What to put in my lappy?

[Ruptga]

I´ve been given a laptop by my school but it has integrated graphics and it might work for what I want, but I also want something significantly more futureproof than the 950 integrated will offer.

I am a noob when it comes to video. Ok now that´s out of the way, I´ve been looking around but I really have no idea what I´m looking for, though I think something in the X1600 range would do the trick. I´m looking for flawless TV and DVD playback, not any gaming that´s worth mentioning, though if it could support HiDef that´d be cool too, but I have a feeling that the last one is out of my price range.

Battery life is kindof important to me, but not as important as having a competant machine for the next three to four years. And as for price, I really don´t know, I´d like to keep it to $100-150, but again that´s not as important as having lappy that´ll do what I ask of it for the next several years. And as a last thing, I have no problem waiting a month for some new release to drop prices or give me another 30% performance or whatever may be on the horizon.

EDIT: I already have the lappy, I want to know about buying just the vid card.

 

[Peter]

You are a zero short there on prices ...

 

[Hidden Hippo]

Unless the laptop is a high end model (judging by the current graphics solution it isn't) then you will struggle to get an upgrade. Out of interest, what laptop is it?

 

[Ruptga]

Dell Inspiron 6400 / E1505, T2300 proc, 1gb 533mhz ram, 100gb 5400rpm sata hdd, CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive

 

[Barfo]

What do you mean by "flawless TV and DVD playback" ? that Dell you've got plays DVDs all right and if you want to watch tv you can just get an external tuner.

 

[Ruptga]

I mean I´m a noob at this and don´t know what I´m talking about, what else? I´m really not being very sarcastic with that thought, I posted this because I really have no idea what I need.

By flawless though I meant that I can do something else in the background, that the GPU will offload enough that my T2300 can do something else at the same time without any hiccups, and that I won´t be frustrated trying to get this thing to display decent content in three-ish years.

I have already ordered an external TV tuner, but like I´ve said I have no idea what is needed for it to work well, specifically for the quality to be the same as if I´m watching it on a regular TV.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger
EDIT: I already have the lappy, I want to know about buying just the vid card.

Reply from: Peter
You are a zero short there on prices ...

lol! I'd say so...

Dell uses two system boards for the Inspiron 6400/E1505; one for models shipped with standard Intel GMA 950 graphics, and another for models shipped with optional discrete graphics. The former has no PCI Express slot on the system board, making upgrades impossible.

Although, perhaps not impossible, since it is reported that all the wiring is indeed on the PCB...only the PCI Express slot is missing (and probably its accompanying surface mount components such as resistors and capacitors).

How are your soldering skills? j/k

A new system board will set you back $400 ~ $500, in addition to whatever the graphics card will cost from Ebay or a component reseller. Even supposing the connector was there and working, laptops are not like desktops. Its not like you can just use off-the-shelf industry standard parts from several different manufacturers.

The BIOS of laptops are highly design-specific and typically include support only for the standard and optional hardware that the OEM plans to market with that laptop model/series. Chances are fair to good that you would need genuine Dell part numbers for the Inspiron 6400/E1505 (whether standard or optional).

 

[Ruptga]

Well I have to say that REALLY bites, I was hoping to avoid buying a whole new system whenever I outgrow this one, but thanks for the info, it is much appreciated.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger
Well I have to say that REALLY bites, I was hoping to avoid buying a whole new system whenever I outgrow this one, but thanks for the info, it is much appreciated.

GMA 9xx has acceptable video acceleration/decoding capability, its 3D rendering power/features that are lacking. Update your GMA 950 drivers to the latest from Intel, then judge the video decoding for yourself before drawing conclusions about the need for discrete graphics.