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    T420: Can you get an aftermarket 4200m?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Kalakzak, Jul 13, 2011.

  1. Kalakzak

    Kalakzak Notebook Guru

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    I was wondering if anyone knows if you can get an aftermarket Nvidia NVS 4200m video card and if so where.

    We have a whole bunch of new T420's coming in but all of them have the Intel graphics. Is it possible to take a few of those and after the fact purchase and install the 4200m card?

    I looked and did not see where they could be had and I did not see a thread here asking this (although I admit I did not look long) so I figured I would ask here.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    No the T420 has the GPU soldered on. The only way to upgrade is to change the entire motherboard and possibly the heatsink.
     
  3. Colonel O'Neill

    Colonel O'Neill Notebook Deity

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    Not reasonably; you'd have to swap out the entire motherboard, move over all of the individual components, and void your warranty.

    Maybe an external GPU solution would be acceptable? The 4200M isn't that much better than the Intel HD3000...
     
  4. Mech0z

    Mech0z Notebook Evangelist

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  5. Kalakzak

    Kalakzak Notebook Guru

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    It is not so much the performance as it is the desire to use Optimus to push out to four displays.

    From what I have seen\heard\understood the native Intel card will not do that with the T420 but the Nvidia 4200m with Optimus will.

    Please correct me if I am wrong.
     
  6. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    if you need 4 displays, then you would need a Nvidia Optimus equipped machine.
     
  7. Zuwxiv

    Zuwxiv Notebook Guru

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    I just want to say - I have the T420s with Intel graphics. I've been very impressed with what it can handle. Neverwinter Nights 2, no problem. Monday Night Combat, seems to run fine. I'm not on the highest settings, but then, what do you expect?

    As for monitors, maybe an eGPU running through USB3 would be the fastest? Or Express Card.