Changing GPU in a Laptop

GIBURROWS · 6 Aug 2014 at 13:02

Would it be difficult to change the GPU in a laptop?

I have an old Sony Vaio 17" (AR51E) which has an Nvidia card to which I can't get a driver for it to go back to 1080p and good old Sony no longer make updates, patches, fixes or anything.

What is stopping me from upgrading to a different Graphics card?

Meaker · 6 Aug 2014 at 14:14

Your model uses a chip soldered into the motherboard.

You would need a machine using an MXM card to upgrade it.

EG machines from clevo with names beginning with P (P157SM), machines from MSI with GT (GT60) or an alienware 17 or 18.

GIBURROWS · 6 Aug 2014 at 14:20

WOW! Thanks for the info.

Basically it's a ball ache of a job?

Meaker · 6 Aug 2014 at 14:30

In some machines like alienware it's a piece of cake.

People make fun of all alienware machines without realising their notebooks are unique and have some really good enthusiast features.

MSI comes next and is mechanically similar but you have to be careful which card you choose.

Clevo usually have bios issues so you can upgrade within the same generation but usually not beyond.