Looking to upgrade notebook

[OUTLAWS 9.99repeating^32]

Due to many new games which are beyond my laptop's current system capabilities(and due to three games which I currently cannot play which I have already bought), I am thinking about investing some money into upgrading my notebook. Currently I have a Dell Inspiron 600m(see details here: http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/p...pecstab#tabtop) (http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspn_600m?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&~tab=specstab#tabtop)). I have 768 MB of RAM and a 1.6 GHz Centrino processor, which is somewhat different from the model in the link.

Currently, I have an 32 MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 4X AGP in my laptop, and I was wondering if it could be possible to upgrade my graphics card. I know that on a desktop this process is easy, but in a laptop I would imagine that it would be much more difficult, due to everything being smaller and more densely put together. So, I was wondering if anyone knows if upgrading to a more powerful card in my laptop is possible(such as a 128MB DDR ATI Mobility RADEON 9700, as seen in this model here: http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/p...specstab#tabtop (http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspn_9100?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&~page=1&~tab=specstab#tabtop) Click on Tech Specs and then Display).

I would really appreciate it if you could let me know if this replacement is possible, and if you know of any services which could perform this replacement. Thank you very much in advance.

[SALvation]

As far as I know you are stuck with the proc and video card on a laptop. It's been a few years though since I've looked into upgrading a laptop though.

[Grimmy]

I just got me a XPS Dell, for gaming and it works very well. Other then they have the res pumped way up to 1900x1200 and some things look a little funny, games run better on here then my desktop. :bandhead:

If you are buying a new one/different one, and have some money to spare, that's what I would get.

As for upgrading the one you have, I know they used to be a pain, but not sure about the ones now a days. To be safe, I'd almost have someone else do it, and if they screw it up, they replace it, vs. your do it, you screw it up, you either don't have one, or you have to pay for a replacement yourself.

[JIMINATOR]

nope, your graphics are not on a card, they are on a chipset on the
board. recently alienware had a big deal about an upgradeable
notebook they were putting out. essentially you would be buying a
chipset solution for an upgrade (not a card).

[OUTLAWS 9.99repeating^32]

Grimmy - Yeah, I would definitely have someone else do this if possible; I just don't know of anyone who would. Thanks for letting me know about the XPS.

Jim - Thanks for the reply. I realize that the "graphics card" is not an actual card in a notebook, but I was hoping that the chip could be somehow replaceable/interchangable. Do you think that what I am hoping to do is possible?

[ME BIGGD01]

i too am in the market for a laptop but looking for 64 bit capability and a unit that can handle gigs of ram. I like the e-machines athlon 64bit unit but the hard drive in it is only 4200 rpm while everything else is damn good. for that reason of stupidity from any company i won't buy from them and refuse to buy one at full price and then have to buy a 7200 rpm drive seperate to add in. i like grimmys laptop as it was rated #1 in the market but i just do not like dell not because their laptops are bad because they are actually darn good but because they only sell intel products which is stupid and does not give a consumer a choice. so i will wait until something comes along to my preference and use 1 of my older laptops for the time being. maybe you can sell your laptop you have now to buy a newer one. i have researched it and if you want to game then right now it's either grimmy's model #1 or alienware #2 and plan for them to be very expensive.

[SALvation]

I think as for upgrading the laptop, there is nothing you can do. All that's upgradable most likely is the RAM and HD.

[OUTLAWS 9.99repeating^32]

Just to update this thread:

I found this site: http://www.bay-wolf.com

It is a great resource if you are looking to upgrade a Dell Laptop. Unfortunately, my Inspiron 600m has its graphics chip soldered directly to the motherboard; which I assume would mean that I would have to have the entire motherboard replaced for this to work(details here: http://www.bay-wolf.com/videoupgrade.htm ).