[SOLVED] Laptop upgrade question

sergeantz · 10-18-2007, 09:33 PM

I recently bought a laptop that was supposed to come with an Nvidia 8400M-G graphics card, but instead came with an Intel 965 chipset with the 3100 Graphics Media Accelerator. It's looking like I won't be able to get a replacement or get my money back. Yay.

So my question is: Is there any way for me to upgrade the graphics on this thing?

Rebellion88 · 10-19-2007, 03:43 AM

No extremely unlikely I'm afraid so say, only a very small handful allow you to upgrade. Thats quite a big difference what you got to what graphics card you thought you were going to get, false advertising? Best thing to do performance wise is increase your ram, in some case the CPU can be upgraded depending on the model.

sergeantz · 10-19-2007, 07:53 PM

False advertising describes it pretty well. I don't have much of a legal leg to stand on, with their company line posted in the website (Microtel PC reserves the right to whatever, whatever, blah, blah, blah), But I still think that I'll get them reported in to the Better Business Beurau, and dropped from their affiliates. Im in the military, and I got this through my military exchange website. I don't want anyone else to get shafted like this, because it's not like I can turn around and plunk down another $1,500 on another laptop.

**TheMatt** · 10-19-2007, 09:08 PM

That is definitely false advertising. The GMA X3100 is nothing like the 8400M GT and unfortunately is not upgradeable.

Upgrade the RAM on the laptop and the BIOS will automatically allocate more video memory. Other than that, there is really not much you can do in the hardware department.

sergeantz · 10-21-2007, 10:21 PM

I appreciate the advice; while the graphics kind of blow, I DO have 2 GB of RAM, and it's lop-of-the-line (DDR2-667 it think). That's the really irritating thing: if I had the promised graphics card, this laptop would be awesome. Instead, it's merely OK.

I'm done losing sleep, though. I'll just roll with the punches and leave most of my gaming to my desktop(which is getting old). I'm still praying that I'll be able to play The Witcher on this.

sergeantz · 10-22-2007, 11:28 PM

Well, the squeaky wheel got the grease; I listed a complaint with the main vendor, and it looks like I'll be getting what I ordered. About time. You can go ahead and close if you wish. Thanks a lot for your input.

**TheMatt** · 10-23-2007, 03:50 PM

Good to hear.

10-18-2007, 09:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
sergeantz Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 14 OS: Windows XP, SP2	[SOLVED] Laptop upgrade question I recently bought a laptop that was supposed to come with an Nvidia 8400M-G graphics card, but instead came with an Intel 965 chipset with the 3100 Graphics Media Accelerator. It's looking like I won't be able to get a replacement or get my money back. Yay. So my question is: Is there any way for me to upgrade the graphics on this thing?

10-19-2007, 03:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Rebellion88 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 442 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit My System	Re: Laptop upgrade question No extremely unlikely I'm afraid so say, only a very small handful allow you to upgrade. Thats quite a big difference what you got to what graphics card you thought you were going to get, false advertising? Best thing to do performance wise is increase your ram, in some case the CPU can be upgraded depending on the model. __________________ - Dean National Diploma Software Development National Diploma Hardware Route

10-19-2007, 07:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
sergeantz Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 14 OS: Windows XP, SP2	Re: Laptop upgrade question False advertising describes it pretty well. I don't have much of a legal leg to stand on, with their company line posted in the website (Microtel PC reserves the right to whatever, whatever, blah, blah, blah), But I still think that I'll get them reported in to the Better Business Beurau, and dropped from their affiliates. Im in the military, and I got this through my military exchange website. I don't want anyone else to get shafted like this, because it's not like I can turn around and plunk down another $1,500 on another laptop.

10-19-2007, 09:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Laptop upgrade question That is definitely false advertising. The GMA X3100 is nothing like the 8400M GT and unfortunately is not upgradeable. Upgrade the RAM on the laptop and the BIOS will automatically allocate more video memory. Other than that, there is really not much you can do in the hardware department. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

10-21-2007, 10:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
sergeantz Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 14 OS: Windows XP, SP2	Re: Laptop upgrade question I appreciate the advice; while the graphics kind of blow, I DO have 2 GB of RAM, and it's lop-of-the-line (DDR2-667 it think). That's the really irritating thing: if I had the promised graphics card, this laptop would be awesome. Instead, it's merely OK. I'm done losing sleep, though. I'll just roll with the punches and leave most of my gaming to my desktop(which is getting old). I'm still praying that I'll be able to play The Witcher on this.

10-22-2007, 11:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
sergeantz Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 14 OS: Windows XP, SP2	Re: Laptop upgrade question Well, the squeaky wheel got the grease; I listed a complaint with the main vendor, and it looks like I'll be getting what I ordered. About time. You can go ahead and close if you wish. Thanks a lot for your input.

10-23-2007, 03:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Laptop upgrade question Good to hear. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides