Will this work?

Spektyr · 04-01-2006, 09:30 PM

Okay, I've got a Dell Inspiron 2600 that has the stock onboard crap video card that steals 8mb of the RAM to do its work. There was an optional upgrade for the 2600 where you could get a 16mb GeForce 2 video card.

If I bought one of those cards that had been pulled out of an Inspiron 2600 would it be a simple matter of swapping into mine and having the drivers ready?

Or are the laptop powers-that-be going to laugh at me and refuse to let me upgrade?

**hwm54112** · 04-02-2006, 09:06 AM

The only problem I could see is getting the laptop open and finding out how to disable the on-board video. You're best bet would be to find a service manual for the model you have or mabne the seller of the new card will know

Spektyr · 04-02-2006, 09:41 AM

I've already got a service manual. I'm not too worried about the nuts and bolts of disassembly/assembly.

What I'm asking is if anyone knows whether or not it would work.

Does the onboard video turn off from BIOS just like any other computer... will having the drivers downloaded beforehand allow the new card to recognized and utilized without a hassle... that kind of thing.

Spektyr · 04-03-2006, 04:03 PM

I'm the first person to try this?

**RZA** · 04-03-2006, 04:11 PM

Hi,

Your not the first person to try this. On new dell models, you have the option of opting for a go6600 or a crappy tappy solution. So, my client purchased a seperate 6600 found on ebay and brought it to me to install. It was simplay a matter of discontecting the power and another cable and then pull the board out carefully...then insert the new vid card and plug in properly. I cant remember which model, but you can even install a 6800 and just flash your bios.

For your model, I think you will need the bios from a 2600 model thatcarries the gforce card and then flash your bios with it. I wouldnt recommend going any higher even if you do find a card that fits. Heat becomes a great issue then.

Spektyr · 04-03-2006, 05:35 PM

Okay, so let me be sure I've got this straight.

It's not a simple hardware swap with drivers?

I've never heard of "go6600" or "crappy tappy", so I don't know how those terms apply to my questions.

Are you saying that a laptop's motherboard is installed with BIOS specific to the other hardware installed? That the Basic Internal Operating System of a laptop cannot adapt to a hardware upgrade without being replaced or upgraded itself?

That just seems like a gigantic headache for the assembly line - to have different motherboards for different videocards all in the same model number.

Spektyr · 04-05-2006, 01:26 PM

Please?

ebackhus · 04-05-2006, 02:18 PM

Laptops are weird like that... Sometimes the machine won't boot with new internal hardware, sometimes it will. It depends on the maker.

go6600 is a model of video card made for laptops from nVidia. "Crappy tappy" refers to weak integrated solutions.

Spektyr · 04-05-2006, 02:41 PM

So what's the answer?

Is a BIOS update required to make it work or is it that no one knows? Do I have to just try and see?

ebackhus · 04-05-2006, 02:46 PM

Unfortunately this is a try-and-see situation.

Spektyr · 04-05-2006, 04:09 PM

Okay. Sorry to hound everyone but I'm bad at guessing what people say unless they say it literally.

04-01-2006, 09:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
Spektyr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 102 OS: XP, Vista Home & Ultimate / Ubuntu "Hardy Heron"	Will this work? Okay, I've got a Dell Inspiron 2600 that has the stock onboard crap video card that steals 8mb of the RAM to do its work. There was an optional upgrade for the 2600 where you could get a 16mb GeForce 2 video card. If I bought one of those cards that had been pulled out of an Inspiron 2600 would it be a simple matter of swapping into mine and having the drivers ready? Or are the laptop powers-that-be going to laugh at me and refuse to let me upgrade?

04-03-2006, 04:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
RZA Student of the Art Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Scar town, T dot Posts: 1,642 OS: XP /98 /2000 My System	Hi, Your not the first person to try this. On new dell models, you have the option of opting for a go6600 or a crappy tappy solution. So, my client purchased a seperate 6600 found on ebay and brought it to me to install. It was simplay a matter of discontecting the power and another cable and then pull the board out carefully...then insert the new vid card and plug in properly. I cant remember which model, but you can even install a 6800 and just flash your bios. For your model, I think you will need the bios from a 2600 model thatcarries the gforce card and then flash your bios with it. I wouldnt recommend going any higher even if you do find a card that fits. Heat becomes a great issue then. __________________ AM2 X2 3800 - Gigabyte GAM51GM - BGF7900GS OC - 2GBDDR2 - 360GB - Antec 550w - Samsung 19" LCD

04-05-2006, 02:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 12,968 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 26	Laptops are weird like that... Sometimes the machine won't boot with new internal hardware, sometimes it will. It depends on the maker. go6600 is a model of video card made for laptops from nVidia. "Crappy tappy" refers to weak integrated solutions. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

04-05-2006, 02:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 12,968 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 26	Unfortunately this is a try-and-see situation. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

04-02-2006, 09:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	The only problem I could see is getting the laptop open and finding out how to disable the on-board video. You're best bet would be to find a service manual for the model you have or mabne the seller of the new card will know

04-02-2006, 09:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Spektyr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 102 OS: XP, Vista Home & Ultimate / Ubuntu "Hardy Heron"	I've already got a service manual. I'm not too worried about the nuts and bolts of disassembly/assembly. What I'm asking is if anyone knows whether or not it would work. Does the onboard video turn off from BIOS just like any other computer... will having the drivers downloaded beforehand allow the new card to recognized and utilized without a hassle... that kind of thing.

04-03-2006, 04:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Spektyr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 102 OS: XP, Vista Home & Ultimate / Ubuntu "Hardy Heron"	I'm the first person to try this?

04-03-2006, 05:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Spektyr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 102 OS: XP, Vista Home & Ultimate / Ubuntu "Hardy Heron"	Okay, so let me be sure I've got this straight. It's not a simple hardware swap with drivers? I've never heard of "go6600" or "crappy tappy", so I don't know how those terms apply to my questions. Are you saying that a laptop's motherboard is installed with BIOS specific to the other hardware installed? That the Basic Internal Operating System of a laptop cannot adapt to a hardware upgrade without being replaced or upgraded itself? That just seems like a gigantic headache for the assembly line - to have different motherboards for different videocards all in the same model number.

04-05-2006, 01:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
Spektyr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 102 OS: XP, Vista Home & Ultimate / Ubuntu "Hardy Heron"	Please?

04-05-2006, 02:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
Spektyr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 102 OS: XP, Vista Home & Ultimate / Ubuntu "Hardy Heron"	So what's the answer? Is a BIOS update required to make it work or is it that no one knows? Do I have to just try and see?

04-05-2006, 04:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
Spektyr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 102 OS: XP, Vista Home & Ultimate / Ubuntu "Hardy Heron"	Okay. Sorry to hound everyone but I'm bad at guessing what people say unless they say it literally.