Graphics Card

Unfortunately, the GPU realm for laptops is not nearly as nice as it is for desktops. That whole, expandability thing, yeah not so much.

Most laptops nowadays use what is known as an MXM slot, or Mobile Xpress Module. Unfortunately, there isn't really a standard for it and the actual connection can vary from company to company. These upgrade cards are usually rather expensive, especially on the NVidia side. Sager wanted 800 bucks for me to replace the 7950GTX in my system, and I would have had to do the install. Add onto the fact that they are not as readily available to the public to purchase like their desktop counter parts.

Honestly, don't buy a laptop with hopes of being able to upgrade the GPU, it's probably not going to happen. My advice to everyone tends to be to buy a laptop with the best GPU that you can afford if gaming is important to you. Upgrading the HDDs and CPU isn't nearly as hard or expensive to do.

If you want to play any current games, you want no less than a GeForce 9600m GT or an ATI HD3650. Top of the line cards on the market today include the GeForce 9800m GTX and the HD 3870 ( the 9800 being the stronger of the two by a bit).