Can you upgrade the graphics sub-system in a laptop? Our Helproom, editor explains how to check if your laptop can be upgraded, how to do it, and why you probably shouldn't.
Although it is possible to upgrade the graphics card in a laptop, it is often inadvisable
QUESTION My HP Compaq NX 9420 laptop runs Windows 7 Ultimate. It has AMD Mobility Radeon graphics with 256MB of VRAM. Can I upgrade the graphics card, enabling me to play Need For Speed: The Run? Castro Mzizi
HELPROOM ANSWER In most cases, it isn't possible to upgrade a laptop's graphics. Not only does it tend to be a rather complicated procedure, but it's difficult to obtain a compatible replacement via the normal channels. Note that an upgrade will usually void your warranty.
The AMD Mobility Radeon X1600 is a replaceable part for your laptop, but the only compatible alternative is another 256MB board: the nVidia Quadro FX 1500M. Since Need For Speed lists 512MB of video memory as a minimum requirement, you're still out of luck. And even if there was a better option, the fastest available processor for your laptop (2.33GHz) doesn't meet the game's 2.4GHz requirement.
Details of your laptop's internal components can be found in the service manual here.
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Comments
Idiotaperdido said: Oh mfg Just go to bestbuy and they will do it for fucking you
Maccyroo said: Much of the problem revolves around the individual customizations that most laptop manufacturers use Even it is physically possible to remove the graphics card andpurchase adifferent mobility card that will fit some cards are soldered to the mainboardrather than slotted in The standard graphicsdrivers available on the AMD and Nvidia support sites can normally not be used The only graphics drivers that tend to work correctly are those issued by the laptop manufacturer themselves due to the customizations madeThis makes things difficult for keen laptopgamers as there is no easy upgrade path as there is with desktop graphics Without the ability to upgrade the graphics the laptop will quickly fall behind on graphics grunt to cope with the latest games Although external graphics cards exist they are not really suitable for gaming as the interface is too slow
Ian said: For a laptop thats 6 years old equipped with DDR2 as well as an inferior graphics card by todays standard I would sell the laptop on and buy a new laptop that has at least a 28Ghz CPU and a GeForce GT450M with 1gb dedicated ram