Sunday, May 6, 2012

Which video/graphics card should I buy for my laptop?

I have a Sony Vaio VGN-CR4000E laptop. It comes with a poor Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset Family video/graphics card which means no games, no nothing.



I have heard that it is very difficult to replace graphics cards on laptops because they are integrated into the motherboard? Quite frankly it's all Greek to me.



Are there external video cards for me that work with what hardware/plugs/etc my laptop has? Are they worth the money/trouble?|||>s very difficult to replace graphics cards on laptops because they are integrated into the motherboard?



In most cases, it's impossible. Not difficult.



This is what a graphics chip would look like inside a laptop:

http://i41.tinypic.com/a0zyoi.jpg



it's basically just a chip, soldered directly onto the PCB. You can't unsolder it and remove it, because that would essentially turn your motherboard into a heap of junk metal. Your laptop would stop working.



>Are there external video cards for me that work with what hardware/plugs/etc my laptop has?



Yes, google up "Vidock" and "DIY Vidock"



There are Youtube videos demonstrating what a DIY Vidock can do.



>Are they worth the money/trouble?



Rarely. external GPU's don't work without a dedicated power source, and they won't work well without the use of an external LCD monitor.



You might as well build your own gaming desktop. Or just buy an Xbox...|||I agree with the other posters. It is true that graphics chips can't be replaced.



If you want an external graphics solution, there are some that connect through USB and provide you with another monitor. These won't help with your built-in screen though, so then you need a monitor and will end up paying an arm and a leg for a poor solution. I would highly recommend a replacement laptop.



If you are trying to upgrade yours, I'm guessing it is fairly new. Consider selling it to cover some of your costs?|||Nope, sorry, can't upgrade the graphics chip on that laptop. Not happening. First of all, there's no socket on the board for a mobile nVidia or ATi chip. And second of all, it could only be done if the laptop has a discrete gpu on the board which is removable. Your laptop features none of this.|||Of course they aren't worth the trouble. it is always better to buy hardware built around the video you want. Only buy a component if buying the entire package is beyond your budget. Your model may not even be able to use an add-on video.|||You have a laptop, but you will NOT be upgrading the graphics. Sorry.



Laptop graphics are soldered onto the motherboard and are not replaceable. Only a very few, very expensive, high end gaming laptops have graphic cards in MXM sockets that can be upgraded.





You can buy external graphics card





IOGear USB 2.0 External DVI Video Card GUC2020DW6

*Box Content - USB to DVI Adapter, Quick Start Guide, CD-ROM with User Guide and *Installation Software, and 4-feet USB 2.0 Cable

*For Office Use - View large spreadsheets across two screens with display continuity

*Multitask more effectively without overlapping windows

*Open attachments on one screen while reading the e-mail on the other

*For Graphic Use - Second display for pallets & tools

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