Upgrading a laptop's graphics card: Can it be done?

xandermercury · 03-17-2009, 09:50 AM

Hello, I am looking for help regarding my laptop's graphics card.
I recently purchased an HP G60-235DX; it was about time I bought a laptop. Anyway, I am satisfied with the storage space (320GB) and the memory (3GB), but the graphics card included is virtually incompatible with any of my games, like Assassin's Creed, Call Of Duty 4, and Fallout 3.

I have heard about replacing graphics cards in laptops, and how it can be both complicated and expensive. If anyone can help me, I would like to know if it is possible to replace the graphics card in this particular laptop, and if so, which would be a good choice to run games such as the ones above?

Thank you in advance for any help you guys can provide.

-=Brian=-

dai · 03-17-2009, 11:42 AM

you have a integrated video chip i am afraid that is what you are stuck with unless it has a vacant slot you can use

xandermercury · 03-18-2009, 10:18 AM

Damn...I figured that would be the worst case scenario.

I'm not sure what you mean about a 'vacant slot', though. The laptop has compartments on the bottom of it that house the RAM, hard drive and wireless adapter. None allow access to the video card, so regardless of the possibility, I might not be able to upgrade my card, which is a drag.

dai · 03-18-2009, 10:32 AM

even when you can find a card for one that can be updated the card cost almost as much as the laptop

**kinbard** · 03-18-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

even when you can find a card for one that can be updated the card cost almost as much as the laptop

Thats the reason I just wait and buy a new laptop every 2-3 years and pass mine on to someone who needs one. If you're just a regular user, laptops are dirt cheap anymore.

xandermercury · 03-19-2009, 09:04 AM

That sounds reasonable. Guess I picked the wrong laptop to go with, but I can live with it. It's still a fine piece of hardware, with good storage and memory as well as compatibility with other hardware that I use.

Thanks for the advice...and yeah laptops are pretty cheap nowadays. Especially HP and Compaq laptops. You can score a decent laptop for about $500-$700, and that gives you what you need; sometimes more :p

**kinbard** · 03-19-2009, 09:12 AM

I think HP makes great laptops. I've used them for years, and have never had a problem with the hardware. I don't like the HP Recovery Center, though. I had a problem with them burning bad disks and not copying a boot file over. But have your call escualted enough with support, and you get recovery disks for free.

03-17-2009, 09:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
xandermercury Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium w/SP1	Upgrading a laptop's graphics card: Can it be done? Hello, I am looking for help regarding my laptop's graphics card. I recently purchased an HP G60-235DX; it was about time I bought a laptop. Anyway, I am satisfied with the storage space (320GB) and the memory (3GB), but the graphics card included is virtually incompatible with any of my games, like Assassin's Creed, Call Of Duty 4, and Fallout 3. I have heard about replacing graphics cards in laptops, and how it can be both complicated and expensive. If anyone can help me, I would like to know if it is possible to replace the graphics card in this particular laptop, and if so, which would be a good choice to run games such as the ones above? Thank you in advance for any help you guys can provide. -=Brian=-

03-17-2009, 11:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,600 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Upgrading a laptop's graphics card: Can it be done? you have a integrated video chip i am afraid that is what you are stuck with unless it has a vacant slot you can use __________________

03-18-2009, 10:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
xandermercury Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium w/SP1	Re: Upgrading a laptop's graphics card: Can it be done? Damn...I figured that would be the worst case scenario. I'm not sure what you mean about a 'vacant slot', though. The laptop has compartments on the bottom of it that house the RAM, hard drive and wireless adapter. None allow access to the video card, so regardless of the possibility, I might not be able to upgrade my card, which is a drag.

03-18-2009, 10:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,600 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Upgrading a laptop's graphics card: Can it be done? even when you can find a card for one that can be updated the card cost almost as much as the laptop __________________

03-19-2009, 09:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
xandermercury Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium w/SP1	Re: Upgrading a laptop's graphics card: Can it be done? That sounds reasonable. Guess I picked the wrong laptop to go with, but I can live with it. It's still a fine piece of hardware, with good storage and memory as well as compatibility with other hardware that I use. Thanks for the advice...and yeah laptops are pretty cheap nowadays. Especially HP and Compaq laptops. You can score a decent laptop for about $500-$700, and that gives you what you need; sometimes more :p

03-19-2009, 09:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
kinbard TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,459 OS: Experimenter	Re: Upgrading a laptop's graphics card: Can it be done? I think HP makes great laptops. I've used them for years, and have never had a problem with the hardware. I don't like the HP Recovery Center, though. I had a problem with them burning bad disks and not copying a boot file over. But have your call escualted enough with support, and you get recovery disks for free. __________________ Half viking, half pirate, stronger than both XP Repair Malware Removal Vista Repair Downgrade Vista