Dell Laptop graphics question

[MML]

Hi guys, I'm hoping you can answer a quick question. A workmate bought a new Dell Inspiron 6400 recently and has decided to get into gaming. We were trying to get Battlefield 2 to run but quickly realised it wasn't going to work on Intel's onboard graphics chip. What I'm wondering is, is it possible to upgrade the machine with a Nvidia or ATI offering? I know a bit about desktops but zilch when it comes to laptops. Here are a few details if it helps:

Motherboard:

CPU Type
Mobile , 1666 MHz (11.5 x 145)

Motherboard Name
Dell MM061

Motherboard Chipset
Intel Calistoga i945GM/PM

System Memory
1014 MB (DDR2 SDRAM)

BIOS Type
Phoenix (09/29/06)

Display:

Video Adapter
Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family (224 MB)

Any help would be appreciated, he's hoping to get fragging pretty soon!

[Skyrail]

Laptops are usually very hard to upgrade and graphics is usually a very grey area due to lack of the rick slots for graphics cards and finding graphics cards for laptops isn't an easy task either try googling around or maybe someone else knows more then me, I just know that graphics cards and laptops is pretty bleh.

[GoNz0]

http://www.intel.com/support/graphic.../CS-021729.htm

computer says no

from the games list for the chipset.

http://www.intel.com/support/graphic.../CS-020666.htm

[MML]

Thanks for the quick replies guys! Was just looking at Dell's site under the laptop specs:

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...hs1&l=en&s=dhs

Going through the 'configure and buy' link enables you to choose what card you want. If I chose, say, the Radeon, would I get a different motherboard than what I'd get if I chose onboard graphics?

I'm thinking the motherboard supplied with onboard graphics doesn't have the ability to be upgraded, but as I said I wouldn't be sure when it comes to laptops.

[GoNz0]

normally yes it would be another motherboard.

in the rare case it has replacable graphics it normlay makes a point of telling you that. basically its a sales pitch with laptops

[MML]

normally yes it would be another motherboard.

in the rare case it has replacable graphics it normlay makes a point of telling you that. basically its a sales pitch with laptops

Heh I see what you mean.... actually, in all of the googling I did, I saw no mention of upgradability at all, come to think of it.

He's not going to be happy when I tell him... back to Solitaire for the time being!

Thanks a million guys, if anyone finds out anything different let me know!

[Skyrail]

'tis ok, laptops and graphics for games just don't go unless you have the money to spend which is why I was put off from buying a laptop as I want to get a new PC for gaming really

[GoNz0]

this may bail your m8 out http://www.dailytech.com/Article.aspx?newsid=5602