Laptop Graphics Cards

[AngelfireUk83]

My friend has a Sony VAIO Laptop now there's a problem he version is a PCG-FR315B now when he goes on Sony's website his version is not on it. He got tha laptop from a catalog his graphics card is a intergrated ATi RADEON IGP 345M now he's upgraded him memory too 768mb so he can put the g. card memory to 128mb in BIOS.

Now that does squat against games it's too slow I don't know much about laptops I actually stay away from them. Can you upgrade laptop g. cards cause I've always wondered and so has my friend

[Flamed_Chip]

Some very new laptops allow you to upgrade the graphics using manufacturer specific "modules" but that Vaio is not one that does. The graphics on that model are integrated into the motherboard chipset.

[jnev_89]

your friend won't be able to upgrade the card unless it is pci-e, which it isn't (no vaio is at this time )

[Flamed_Chip]

Even been pci-e doesn't garuntee upgradability AFAIK.

[Mr.Guvernment]

^^^ exactly and you cand so AGP my new inspiron 9100 has a 9700 64mb card and i can change to a 9800 256mb card if i wanted.

it all depends on the maker and model.

[Flamed_Chip]

Hopefully someday soon there will be some sort of standard reached to allow upgradable graphics. The main problem however is the differing thermal requirements of GPUs and what each laptop can supply in the way of cooling.

[Mr.Guvernment]

^^^ it has started - look at laptops 1-2 years ago, all you could change was the HD /ram - and with in a year ago the CPU if you wanted to try yourself.

Now we can do vid/cpu/HD/ram - we are heading in the right direction.