upgrading motherboard/video card

hello! i have a hp dv9925nr laptop and was considering an upgrade to my video card. i know its integrated into the motherboard so i would really be upgrading my motherboard. im not very knowledgeable when it comes to hardware so what would you recommend i upgrade to? i would like to run games like WoW smoothly with at least moderate graphic detail.

 

Motherboard upgrades are pretty costly (easily $400+) and almost as much as a new laptop, hence why I recommend just getting a new one for a little bit more.

 

I would also say new laptop... too much hassle to change motherboard... and who wants old tech... just add some more cash and buy a new laptop...

 

disregarding money, what specs should i be looking for when upgrading?

for example if its an online purchase i would want to know it has at least a certain video card specification (because thats what i want to upgrade) but what other features do i want to pay attention to? i dont want to buy a motherboard with a good graphics card then find out something else on it totally blows

 

You would have to get a motherboard built specifically for your series of notebook, no other type of motherboard would fit.

 

thanks for the responses, like i said im not the smartest with hardware.

so what your saying greg is that the only motherboard i can get for my laptop is the exact same one that came with it,with all the same specs?

 

no blakmamba.if i dont know it wrong you are able to install any motherboards to your laptop if they are compatible and if it fits.

for example toshiba motherboard wont fit on hp because it has different sockets in different positions.toshiba has 2 sockets for usb in back while hp has 2 on left and 1 in right in usually.so if you buy a motherboard it's sockets and size needs to fit.if your laptop's body(case whatever) has only 1 hole for usb then if you buy a motherboard that has 2 sockets then it wont fit.

i hope it is clear.

you can get a different motherboard but it should be from hp and all the sockets size and other stuff should exactly be the same.

it is hard hp has made many laptops.

if there is a better hp laptop model that uses the same case as your laptop uses you can look for is motherboard.

but all you are trying to do is rubbish,because you can experience problems,hardware damage and overheating problems.also as people said you can always buy another notebook.

i dont prefer entering this job even professional people dont do these things.

because it is not usefull.

 

I don't think anything other than some motherboard revision for your laptop can be put in it. If anyone has a hp dv9925nr, please shed some light as to what models of it has been available. Basically, I don't think you will be able to get anything else than some other version of your laptop, which will probably be, if it exists, close to your specs. I suggest a new laptop

 

mobo upgrade is real easy. just purchase a new laptop with desired specs.

 

This is the no. 1 disadvantage of laptop, it's limited in upgrade parts. Unlike desktop PCs, so if you really don't move a lot I suggest that you keep this laptop and buy a desktop PC.
Don't upgrade your old laptop, it's a waste of money. Invest it in your new PC.

 

^ I agree. Gaming on a laptop can get expensive with all the new advanced 3D games. Laptops tend to be slower and harder to upgrade compared to desktops. If you game at home a lot, it would be better to get a desktop because upgrades are more plentiful and easier to do. When you buy a laptop, the only thing you can realistically upgrade is the RAM and the hard drive.

 

It could be quite possible. Have you looked to see if there are any identical Hp models?

For example, I just ordered some parts for my Dell C640. It uses the same chassis as the C610, C600.

This past summer a guy on notebookreview, bought a Dell Studio 15 with the intel integrated graphics. After having it for a while, he wanted to game, and his intel graphics just couldnt do it. So he made a thread much like this. Tippey764, and I convinced him it was possible. He bought a new motherboard, and he sent me a PM here. He came to my house since he lived close by, and within 90 minutes, he had the ATi 3450 in his computer. He sold his intel graphics motherboard for I believe $20 less than the ATi graphics one.

Anything is possible. With laptops its a bit limited, but it can be done.
I built my own laptop, so yes there are always ways

Do some research, and see if there are any comparable models. I am not familiar with Hp, maybe there was a refresh of that model, which you can upgrade to.

K-TRON

 

I have a DV9543cl and my nvidia chip burnt out recently so rather then replacing my board with the same one I decided to research what else would fit in my chassis and I came up with the DV9700 board with the 8600M GS 512mb instead of the 256mb that I had.

 

Just on a side note:
Heatsink?

Sometimes models with an integrated card will have a slightly different build inside, compared to mdels with a dedicatd card.

So even if you find a motherboard for the same model - it may not fit - or if it fits, may not be cooled properly.

Do a lot of comparisons before you do anything!

 

Thanks for mentioning that Detlev, I forgot about that.

When I did the motherboard upgrade, a new heatsink had to be ordered, the one which was compatible with the new motherboard

K-TRON

 

Just completed my mboard upgrade and so far it was a great move! killed 2 birds with one stone 1. Replaced burnt out mboard 2. Upgraded to 512mb instead of 256

 

I'm about to swapout my mobo to put the better HD 4650 gfx in,will take me from a 64bit 512MB 4530 to a 128bit 1GB 4650
Fan/Heatsink is a differant part no also so i need to change that as well.
I also checked that the Bios used in the higher spec model was the same as my original model to hopefully rule out problems there.

Best place to find what may fit in as a replacement is in the Maintenance and Service Guide for your series,it will also give you the part no's you need.

 

My computer wont even post i suspect its the nvidia video adapter. Anyway i bought might and just barely the two year warrenty on the suck expired. My Dvd rw drive will no longer read or write cds only dvd disks. anyway thats not that big of a deal... well i did buy mine using amaerican express filed claim and just received check for 1396.40 thats what i paid for the damn thing. i was going to buy a new computer but it seems like if i can repair it for less then 350 and upgrade the mobo... i want to upgrade it but do not know what mother board to upgrade it to that would fit. on top of it i can not find anywhere they list the specs on the baord such as the type of video card processor. or if it has esata port or not.. my board does not have one but these newer computer have one of the usb ports double as esata and usb so i dont see why i couldnt use a board that has the usb converted to esata. anyway any helpful insight will be great.

would really like to know how to view the specs of these different boards using part number or whatever means.

 

I'm just thinking... do you have to use the money from your American Express Warranty for the same product?
Performance wise you can possibly get something better for 1300$

Also, I doubt you get a new motherboard at less than 350$, or if then possibly used, and it might fail soon too...

 

Oh for sure i can get a better system for that much money the thing is I am not playing very many of the new games all that often just dont have the time. I feel like a upgraded mother board that fits that chassis would meet my current needs and than some. considering how fast technology evolves id hate to buy top of the line and not take advantage of it.

Looking online most boards "new" are under $300 dollars for the DV9000 series now my questions is would any board that was designed for a DV9500 and up fit my chassis and how would I get information for each particular board right now i am only able to get part numbers

 

You don't have to be into gaming to benefit from a newer/better system.
You could get more battery life, more CPU power... or replace it with a cheaper computer.

With respect to different series - you'd be extremely lucky if they were interchangeable - its not impossible, but I think its unlikely.