can you put a video card in a laptop?

Question

I'm trying 2 decide on getting either a gateway laptop model #MX6920 or an acer laptop model #AS5102WLMI from circuit city's website. I'm not sure what the video specs are, so could someone plz look and see what they are and tell me if it's possible 2 replace or add a video card to a laptop and if so, how to do it? thanks in advance.

actually, I'm not rly into games. It's just that since my uncle showed me windows vista, I've been interested in having the aero thing because it actually solves alot of the 'problems' with xp being hard to use. The thing is it says on windowsvista.com that I need a good video card for aaro to work.

Answer 1

Depends on what the manufacture has to offer but most do not allow changing videocards. I would recommend any thing with Nividia GO or the ATI Mobile X series radeon. These are both good videocards for gaming and anything else. I would go with Acer of the 2 if I had to choose..Here is more specs on the ACER

https://usm.channelonline.com/bescomputers/storesite/Products/Overview/?id=M003151078

Answer 2

Essentially, it is not really possible to add a Video Card to a Notebook or a Laptop ( althought you may be able to use a PCMCIA Firewire IEEE1394 Video Adapter ). The reason for this is the fact that the very reason Laptops are made is to enable great portability. The Video Card of the Laptop of always built in on to the System-board by the way of a Video Controller Chip.

The idea that this can be upgraded is almost a myth. This is after, say you pay about ohhh...maybe $2000 for a really good laptop, and then you decide to upgrade the Video Controller Chip. This means that you have to take the Laptop to a Hardware Engineer who has the necessary equipment and time (Wave Soldering Machine etc) to de-solder the Video Controller chip and then upgrade it with another one. This can totally mess up your Laptop because it could be totally possible that the new Video Controller that you want soldered to your Laptop (to upgrade it) may not at all be compatible with it, there vould be Voltage differences etc.

Most Laptops have very good Video Controller Chips as such you don't have to actually worry about that. Also remember that the more higher the Video resolution you want the more expensive the Laptop gets. Again human eyes can totally recognize only so many colors and so good a resolution, so your need for really great resolution and very large number of color maybe a misplaced idea. If you consider yourself a hard core gamer then also its is the capacity of the Processor, the amount of memory, the size of the screen and finally the quality of the Video Controller that needs to be paid attention to.

Moreover if you really are a hardcore gamer you surely will not be involved with a Laptop for that. I think you will be better off with a good desktop for that.

Answer 3

I could not find the Gateway MX6920 on the Gateway web site. You might consider emailing them and asking them directly. Be sure to tell them you are planning to purchase via a retalier and want to know if You can manually upgrade the vido card.

https://support.gateway.com/support/contact/contact_tech2.shtml

You can do the same at the Acer web site as well.

http://www.acersupport.com/html/email.cfm

Most components can be upgraded in a laptop. You may be limited to some specs.

Answer 4

purely the extra moderen severe end laptops have an truthfully video card slot. Your computer probable has an built-in video card meaning it rather is soldered precise onto your motherboard. it rather is achieveable to alter it, in spite of the fact that the wiring for each built-in card is distinctive so the only element you could swap it out with could extra desirable than probably be an same chip. I actual have additionally heard of exterior usb connection which permits you to connect a pci video card yet i will't vouch for its high quality. I additionally remember it being $3 hundred+ so its as much as you to take that threat.

Answer 5

The gateway has Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVTM) supports up to 128MB shared video memory but you can buy external cards like USB ones.

Answer 6

No....you cant.... Dell makes replacement graphics cards for theres. But most graphics cards in laptops are integrated to the board. Some are dedicated and you cannot find those cards unless the manufacture has them available for replacement purchase only. Its rare for your new laptops for the parts to be out. Purchase a laptop with good graphics and I wouldnt worry anymore.

Answer 7

Here is a website that might help:
http://www.geek.com/htbc/laptop/vidcrlap.htm

Answer 8

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