Can you actually buy video cards for laptop computers? How do you install them? and What video card do I buy?

I am so noob at computers please help me find a video card if possible for my computer and while I am at it I might as well by another gig of RAM. Money isn't to big of a deal but I want a video card that can play WOW good. (Its ok I am not addicted I still play more sc, and SC > WOW ez).

Here is my exact computer

Comp Info

If it isn't possible to get video cards for laptops I guess I will need to buy a new computer, which isn't too big of a deal since I need one anyway.

cgrinker

United States3824 Posts

January 23 2009 20:04 GMT

Well, you can buy them, as they have them on computers, but I don't think they make them plug n play for laptops, just not that much of a market for them.

renegade_zerg

Korea (South)525 Posts

January 23 2009 20:10 GMT

You can buy video cards for laptops, but like cgrinker mentioned theres no plug and play. You're better off buying a new computer.

reasonOK

United States49 Posts

January 23 2009 20:11 GMT

You can buy video cards for notebooks, but as far as I know, they're relatively difficult to install. Also, I'm no expert, but I believe if you have an integrated graphics card (meaning it's a part of your mother board?) you can not replace it with a new one (as far as notebooks go). Someone here can probably correct or verify me on this one though. And quick google search will bring up several "how to's" on replacing a video card for notebooks. G'luck.

TT)SieG(

United States25 Posts

January 23 2009 20:13 GMT

I can do some research for you. I can't gurantee that they will have any for sale though.

T.O.P.

Hong Kong4685 Posts

January 23 2009 20:18 GMT

It is not possible to upgrade your graphics in an laptop computer. Buy a new laptop instead.

The Fujitsu Amilo 3650 is a new laptop that allows you to plug a special video card into it's special slot. You can plug in a graphic card to get video acceleration. You could consider it if you want a laptop that you can upgrade in the future.
http://www.fujitsu-siemens.com/home/products/notebooks/amilo_sa_3650.html

blabber

United States4448 Posts

January 23 2009 20:23 GMT

simply put: you can't upgrade your laptop video card

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=86864

nAi.PrOtOsS

Canada784 Posts

January 23 2009 20:26 GMT

Well that sucks hardcore. I guess I will have to buy a new computer and convince my parents to pay for some of it as a graduation gift thats a little ahead of time.

TT)SieG(

United States25 Posts

January 23 2009 20:29 GMT

Yep. The only thing that I was able to find was the 9600M on ebay. Besides, laptop video cards go for upwards of 400$ on ebay for the crappy ones. Just get a new laptop if you go for ati get the ATI M 3850 or 9600M and better. 3+ gb ram will be plenty for almost any game. You can usually find them for under 1k.

eth0x

Canada208 Posts

January 23 2009 20:30 GMT

#10

On January 24 2009 05:26 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote:
Well that sucks hardcore. I guess I will have to buy a new computer and convince my parents to pay for some of it as a graduation gift thats a little ahead of time.

My friend got a god damn Acura RSX for his graduation gift.

Guess what? 750 bucks towards my computer.

reasonOK

United States49 Posts

January 23 2009 20:35 GMT

#11

Wow you guys got graduation gifts? I got jack shiet. ><

AoN.DimSum

United States2983 Posts

January 23 2009 20:47 GMT

#12

You can upgrade video cards for SOME laptops. Try a notebookreview.com forums and ask in the toshiba section. ( but i doubt u can for that laptop)

Fontong

United States6454 Posts

January 23 2009 20:59 GMT

#13

Best solution is laptop for work and desktop for gaming imo. Laptops just aren't good for gaming because of the price and the specs.

750$ is plenty to make very good computer, more than enough even.

Edit: your laptop doesn't even have a dedicated gpu...

eth0x

Canada208 Posts

January 23 2009 21:02 GMT

#14

On January 24 2009 05:59 Fontong wrote:
Best solution is laptop for work and desktop for gaming imo. Laptops just aren't good for gaming because of the price and the specs.

750$ is plenty to make very good computer, more than enough even.

I spent $1500 on mine so I won't have to fuck with upgrading in university and whatnot.

Fontong

United States6454 Posts

January 23 2009 21:05 GMT

#15

On January 24 2009 06:02 eth0x wrote:

Show nested quote +

I spent $1500 on mine so I won't have to fuck with upgrading in university and whatnot.

Shit what are the specs on that thing? I can't even imagine how good my computer would be if I spent 1500 on it. It can already Crysis at maximum settings, at a cost of 650$.

IzzyCraft

United States4487 Posts

January 23 2009 21:17 GMT

#16

You can upgrade 2 ways 1st way is hope that your model offers more then 1 type of vid card and try to ebay a new card but usually you have to be semi technical to install it the 2nd way is a format that nvidia tried to get started and didn't get enough love which the vid card is very interchangable to a point depends on the vid card because that dictates the size but the interface is just plug in and out like a desktop. But in most cases buy a new laptop a barebones laptop that is still compaitble with your type of cpu then swap out the cpu,wifi,ram and rom device and you should be good.

Racenilatr

United States2756 Posts

January 23 2009 23:45 GMT

#17

Also keyboard is connected to labtop and it's general comfortable feeling that a desktop has when you play games isn't there in a labtop(unless your playing for fun)

nAi.PrOtOsS

Canada784 Posts

January 23 2009 23:54 GMT

#18

Well actually this might sounds weird but I have a seperate key board and mouse for my laptop.

blabber

United States4448 Posts

January 24 2009 00:10 GMT

#19

On January 24 2009 08:54 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote:
Well actually this might sounds weird but I have a seperate key board and mouse for my laptop.

haha no way that is weird, pretty much everyone here who owns a laptop has the same setup since it's ideal for SC...

nAi.PrOtOsS

Canada784 Posts

January 24 2009 00:42 GMT

#20

On January 24 2009 09:10 blabber wrote:

Show nested quote +

haha no way that is weird, pretty much everyone here who owns a laptop has the same setup since it's ideal for SC...

Well how the fuck would I know that? Fuck all I know is that everytime people see my setup the go "wtf is that shit you have 2 keyboards, I understand the mouse but wtf is that shit with the keyboards guy"

GHOSTCLAW

United States17042 Posts

January 24 2009 00:49 GMT

#21

On January 24 2009 09:42 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote:

Show nested quote +

I use it as well whenever I'm willing to carry around all that junk with me. I always carry around a mouse with me, but they keyboard can get really heavy, or at least big depending on what kind of keyboard you have.