Replacing Laptop GPU

[Realillusion222]

Hey there

I'm not really able to use my main gaming PC anymore, so I would wonder if it's possible to beef up my Laptop's GPU?

I am using an upgraded Acer 5920G with these specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 4MB L2 cache
1024 Nvidia GeForce 8600M GS
4GB DD2
250GB HDD

My processor and RAM and pretty solid but I have doubts about the GPU as I have to run WoW on pretty low settings to get a stable FPS. I was wondering if it would be possible to upgrade to a new GPU, and what GPU people would be able to suggest for this?

Thankyou

 

[ViRuS2k]

I could be well off here, im rusty with laptops, i consider myself pro with pc desktops though

but i thought with labtops the GPU is built into the motherboard. there for impossible to upgrade.

 

[reflux]

You are in a small, but lucky minority - your laptop graphics chip uses the MXM standard, according to the list here.

http://www.mxm-upgrade.com/Table.html

That means that you can buy a common type 2 MXM module and fit it into your laptop like you would fit a desktop video card.

However, you only have two options - a GeForce 8600M GT and a Radeon 3650. Neither are exactly stellar performers, but should be better than what you have.

That said, I wouldn't recommend upgrading for WoW. Your graphics card probably isn't the problem - it's a very CPU intensive game. Also I've heard that the new update b0rks the FPS - I expect they will fix this soon.

but i thought with labtops the GPU is built into the motherboard. there for impossible to upgrade.

Nope, dedicated laptop GPUs are usually never soldered to the motherboard, as this would mean the manufacturer would have to churn out different boards for both integrated and discrete graphics machines

 

[ViRuS2k]

hmm waddaya know, i guess im wrong lol ;P

 

[Indy500]

Nope, dedicated laptop GPUs are usually never soldered to the motherboard, as this would mean the manufacturer would have to churn out different boards for both integrated and discrete graphics machines.

Actually, the manufacturer may not have chosen to implement the MXM standard with that particular laptop...tends to be the likes of Asus that will use it for their gaming range. 80%+ of laptops have integrated graphics, the rest usually have the chip directly on the motherboard - different ranges have unique motherboards anyway. Laptops are not built like desktops, there is no fixed ATX or AGP or PCI-E industry wide standard.

I could be well off here, im rusty with laptops, i consider myself pro with pc desktops though

but i thought with labtops the GPU is built into the motherboard. there for impossible to upgrade.

Generally with your average laptop, even these days, the GPU and its memory is directly soldered onto the motherboard so any upgrade (if possible) entails replacing the whole thing.

 

[reflux]

Generally with your average laptop, even these days, the GPU and its memory is directly soldered onto the motherboard so any upgrade (if possible) entails replacing the whole thing.

Integrated graphics are usually soldered on, but not dedicated in my experience. For example, Dell use proprietary modules for most of their machines. Clevo and Uniwill are major chassis manufacturers for brands such as Alienware and Fujitsu-Siemens, and they use MXM. Not to mention Acer here.

 

[Indy500]

Certainly not true in my experience. Dell use proprietary modules for most of their machines. Clevo and Uniwill are major chassis manufacturers for brands such as Alienware and Fujitsu-Siemens, and they use MXM. Not to mention Acer here.

Dell do indeed use seperate modules. Are they MXM? No. As for Alienware, aren't they aimed at gamers?

If Fujitsu are using MXM they never advertise as such on their range. Want to give me some examples?

As for the Acer in question here, would you like to link us to their website or a tech document to settle the discussion then?

Integrated graphics are usually soldered on, but not dedicated.

Really? This image of a HP motherboard shows otherwise:

http://i41.tinypic.com/a0zyoi.jpg

You'd see it more clearly but there's thermal tape covering the GPU.

 

[Realillusion222]

You are in a small, but lucky minority - your laptop graphics chip uses the MXM standard, according to the list here.

http://www.mxm-upgrade.com/Table.html

That means that you can buy a common type 2 MXM module and fit it into your laptop like you would fit a desktop video card.

However, you only have two options - a GeForce 8600M GT and a Radeon 3650. Neither are exactly stellar performers, but should be better than what you have.

That said, I wouldn't recommend upgrading for WoW. Your graphics card probably isn't the problem - it's a very CPU intensive game. Also I've heard that the new update b0rks the FPS - I expect they will fix this soon.



Nope, dedicated laptop GPUs are usually never soldered to the motherboard, as this would mean the manufacturer would have to churn out different boards for both integrated and discrete graphics machines

Yeah, i've only recently started playing again and my gaming PC that ran everything on highest settings without dropping below 50fps is really struggling to run the game at 30fps on just above medium.

I doubt the 8800GT will give me that much of an improvement in performance, so I guess I just have to hope for some kind of update!

Thanks a lot for the help guys.

 

[reflux]

Dell do indeed use seperate modules. Are they MXM? No. As for Alienware, aren't they aimed at gamers?

Dell - MXM? No they're not, and I should know, as I've upgraded the graphics chip in a Dell XPS twice. I don't care if they're MXM or not, they're still upgradeable, and not soldered to the motherboard. Alienware are aimed at gamers - but what relevance does that have?

If Fujitsu are using MXM they never advertise as such on their range. Want to give me some examples?

Fujitsu use Uniwill chassis, and such a wide variety of their machines will take MXM graphics cards. See here:

http://www.mxm-upgrade.com/Fujitsu.html

As for the Acer in question here, would you like to link us to their website or a tech document to settle the discussion then?

As for Acer, miraculously you only have to go to my first post in this thread for the evidence - but I'll link it again.....

http://www.mxm-upgrade.com/Table.html

Manufacturers don't tend to advertise MXM as a feature of their laptops. You can judge the credibility of that website if you want, but it seems pretty legit.

Really? This image of a HP motherboard shows otherwise:

http://i41.tinypic.com/a0zyoi.jpg

You'd see it more clearly but there's thermal tape covering the GPU.

Interesting - but I notice the IDE connector and serial port, so that's a fairly old motherboard. I also said usually not always.

 

[Monkeynut]

Right now I've got a Studio 1537 with a Radeon 3450. In a few months Dell are releasing the Studio 1555 with the Radeon 4570. Since Dell use propietary graphics modules, what are the cahnces the newer Studio's Graphics card works in my older model?

 

[reflux]

Right now I've got a Studio 1537 with a Radeon 3450. In a few months Dell are releasing the Studio 1555 with the Radeon 4570. Since Dell use propietary graphics modules, what are the cahnces the newer Studio's Graphics card works in my older model?

Totally depends on the motherboard and internal layout, as sr4470 pointed out, so it depends how much of an update the new Studio is. Generally speaking, the GPU will only fit between different models if they use the same layout and have the required power circuitry.

However, I did once hear of a GeForce 6800 taken out of a Dell i9300 and put into a 15.4'' Inspiron. It was a big mod, but it got done and it all worked in the end.

If you're interested in more info, head over to http://www.notebookforums.com/ - there are a lot of very clever people over there.

 

[Monkeynut]

Thanks for the info reflux!












No, really, thanks for the info!

 

[Indy500]

<snip>

Right, perhaps we should get back on topic. You did post that link, but that's a third party site. I don't recall seeing Acer say that themselves. We wouldn't want the OP invalidating warranty now would we? I know this sounds pedantic, but this is surely a good selling point for the manufacturers? Or would it be a case of cannibalising their higher model sales?

 

[reflux]

Right, perhaps we should get back on topic. You did post that link, but that's a third party site. I don't recall seeing Acer say that themselves. We wouldn't want the OP invalidating warranty now would we? I know this sounds pedantic, but this is surely a good selling point for the manufacturers? Or would it be a case of cannibalising their higher model sales?

Fujitsu Siemens do mention MXM compatibility in some of their product spec lists, but as a whole, the standard just hasn't taken off as well as a lot hoped for.

This is the thing - yeah - higher end 'gaming' laptops go for big bucks, so presumably they make big profits. I expect that the main reason manufacturers use MXM, or indeed common modular designs, is to save themselves money, not the end user. Plus obviously it avoids more risk from the user opening the casing to upgrade another part.