Graphic Cards and New Laptops

Sling99 · 05-16-2009, 06:08 AM

How easy is it to replace the graphic cards on a new laptop? Are there system requirements/ limitations and do all laptops allow for the graphic cards to be replaced?

I'm asking this with a view to buying a laptop which would be used for both work and gaming, I'm looking at buying something around 400 GBP. However most laptops I find around this price have Intel graphic cards but I would prefer to have either an ATI or GEFORCE instead.

Braden_oe · 05-16-2009, 07:25 PM

I have a Dell Inspiron 1525 that was relatively that same price and the graphics card was integrated with an Intel 965 Express chip. It's terrible. It can't run Sims 2. The problem with a lot of laptops around that price is that the graphics card is usually integrated and can't be replaced. I don't know what kind of graphics card that the one you were thinking of has, but based on my own experience I would gladly spend more money on something that has an ATI or GEFORCE.
Before buying I would make sure that the video card is NOT integrated and is able to be replaced in the future. If it is, then STAY AWAY.

SA Spurs1 · 05-17-2009, 04:52 AM

If you do your research you will find that the bottleneck you will find in laptops will be the graphics card. If you buy a laptop, buy it with he best graphics card you can get, and even that may not be enough. Laptops grahics cards are not as enterchangable as desktops. That is why if you are a going to game a desktop is a better choice. You get more bang for your buck that way and can upgrade more easilty. If you buy a laptop you probably can not change the graphics except to the ones being offered at the time of sale, and that is only referring to the dedicate cards. If you buy an integrated card such as an intel you would have to replace the motherboard and in that case you might as well have bought a different model. You might look into the Dell XPS brand or www.alienware.com for gaming laptops. Look to spend over 2000 plus.

Sling99 · 05-17-2009, 08:05 PM

I was afraid this was true. Well I'm looking for a laptop with a graphics card that ideally could run Shader Model 3 ... I'm looking hard but can't seem to find one, not in the UK anyway.

Does anyone happen to have a list of graphic cards that support Shader Model 3 by any chance? This would make the search easier ... Just can't seem to find one anywhere at all.

05-16-2009, 06:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Sling99 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Graphic Cards and New Laptops How easy is it to replace the graphic cards on a new laptop? Are there system requirements/ limitations and do all laptops allow for the graphic cards to be replaced? I'm asking this with a view to buying a laptop which would be used for both work and gaming, I'm looking at buying something around 400 GBP. However most laptops I find around this price have Intel graphic cards but I would prefer to have either an ATI or GEFORCE instead.

05-16-2009, 07:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Braden_oe Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 2 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: Graphic Cards and New Laptops I have a Dell Inspiron 1525 that was relatively that same price and the graphics card was integrated with an Intel 965 Express chip. It's terrible. It can't run Sims 2. The problem with a lot of laptops around that price is that the graphics card is usually integrated and can't be replaced. I don't know what kind of graphics card that the one you were thinking of has, but based on my own experience I would gladly spend more money on something that has an ATI or GEFORCE. Before buying I would make sure that the video card is NOT integrated and is able to be replaced in the future. If it is, then STAY AWAY. Last edited by Braden_oe; 05-16-2009 at 07:26 PM.

05-17-2009, 04:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
SA Spurs1 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 201 OS: Windows 7 Pro x64	Re: Graphic Cards and New Laptops If you do your research you will find that the bottleneck you will find in laptops will be the graphics card. If you buy a laptop, buy it with he best graphics card you can get, and even that may not be enough. Laptops grahics cards are not as enterchangable as desktops. That is why if you are a going to game a desktop is a better choice. You get more bang for your buck that way and can upgrade more easilty. If you buy a laptop you probably can not change the graphics except to the ones being offered at the time of sale, and that is only referring to the dedicate cards. If you buy an integrated card such as an intel you would have to replace the motherboard and in that case you might as well have bought a different model. You might look into the Dell XPS brand or www.alienware.com for gaming laptops. Look to spend over 2000 plus.

05-17-2009, 08:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sling99 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Re: Graphic Cards and New Laptops I was afraid this was true. Well I'm looking for a laptop with a graphics card that ideally could run Shader Model 3 ... I'm looking hard but can't seem to find one, not in the UK anyway. Does anyone happen to have a list of graphic cards that support Shader Model 3 by any chance? This would make the search easier ... Just can't seem to find one anywhere at all.