How easy is it to fit a graphics card to a laptop?

[Kristoph]

Ok, say for example I was to buy a Dell Vostro 1510.

It ships with either onboard graphics, or a 256mb Nvidia 8400M GS (64bit).

Now to upgrade it to the Nvidia costs £50, so I was wondering - what would be compatible with a laptop that is capable of an 8400M GS?

I fancy something a bit quicker.

Also, what other considerations are there? Power, overheating etc...?

Thanks.

 

[Fothsn]

Nope laptops cards are soldered onto the motherboard so you haven’t got a chance of manually changing it

 

[Kristoph]

Balls. Probably why I couldn't find any online!

Thanks anyway.

 

[Lightnix]

You do get some upgradeable notebook graphics chips but typically only in higher end notebooks (i.e. ones with 8800M cards and such).

 

[KaneStatton]

You do get some upgradeable notebook graphics chips but typically only in higher end notebooks (i.e. ones with 8800M cards and such).

Yep only normally on gaming notebooks

 

[Rroff]

And even those theres a very limited upgrade path and usually it gets forgotten before the next generation of cards come out - so in reality its not really more upgradeable than any other laptop...

 

[AbsenceJam]

There will be external PCI-E from ATi at some point.