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    Upgrading FW video Card?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by MadCat09, Aug 29, 2008.

  1. MadCat09

    MadCat09 Newbie

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    I'll begin by saying that I will eventually purchase an FW even if I can't upgrade the video card from the Mobility3470.

    I just wanted to know if it was possible to upgrade the FW to a 3600 or even 3800 series video card. I was looking at ATI's webisite and it seems like the 3400, 3600, and 3800 all have the same connector type. I just dont know where to buy laptop video cards or if there is a place that can do it for me, like Frys.

    Or should I just be happy with the FW, because I really like the styling, and forget about trying to upgrade myself and not risk it.
     
    MadCat09, Aug 29, 2008
    #1
  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I'm sorry, but there is NO way to upgrade the GPU on this laptop. What you order is what you get, forever.
     
    Greg, Aug 29, 2008
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  3. MadCat09

    MadCat09 Newbie

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    I thought so, I guess im stuck with my starcraft and thats it. lol
     
    MadCat09, Aug 29, 2008
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  4. Rahul

    Rahul Notebook Prophet

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    I am anxiously waiting for the day when we can connect high-end external videocards to our laptops.

    So many laptops out there have suitable components for gaming but have integrated or weak dedicated cards and yet many do not want one with a powerful graphics card as they are limited to a large, bulky laptop with middling to low battery life.

    So on the go, you can have a 12" thin and light laptop for example with integrated graphics and when at home, connect a Radeon HD4870 to it as well as a HDTV or monitor and you have the best of both worlds!

    I would love to have this with the Z series. :)
     
    Rahul, Aug 29, 2008
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  5. MadCat09

    MadCat09 Newbie

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    Asus actually already has an external video card, but it is bigger than the actual laptop and not very portable.
     
    MadCat09, Aug 29, 2008
    #5
  6. Rahul

    Rahul Notebook Prophet

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    Asus had announced that XG Station way back in early 2007 and it was said to launch in mid 2008 but I still haven't seen it anywhere for sale, I don't think its available even now. :(

    I think the PCI Express doesn't give enough bandwidth for powerful videocards at least but hope to see that fixed in the future.
     
    Rahul, Aug 29, 2008
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  7. Trovador

    Trovador Notebook Enthusiast

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    There's a thread about an external GPU device by ATI (as I recall). It was started a few days ago so it should be on page 1-3. Check it out.

    Edit: Found it, was on page 11, quite an active forum. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=289354
     
    Trovador, Aug 29, 2008
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