Upgrading a laptop?

Donovan Bane · Mon, 18th Aug '03, 8:04pm

This may be a dumb question, but is there anyway to upgrade the video card in a laptop? I need something faster.

Taluntain · Mon, 18th Aug '03, 8:27pm

Depends on the laptop/make, but generally it should be possible, though expensive. You should check with the place where you bought it from. (If upgrades are available.)

Sir Belisarius · Mon, 18th Aug '03, 10:44pm

I think upgrading a laptop means buying a new one.

8people · Mon, 18th Aug '03, 11:02pm

hmm, I was saving up to upgrade my laptop (I wanteda new video card and an external Hard Drive) but my mother thought it was pointless because it would be expensive, difficult and the laptop is broken anyway.

so now I'm focusing on saving up to finish paying off for the thing

Shrikant · Mon, 18th Aug '03, 11:36pm

Dude !
Upgrading a laptop is no where like upgrading a desktop. Its really hard to do and expensive (at least what a friend of mine says). Even if you do get it, it would probbly have to be not the latest model of graphiscs card due to heating problems, etc.
But yes a good and competent assembler will be able to do it, in my opinion.

Christopher_Lee · Tue, 19th Aug '03, 12:51pm

Really tricky; I only remember hearing about one company (think it might be Voodoo) where it is possible to upgrade the graphics card seperately.

If it's possible it will pbly be massively expensive...

Taluntain · Tue, 19th Aug '03, 2:24pm

3Dfx, the makers of Voodoo cards, went bust some 3 years ago, now.

Donovan Bane · Tue, 19th Aug '03, 3:42pm

Thanks guys... I spent some time online and found out you can upgrade memory and hard disk size on a laptop but nowhere does it say you can upgrade the video chip (it's actually a chip in a laptop I found out)... especially since my computer maker is out of business.

Taluntain · Tue, 19th Aug '03, 7:52pm

Ah, if you have an onboard chip you can forget the idea of upgrading that in a laptop.

ejsmith · Wed, 20th Aug '03, 3:44am

I've never heard of a laptop that didn't have "integrated" video.

Swapping out a CPU is possible, as long as the power supply can handle it. Not only the internal supply, mind you, but the external DC pak as well. Make sure you use some kind of thermal gel.

There is usually a couple of different hard disks and cdrom/dvdrom/burners that you can swap out. Many times you can pull the battery out and slap a hard disk in there for double the pleasure.

If you look carefully, there's usually just enough room to upgrade the system fan. Say, put a 40mm fan in there instead of the 30mm (or 20, in some cases). More airflow usually translates into more CPU power.

Christopher_Lee · Wed, 20th Aug '03, 11:45am

http://www.theregister.com/content/54/31767.html

It can be done, but sadly you'll have to buy a new laptop first

(Voodoo

)

[ August 20, 2003, 13:27: Message edited by: Christopher_Lee ]

Taluntain · Wed, 20th Aug '03, 3:46pm

Hah. A company actually named itself Voodoo... Must be because they're Canadian. As far as I know, nVidia still holds the trademark on the name Voodoo (since they bought 3Dfx), but I guess it only applies in USA.

How ironic that they install ATI's cards.

Btw, their website doesn't load for me. Could it be that they got sued over the name already?

Christopher_Lee · Wed, 20th Aug '03, 3:58pm

dunno, loads alright for me... very annoying website, makes lots of noise and i couldn't find out how to turn it off

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Mon, 18th Aug '03, 8:04pm	#1
Donovan Bane Gems: 2/31 Latest gem: Fire Agate Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 43 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 557 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 42.75% Daily Activity 2.46% Weekly Activity 2.46% Monthly Activity 1.51% Achievements	This may be a dumb question, but is there anyway to upgrade the video card in a laptop? I need something faster.

Mon, 18th Aug '03, 8:27pm	#2
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,797 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 151 Liked 120 Times in 78 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,135 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 48.7% Daily Activity 51.72% Weekly Activity 152.11% Monthly Activity 47.23% Achievements Awards	Depends on the laptop/make, but generally it should be possible, though expensive. You should check with the place where you bought it from. (If upgrades are available.)

Mon, 18th Aug '03, 10:44pm	#3
Sir Belisarius SPS Account Holder Distinguished Member Treasurer Viconia's Boy Toy Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: If there is a bright center of the universe, I'm in the city it's farthest from! Posts: 4,257 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 10,508 Level: 30 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 45.4% Daily Activity 2.46% Weekly Activity 2.46% Monthly Activity 1.51% Achievements	I think upgrading a laptop means buying a new one.

Mon, 18th Aug '03, 11:02pm	#4
8people SPS Account Holder 8 is just another way of looking at infinite Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chirofen Posts: 7,140 Blog Entries: 252 Like: 63 Liked 17 Times in 15 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 19,562 Level: 39 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 44.4% Daily Activity 2.46% Weekly Activity 2.46% Monthly Activity 1.51% Achievements	hmm, I was saving up to upgrade my laptop (I wanteda new video card and an external Hard Drive) but my mother thought it was pointless because it would be expensive, difficult and the laptop is broken anyway. so now I'm focusing on saving up to finish paying off for the thing

Mon, 18th Aug '03, 11:36pm	#5
Shrikant Gems: 27/31 Latest gem: Emerald Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bombay,India Posts: 2,615 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,875 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 75.59% Daily Activity 2.46% Weekly Activity 2.46% Monthly Activity 1.51% Achievements	Dude ! Upgrading a laptop is no where like upgrading a desktop. Its really hard to do and expensive (at least what a friend of mine says). Even if you do get it, it would probbly have to be not the latest model of graphiscs card due to heating problems, etc. But yes a good and competent assembler will be able to do it, in my opinion.

Tue, 19th Aug '03, 12:51pm	#6
Christopher_Lee Gems: 10/31 Latest gem: Zircon Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 370 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,196 Level: 11 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 84.5% Daily Activity 2.46% Weekly Activity 2.46% Monthly Activity 1.51% Achievements	Really tricky; I only remember hearing about one company (think it might be Voodoo) where it is possible to upgrade the graphics card seperately. If it's possible it will pbly be massively expensive...

Tue, 19th Aug '03, 2:24pm	#7
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,797 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 151 Liked 120 Times in 78 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,135 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 48.7% Daily Activity 51.72% Weekly Activity 152.11% Monthly Activity 47.23% Achievements Awards	3Dfx, the makers of Voodoo cards, went bust some 3 years ago, now.

Tue, 19th Aug '03, 3:42pm	#8
Donovan Bane Gems: 2/31 Latest gem: Fire Agate Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 43 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 557 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 42.75% Daily Activity 2.46% Weekly Activity 2.46% Monthly Activity 1.51% Achievements	Thanks guys... I spent some time online and found out you can upgrade memory and hard disk size on a laptop but nowhere does it say you can upgrade the video chip (it's actually a chip in a laptop I found out)... especially since my computer maker is out of business.

Tue, 19th Aug '03, 7:52pm	#9
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,797 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 151 Liked 120 Times in 78 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,135 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 48.7% Daily Activity 51.72% Weekly Activity 152.11% Monthly Activity 47.23% Achievements Awards	Ah, if you have an onboard chip you can forget the idea of upgrading that in a laptop.

Wed, 20th Aug '03, 3:44am	#10
ejsmith Gems: 25/31 Latest gem: Moonbar Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Over the rainbow Posts: 2,238 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,128 Level: 22 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 39.76% Daily Activity 2.46% Weekly Activity 2.46% Monthly Activity 1.51% Achievements	I've never heard of a laptop that didn't have "integrated" video. Swapping out a CPU is possible, as long as the power supply can handle it. Not only the internal supply, mind you, but the external DC pak as well. Make sure you use some kind of thermal gel. There is usually a couple of different hard disks and cdrom/dvdrom/burners that you can swap out. Many times you can pull the battery out and slap a hard disk in there for double the pleasure. If you look carefully, there's usually just enough room to upgrade the system fan. Say, put a 40mm fan in there instead of the 30mm (or 20, in some cases). More airflow usually translates into more CPU power.

Wed, 20th Aug '03, 11:45am	#11
Christopher_Lee Gems: 10/31 Latest gem: Zircon Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 370 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,196 Level: 11 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 84.5% Daily Activity 2.46% Weekly Activity 2.46% Monthly Activity 1.51% Achievements	http://www.theregister.com/content/54/31767.html It can be done, but sadly you'll have to buy a new laptop first (Voodoo ) [ August 20, 2003, 13:27: Message edited by: Christopher_Lee ]

Wed, 20th Aug '03, 3:46pm	#12
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,797 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 151 Liked 120 Times in 78 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,135 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 48.7% Daily Activity 51.72% Weekly Activity 152.11% Monthly Activity 47.23% Achievements Awards	Hah. A company actually named itself Voodoo... Must be because they're Canadian. As far as I know, nVidia still holds the trademark on the name Voodoo (since they bought 3Dfx), but I guess it only applies in USA. How ironic that they install ATI's cards. Btw, their website doesn't load for me. Could it be that they got sued over the name already?

Wed, 20th Aug '03, 3:58pm	#13
Christopher_Lee Gems: 10/31 Latest gem: Zircon Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 370 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,196 Level: 11 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 84.5% Daily Activity 2.46% Weekly Activity 2.46% Monthly Activity 1.51% Achievements	dunno, loads alright for me... very annoying website, makes lots of noise and i couldn't find out how to turn it off You get a free tatoo if you order one in the next couple of weeks