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Upgrading a laptop?

Discussion in 'Whatnots' started by Donovan Bane, Aug 18, 2003.

  1. Donovan Bane Gems: 2/31
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    This may be a dumb question, but is there anyway to upgrade the video card in a laptop? I need something faster.
     
  2. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    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.)
     
  3. Sir Belisarius

    Sir Belisarius Viconia's Boy Toy Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder

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    [​IMG] I think upgrading a laptop means buying a new one.
     
  4. 8people

    8people 8 is just another way of looking at infinite ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran

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    [​IMG] 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 :sleep:
     
  5. Shrikant

    Shrikant Swords! Not words! Veteran

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    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.
     
  6. Christopher_Lee Gems: 10/31
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    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...
     
  7. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    3Dfx, the makers of Voodoo cards, went bust some 3 years ago, now. :D
     
  8. Donovan Bane Gems: 2/31
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    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.
     
  9. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    Ah, if you have an onboard chip you can forget the idea of upgrading that in a laptop.
     
  10. ejsmith Gems: 25/31
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    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.
     
  11. Christopher_Lee Gems: 10/31
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  12. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    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. :shake:

    Btw, their website doesn't load for me. Could it be that they got sued over the name already? :p
     
  13. Christopher_Lee Gems: 10/31
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    dunno, loads alright for me... very annoying website, makes lots of noise and i couldn't find out how to turn it off :mad:

    You get a free tatoo if you order one in the next couple of weeks :)
     
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