Removing Switchable Graphics

Hello Majorgeeks!

I am pretty new here in Majorgeeks and hoping to get some help with my issue.

I have a Lenovo Ideapad Y460 laptop that has switchable graphics (Intel Graphics and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650).

I am wondering if I can buy an NVIDIA graphics card and replace the ATI on my laptop. One of my friends told me that I cannot do that. Can someone please confirm? The reason I'd like to change from ATI to NVIDIA because there is a d3d small program that is not working correctly when I am using the ATI graphics but works when I use the built in Intel Graphics. That's why I would like to know if I can buy an NVIDIA card instead and replace the ATI. If someone would like to know the program i am trying to use, it is a wallhack for a game for Counterstrike.

Thanks in advance.

 

From what I am reading, both graphics solutions are integrated with the motherboard - that is, there is no "card" that can be removed, or upgraded. And that is typical with notebooks which typically have very limited, if any upgrade options. At best, you might be able to add or upgrade the RAM - which often provides the most bang for upgrade money anyway (depending on how much RAM you have to start with).

 

Thank you for your response Digerati. So you are saying that I am stuck with this ATI RADEON graphics. Does my laptop have PCI or AGP ports like in desktop computer so I can probably buy another graphics card and put it in PCI or AGP Ports? What do u think? Is this even possible?

 

Actually, to be honest, the ONLY reason why I would like to change graphics card because there is a small d3d tool I am using that doesn't work correctly when i am using ATI graphics but working when I use intel or NVIDIA graphics. If you want to know below is the details of what I am really trying to accomplish.

I am playing a game which is ASSAULT FIRE (1st person shooter game just like CounterStrike) and I am trying to make the wallhack works correctly. I am not asking for help with the hack or something. I just need help in figuring out what seems to be causing the problem because the wallhack works if i am using just the built in Intel HD Graphics but it won't work if I am using the ATI 5650.

1st picture below is the screenshot of the game when I am using the on-board Intel Graphics (and this is what I wanted to look like in ATI Radeon 5650). I should be able to see the yellow marking on the gun and my character.
http://i39.tinypic.com/2wewfnt.jpg

2nd picture is when I am using the ATI RAdeon 5650 (the one that is not working). As you can see, it doesn't have the color yellow marking on the character and in the gun.
http://i41.tinypic.com/2j0gyvk.jpg

I am thinking if this has something to do with d3d. Also, I don't want to use the built in Intel HD Graphics because, of course, my game runs slowly compared to using the ATI 5650. Please help me.

Thanks in advance.

 

the graphics card on a laptop, along with most of its other components, are usually soldered unto the motherboard, though not all components, and not all cards. Some of the newer dell computers I see are now coming with discrete graphics that can be replaced and upgraded like a pc, but these still wouldn't be standard, the cards would have to be made by the laptop manufacturer and supported by the device/laptop.

For your situation, with your Y460 from Lenovo, I think it is fully integrated, that means unless you have some mad soldering skills and equipment, and can find a compatible graphics chip for your machine, you cannot replace it.

Let me help you out here, as a gamer myself;

DON'T CHEAT!!!

Play the game like it was meant to be played, and save yourself the headache of wanting the replace your graphics card to support software it was never meant to.

 

Sorry, but I want to avoid any confusion here. Be careful how you interpret those specs and terminologies. "Discrete graphics" does NOT mean, suggest, or imply in any way a "card" or "plug-in" device that is user replaceable!

"Discrete graphics" simply means a graphics solution that is NOT integrated on the CPU die - as found with many Intel's i3, i5, i7 and several AMD "APU" class of CPUs.

In other words, this notebook has two "integrated" graphics solutions. The first uses Intel's i5 CPU (paired with it's associated chipset) graphics, and the other is the more powerful (and more power hungry) NVIDIA "integrated" (independent of the CPU) graphics you can switch in when gaming.

There are notebooks with actual "cards" that can be upgraded, but they are typically marketed as having cards or upgradable graphics, with several options available [only] from the notebook makers.

@damipepe - Even "low profile" graphics cards for thin SFF (small form factor) PC cases are typically more than an inch tall that then must be inserted in a slot mounted on top of the motherboard, which is then mounted inside the case. That height is counter to the desire by consumers and notebook makers for notebooks to be as thin and lightweight as possible - hence another reason for the popular use of "SMT" - surface mount technologies.

Another problem for plug-in devices in notebooks is notebooks are expected to get banged about. A notebook would have to go through some serious abuse to knock loose a soldered in device.

Finally, it should be noted that a good graphics solution can easily be the most power demanding device in our systems. Notebooks typically have power supplies and charging/regulating circuits designed for the hardware they come with - and are not upgradeable to support a more power hungry graphics solution.

***

This lack of upgrade options is just another example of why I feel notebook makers (or their marketing departments, anyway) should be banned from marketing notebooks as "gaming machines" or "desktop replacements".

 

Thanks for the clarification.

and yeah, I forgot to mention the cooling system issue, another major system to look at when upgrading graphics.

 

ESPECIALLY with a notebook.

It is important to remember that (1) it is the case's responsibility to provide an adequate supply of cool air through the case. It is also important to remember that even full size PC cases are often challenged to keep the innards cool.

The problem with notebooks is they (the makers) CAN pack the horsepower of a PC into these tiny notebook cases, but they CANNOT pack the cooling.