E1705 videocard...

Why can't this thing be upgraded? This is bull...

Will Dell manufacture one in the future does anyone know?

 

So if im getting this right...you already have one? and you want to upgrade it? what are its specs?

 

so do you want to get a new video card or ?

so long as your motherboard has an AGP or PCI-E slot you can buy all kinds of decent cards. There are even PCI cards out there, though i'd hesitate to call any of those decent.

You don't have to purchase the upgrade components from dell.

 

Specs:

Dell Inspiron E1705
T7400 @ 2.16Ghz - Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB 533MHz Ram
120GB Hard Drive
Mobile Intel 945BM Express Chipset Family (Junk!) - correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is just called an integrated videocard
17" UltraSharp TruLife

And I do not have a videocard upgrade now. I would like to get one, but I have read numerous places that it's not a drop-in upgrade for this laptop, there's physical modification needed, which is out of the question. I'm not very tech. savvy so I do not know what an AGP or PCI-E slot is. I am trying to learn through this website and another.

 

99% of laptops don't have graphic card upgrades. I've never actually worked on a laptop other than tossing a stick of 512 RAM in my old old Apple Powerbook. But I'm assuming its just how they are designed for space/size. There are a few laptops, mainly made by Dell I believe, that do have an upgradeable interface.

So even if they were a new card that could fit in your laptop, you won't be able to upgrade unless you did the physical modifications.

 

I should learn to read more closely. But no Mobile Intel 945BM Express Chipset is not an integrated graphics set up. Thats the northbridge chipset. If I recall when I looked earlier, the E1705 should have a mobile nVidia 7900GS or an ATI equivalent. If a computer had integrated graphics, it would say something like "Intel integrated graphics" for the video card spec.

 

i didn't realize we were talking about a laptop. i suppose i should have researched better before replying. Anyway, as those before me have said, it is tricky to upgrade the video card in a laptop. some have an option that will allow you to swap out the graphics chip for one with more power, but i've never actually seen one. you're probably stuck with what you've got. laptops tend to be a case of "what you see is what you get" (that's WYSIWYG for short. try saying it, its fun. Wiz-e-wig!)

 

Well, I don't game at all, so my intentions were not to go get a $500 videocard, if it were even possible. I am thinking more along the lines of Vista capablities. I got the laptop with XP originally installed, but it does say the laptop is "Windows Vista Capable." My only concern is that I have heard of people installing Vista onto their machines and the videocard can't even keep up with the OS's interface graphics. Would they certify my laptop as being "capable" if it really weren't? Or are they saying it could run Vista, keeping in mind that could isn't should.

 

you can turn off some of the operating systems more flashy display components like aeroglass to minimize the stress it puts on your video card. also, false certification to increase sales falls well under the jurisdiction of false advertisement and would cost the company a lot of money in fines and punitive damages, so i doubt they would try that.

 

I have zero experience with downloading/installing new drivers. Should I download every "recommended" driver download on the Dell website for this model laptop?

Am I right in any of the mentioned above? Again, I know next to nothing regarding hardware, etc. that go into our computers so I apologize in advance for questions that may seem idiotic to some.

 

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/...ta_support/en/vista_readiness?c=us&l=en&s=gen

Dell's site shows that the E1705 is Vista Home Basic ready. Also its shows that it CAN be Aero Experience ready if it has at least 1gb of RAM and a premium graphics card. Which would require the configuration to have the 256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON x14007 or the 256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go7900 GS

To find out what version of Vista and what you are using for your graphics go to the control panel. Then open up System. That first tab should say what version of windows you are using. To continue on, click the hardware tab (on the menu that was brought up), and the click on device manager. This should bring up a list of various things. Click on the cross that is next to Display Adapters. Whatever shows up then, is your display adapter. It should be 1 of 3 things: The Intel Integrated graphics (this would be the case if you didn't choose to upgrade when you purchased the laptop), the ATI x1400 Mobility or the GeForce Go7900 GS (the last two would be what Dell calls the premium graphics cards that are required to run Visa Aero Experience).

 

ahh, so it IS the integrated card then...

If I wanted to upgrade to either the ATI or the GeForce cards, would I need a new motherboard?

 

i dunno, id call up dell and see if that mobo has an expansion slot. you may be able to check with Everest Free/Home (DL it here at MGs) but im not sure if it will detect laptop PCI-E slots