Upgrading Laptop video cards?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Kevin wrote:
> I was wondering if it was possible to do? I have a Compaq Presario
> 1500 notebook and I was hoping to upgrade from the current ATI 7500 32
> mb card I currently have. ANY INFORMATION AT ALL would be helpful
> thanks!

Generally, it is not possible since the video is a chip embedded in the
mainboard circuitry, or is a separate board designed to integrate with
the mainboard circuitry. Additionally, there are no suppliers of
laptop video card/chips at the consumer level that would permit a
replacement even if it were physically possible.

Q

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Forget it. I've followed the history and design of notebooks, and since
day 1, there's been a total of 6 models (I really should say series) that
featured removable video boards. Six, and none in the last 4 yrs. And
out of those six, not only did zero of 'em offered an upgraded video board
(since the underlying hardware became obsolete so quickly), but all six of
those models/series suffered mightily from the unseating of their
removable video boards (it's one added component that can come loose).

Upgrade on laptops refers only to adding memory and swapping drives.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 21:14:38 -0400, "bobchang" <totallyincorrect@yahoo.com>
wrote:

:>Forget it. I've followed the history and design of notebooks, and since
:>day 1, there's been a total of 6 models (I really should say series) that
:>featured removable video boards. Six, and none in the last 4 yrs. And
:>out of those six, not only did zero of 'em offered an upgraded video board
:>(since the underlying hardware became obsolete so quickly), but all six of
:>those models/series suffered mightily from the unseating of their
:>removable video boards (it's one added component that can come loose).
:>
:>Upgrade on laptops refers only to adding memory and swapping drives.

Agreed as far as normal upgrades go.

The following all have separate video cards:

1. Toshiba/Compal 3000 series Satellite
2. Toshiba 5000 series Satellite
3. Toshiba 5100 series Satellite
4. Toshiba 6100 series Satellite Pro
5. Toshiba TE2100

So what is the other one? :-)

BTW, all of those models are less than 4 years old.

Oh yeah, almost forgot, the well over 4 year old Toshiba Satellite Pro 400,
410, 420 and 430 and Satellite 200 all had a separate video card.

GB

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Well... since you've brought up the Satellite Pro 400s, why not include the
Satellite 100s and 200s? Why not include all the Compal TS30XXs? Damn!
There's too many to count!

Sure, there are plenty of systems with separate video boards (some
complete, some partial) buried deep inside their guts - non-upgradeable
video boards. I was referring to models in which the video sections
were designed and placed specifically on separate boards for the purpose
of later upgrades.  

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 11:18:34 -0400, "bobchang" <totallyincorrect@yahoo.com>
wrote:

:>Well... since you've brought up the Satellite Pro 400s, why not include the
:>Satellite 100s and 200s? Why not include all the Compal TS30XXs? Damn!
:>There's too many to count!
:>
:>Sure, there are plenty of systems with separate video boards (some
:>complete, some partial) buried deep inside their guts - non-upgradeable
:>video boards. I was referring to models in which the video sections
:>were designed and placed specifically on separate boards for the purpose
:>of later upgrades.  

Well okay, since to the best of my knowledge Toshiba has NEVER offered a
video card upgrade path even when possible you can mark all of those I noted
off of your list. :-)

BTW, the same thing is true with processor upgrades. That also is not
supported by Toshiba even though possible on quite a few models. I've done
it myself on two different Toshiba notebooks.

GB

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Hear ya, man. I've picked the brains of a lot of designers, who designed
their boards with pretty cuttin'-edge specs and stuff. Of course, the
marketing guys then waltz in and decide to use slower processors 'cause
they can now offer more product coverage and make it an easier sell.
Hence, between the same series of laptops, there can be a 25% difference
in processor speeds from the low-end to the high-end - all running off the
same motherboard...

The old "sell-a-90MHz-system-in-a-60MHz-chip trick". When we upgrade
cpus, most times we're just puttin' back the chip which the system was
designed for :-)