Laptop Graphic cards / Gaming laptops

[SilverHood]

So, seeing as I'm going to be be living abroad unil the end of the year, I really need to get my gaming sitiuation sorted.

I have a 2 year old laptop (ASUS F3F series, Intel T2250, 2 gigs ram, intel GMA 950 GFX MB version), and while it plays classics such as Civ4, Baldurs Gate and Solitare, I'm after a little bit more ooomph, or maybe even a hell of a lot more.

Is it even possible to install a GFX card on a laptop that has a MB one built in? This laptop had an option of coming with built in that I have, or a 7300 nvidia card... I was a student and 150 quid difference made me go with the MB version since it was only for doing work on anyway. If I take the laptop apart, what type of socket am I looking for?

Alternatively, I could sell this one and buy a new one... been looking and I seem to run into two different types of graphic card - mobiles and non mobiles. Something like the GeForce 9500M and then the bog standard 8600M, though I've also seen the Radeon (M76) HD2600 Mobile mentioned on a few sites.

How do they compare with say a 7900GTX PCI E card, which was what I had in my rig back home.

Main thing is TF2 at a decent rate, though looking forward to playing Fallout3 and Mass Effect too. Buying a desktop is out of the question since I don't have room for it, and I don't wanna have to ship it across the atlantic when I go home.

Thanks
.SH

 

[Jonty]

Hi .SH

Sadly, it's virtually impossible to upgrade a laptop's graphics card. Regardless of if there was an option when buying, you'll still be out of luck. Even if there was an empty socket inside (which I doubt), trying to buy a laptop graphics card is very difficult as they all have bespoke designs for each model.

As such, you'd have to buy a new laptop if you want better graphics. The 9500M and 8600M are okay, but really not stellar. They would play TF2, because the Source engine scales very well. However, you may struggle with Mass Effect or other more demanding games (obviously you can play with the resolution, settings etc.).

Certainly neither of these laptop graphics cards would compare with a 7900 GTX. Desktop models are still far more powerful because of their extra size, power, and cooling. To compete with a 7900GTX, you'd want an 8800M card, but these are usually exclusive to high-end gaming laptops (read: expensive ).

Sorry it's not better news. I'm a laptop fan myself, so I know your pain

Kind regards

 

[SilverHood]

So the 8800M is better than the 9500M?

I'm confused now

I'll be buying in the USA, so a 8800M is not totally out of the question. Can get an Alienware with an 8800M GTX for $1500, which isn't too shabby.

Ah well, time to compare prices and see what I can dig up

 

[Jonty]

Hi SilverHood

Yes, an 8800M is definitely better than a 9500M (not that a 9500M is bad, just that it's not as powerful). I agree the marketing is a little misleading, but you can read more about nVidia's product numbering and hopefully it will be clearer.

It's good to buy in the US at the moment, but I think Alienware may be a little difficult. Firstly they're custom built, so you need to wait a while, and also the $1500 you quoted is a base price. And 8800M is usually a $500 option, and once you've kitted out the rest of the system with a suitable CPU, RAM etc., you're looking around $2500-$3000 quite easily.

Anyway, good luck, let us know how you get on

Kind regards

Jonty

P.S. You may want to ring your credit card company and let them know you'll be making a large purchase in the US. Large foreign transactions are sometimes automatically denied, depending on your card company. You can ring them in the US and sort it, but it's less hassle to do it before you go.

 

[SilverHood]

Shit yeah, the Alienware ones are with the 8800M gtx mentioned, but as soon as you click on it, it's an 8600M GT and the upgrade cost is 500-1000 based on the laptop.

Sucky!

Will have to shop around and see if I can find a bargain. I have US cards. Hate getting screwed by Lloyds each time I use a cash machine or buy something using my UK cards.

Since this is likely to be my gaming rig for the next 2 years, I guess thinking long term is probably my best option, epsecially since I can't just upgrade like I'd do with a desktop.

 

[Jonty]

Hi SilverHood

Yeah, you're right. It's better to spend more now rather than save a little but regret it for the next two years. Happy shopping

Kind regards

 

[razeredge]

XG Station lives on - The INQUIRER
Asus have been developing an external graphics card for laptops, whether it will actually be released, what cost etc remains to be seen, and it requires an external monitor

 

[Kryten]

As the article says, it goes in the PC Card Express slot.