laptop video upgradable?

[Sonarcade]

I noticed that a lot of specs for laptops specify what type of video cards they put into their laptops. I don't know if this is just the equivalent of brands putting in what type of CPU they put in(AMD, Intel) or if it actually implies that an end-user can upgrade laptop video cards themselves. If so then did I get ripped off in buying a 64 MB ati radeon 9000 option as opposed to a 32 MB one for $100 more? Chances are the video chips are integrated into the mobo, but hey, it doesn't hurt to ask. Thanks.

 

[Derango]

Depends what laptop you get. I know the Dell Inspiron 8x00 series (dunno about the 8500 though) are upgradable. I'd guess that most laptops that let you chose a video card when you're configuring them do have some type of upgradable video card. However, That doesn't mean they support a new card as soon as it comes out. The 8x00 series needed support in the BIOS in order for it to work. Its still kinda touch and go, and not somthing to be counted on.

With a laptop, generally don't buy as much as you think you need at the moment...buy what you think you're going to need in a few years

 

[Sonarcade]

so do you think it would've been wiser for me to get a Dell 600m(albeit it's not of the 8x00 series) with 32 MB of VRAM than to dish out the extra $100 for 64 MB and later upgrade with a 3rd party laptop video card? If so, where could I get laptop video card upgrades? Mind you, I would only use this computer for audio production and not for gaming, which I would think is the only option that requires more than 32 MB.

 

[Alphahawk]

Sonarcade

Most laptops require the bios to support the card. So if you buy a system that uses nvidia cards then all you will msot likely be able to do is use nvidia. You can upgrade the video ram is probably the best. Quanta is supposdly going to release a new portable agp slot. If they do that then we wil have upgradable vid cards in laptops.

Hope that helps.

Alphahawk

 

[bigshooter]

You can't buy a third party video card for a specific vendor's laptop. Dell uses the same chasis for a long time while they continue to upgrade to newer and faster processors/vid cards/etc..., so they order specially made video boards that fit their configuration. You'll probably be able to upgrade your 600m when a newer video board is released, but you ahve to wait until dell releases it for their 600m (or similar chasis) machines. I just got the 32meg video since I want to use this machine for work, and am hoping the lack of vid memory will keep me from trying to play games, at least until I get a mobility 9600 pro with 128megs =).