Upgrading your A31's Graphics

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sonzilla · #1 Post by **sonzilla** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:16 pm

Ok I've read allot on this forum through the search bar this past month. I gotta say I know way more about my computer then before.

The only thing I'm kind of stuck on and need clarification is upgrading.

Most importantly my main goal is to upgrade my A31's Graphics.

My A31 is equipped with the ATI radeon 7500, is there anyway I can remove this video card and upgrade? Is this possible?

From what I've read there isn't any clarification on upgrading your Card on a Laptop or Notebook.

I'm on this quest because I would love to play GTR2 FIA and I can't even play this game at it's minimum video settings it's so slow I feel like I'm in slow motion even tho I'm well within the requirements. I upgraded to a full1.5gig RAM along with updating to DirectX10 But it's pointless because I'm on a lousy Radeon 7500 and it's only good upto DX7shader level.

I will do just about anything, I need to know if I can step up or will I have to cash out on a whole new Laptop.

#2 Post by **ZaZ** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:38 pm

Can't be done.

#3 Post by **Harryc** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:40 pm

You'd have to replace the entire system board to upgrade the GPU (it's soldered on). You'd have to look for an A31P system board with a 64MB ATi FireGL 7800. I don't know how much performance that would be over a 7500 because the Mobility Fire GL 7800 is built using the same GPU and technology as the Mobility Radeon 7500, with the main difference between the two of them being the drivers. Sounds like it's time for a new laptop (or desktop) if gaming is your thing.

#4 Post by **rkawakami** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:44 pm

That's assuming that it will fit into the A31 case. Our resident A31p expert could probably tell you; I can't. About the only thing you could do to upgrade the video on your existing A31 would be to use it in a docking station which accepts PCI cards. But then it's not really a laptop any more

.

sonzilla · #5 Post by **sonzilla** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:59 pm

Darn!

Thaks for the quick replies.

Rkawakami I read about docking but I'm still confused about how to do that. Can you elaborate a little more on that.

Is that like hooking up my Thinkpad to run off another computer?

#6 Post by **rkawakami** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:08 pm

On the bottom of the laptop, you can see the docking port connector. There's a series of external docks or port replicators which the laptop can be placed into. Some of them can handle either full sized or half sized PCI cards. I believe you could attach an A31 to it, install your favorite video card (assuming it fits and the power requirements meet the specs of the dock) and enjoying gaming, albeit lashed to a desk.

mediasponge · #7 Post by **mediasponge** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:20 pm

The problem with that is, there are no PCI graphics cards that could be considered high-end by today's standards. You can still get some AGP 8X cards that are suitable, depending on the game, but the docking stations for these units only have PCI expansion slots, AFAIK. All the current high-end graphics cards are PCI-Express, which is a whole different animal.

mediasponge · #8 Post by **mediasponge** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:24 pm

You're playing GTR2 FIA on a Thinkpad? Please don't tell me you're steering the car with the eraser head.

sonzilla · #9 Post by **sonzilla** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:39 pm

lol

nope I'm using my Xbox 360 controller.

So will this docking station method with a really good PCI graphics card be worth it or should I just get a newer laptop for like $800?

Thanks for all the help guys I knew this day would come where I'll have to shop around for a better laptop.

#10 Post by **Harryc** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:42 pm

Get a new one, sell the A31 on the marketplace forum here

sonzilla · #11 Post by **sonzilla** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:01 pm

Whats the average sell price for my A31 which includes Windows XP SP2, and 1gig RAM?

#12 Post by **Harryc** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:30 pm

$200 to $300 depending on condition, extras, etc.

mediasponge · #13 Post by **mediasponge** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:01 pm

Are you sure it isn't the USB 1.1 port that is slowing it down? Have you tried it with a USB 2.0 PCMCIA card in the slot?

sonzilla wrote:lol nope I'm using my Xbox 360 controller.

So will this docking station method with a really good PCI graphics card be worth it or should I just get a newer laptop for like $800?

ajkula66 · #14 Post by **ajkula66** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:32 pm

Hate to say it, but feel free to quote me : even A31p with its 64Mb VRAM is next to useless for any type of gaming...so your best bet is to sell the A31 and buy something newer, preferably T43 or above that will be able to tolerate games on a daily basis...in the hands of a competitive spirit...

mediasponge · #15 Post by **mediasponge** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:22 am

Yup. Afraid so. The $800 laptop of today has more computing power than $3000 desktop machines of 5 years ago. The only thing current laptops lack today is capacity for enough RAM for 64-bit Engineering tasks. Of course, if you want real gaming in a laptop, you need to go to Alien Ware, not Lenovo.

FrankK-F · #16 Post by **FrankK-F** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:32 am

You can still get some AGP 8X cards that are suitable, depending on the game, but the docking stations for these units only have PCI expansion slots, AFAIK.....

For some of us gaming is not the destination. I am looking at Dell's 30" 3007WFP-HC for its 2560x1600 screen estate for the CAD and Digital Image editing. This display needs a dual DVI PCI card that is compatible with the Dock-II of my A31p (2653-R9U/R3U) models.

Today I am using a DELL 1960x1200 external display (in combination with my A31p display in an extended desktop mode via my Dock-II's DVI port .. AutoCAD Inventor (3D modeling), Photoshop-CS2 and Premier-PRO are my heavy apps .. and run OK on this setup. The WUXGA Dell is my designated primary display and is the one that is calibrated for color image editing.

The attraction of the 2560x1600 screen is 74% more data area; I don't now enough about its color gamut and characteristics for color work .. but that is another subject.

Sure would be great to know of a PCI Dual Head DVI card that is suitable and fits the Dock-II's bay.

Frank K-F

sjthinkpader · #17 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:16 pm

I am not a gamer myself but the A31p is my son's primary gaming machine. The 7800 is a bit old but he had not complaint about it. He has a T43 for home work but it is only a 14 inch XGA.

FrankK-F · #18 Post by **FrankK-F** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:13 pm

The 7800 is a bit old but he had not complaint about it.

sjthinkpader, does the ATI 7800 fit into the Dock-II's bay? Does it have dual DVI ports? What is the complete model identifier?

Thanks for your input,

Frank K-F

sjthinkpader · #19 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:54 pm

A31p will work with both the Dock 2631 and the newer 2878. These docks have a PCI slot. So you will need to find a PCI card with DVI output.

I have an A31p connected to a TV thru a lowly Port Replicator and a DVI to HDMI cable.

Upgrading your A31's Graphics

Upgrading your A31's Graphics

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