integrated graphics you couldnt, but didnt know if it was simple or even possible to upgrade dedicated graphics

thanx for the info

 

There was a campiagn to try and bring upgradeable graphics to notebooks, but manufacturers realised that it wouldn't help them make money. nVidia originally started MXM, which was a form factor and standard that would allow upgradeable graphics for most users. Not many manufacturers took to the idea, and most didn't incorporate MXM into their designs. Some manufacturers took the MXM design, and modified for use in only their notebooks, so they had interchangeable graphics cards in that particular model, but no one else could use their cards.

This was a serious advantage to them, because they could easily incorporate a new techology once it was released, and it would provide users with more upgradeability options, when configuring models, because it cost the manufacturer much less to upgrade a graphics card. You can see this in manufactures such as Clevo and Dell. Clevo used modular design in their M570 notebooks, which allowed them to use various high end graphics cards, which is why it was possible to configure it with so many high end graphics cards. Dell also used a similar system in their E1505/6400 and E1705/9400.

 

The thing is, even if it was upgradeable, an 8600M GT or especially an 8700M probably wouldn't run that well in your machine anyway (there's a reason you don't see anything less than a large 17" notebook with an 8700M for example).

 

The problem is that with notebooks, heat management is much more important and difficult. A replaceable graphics card in a 14" notebook would be suicide in support costs. I can see the calls now:

"But the Ultra8900GXT2 says it's MXM! Why won't it work in my 12" lightweight travel laptop?"
"What do you mean I have to make sure the heatsink is attached? Just fix it! It's smoking, and it's not working!"

In general, it's not a good idea to have upgradeable graphics. The computers are designed around the cooling needs of the included hardware, and if the included hardware changes thermal characteristics too much, you'd run into tons of problems.