M1330 Graphics Upgrade Questions

I am a new user to this forum and this is my first post here.

I did many searches via Google concerning my quandary and every link I clicked on brought me to this site. I did some reading and found that this site was quite informative on many issues concerning my laptop. I've done a few searches through here but have yielded no definitive answers.

I currently own an M1330 with the Intel 950 graphics (meh.) I want Nvidia graphics. I know that this cannot be done via the motherboard that is currently installed. I have located a few resellers of a motherboard with an 8400M GS GPU. I am well-enough versed to install this hardware in my system as I have disassembled this beast once already to upgrade my CPU.

Question 1: Is there any motherboard that contains a higher level GPU than the 8400 GS for the M1330? I've heard rumors or maybe seen references to a GT GPU?

Question 2: Is this upgrade a simple drop in or are there other considerations to pay attention too? example: will a new motherboard necessitate a different tray/heatsink or combination thereof?

Question 3: Are the connections on the Nvidia GPU MoBo the same and in the same location as in the Intel GPU MoBo?

Any other input I may not be considering would be most helpful. I am going to be away from home for a bit and my laptop will do duty as TV Machine /Movie Machine/Company of Heroes Machine. The Intel GPU simply does not make the cut for even full screen DVD content (without chopiness.)

I would prefer to NOT buy another laptop as I have an unnatural and disturbing relationship with mine.

 

I doubt there is anything higher than the 8400M GS. Unless you get pictures of the new motherboard to confirm otherwise, everything else should be the same on the new motherboard since I assume it is a PM965 vs. GM 965 and Dell can fit both in the M1330.

 

1 No such luck my friend thats as high as it goes 8400 MGS.
2.Yes but you will have to get a Nvidia GPU fan/heatsink cooling unit for said mobo intel one will not match up
3.Yes

After time the Nvidia GPU is due to fail on you stick with the intel video chip.
Sorry just to add you will need a 95 watt power supplr unit and not your current 65watt one as used for intel M1330 units.

 

Your might want to read up on this before you do anything http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=268081

 

Awesome... so I just need an Nvidia HS...

Where does one go about getting those copper shims?

 

K-TRON has some left for sale here in the NBR Marketplace...since you're a pretty new member, you may have to resort to physically mailing him a $1 bill and he'll send you the shim when he gets your dollar. That's what I ended up doing anyway just because it's less pain in the butt than PayPal.

You could always check local hardware stores too.

 

And a higher rated PSU as I said

 

maybe you should also try to install better drivers for your intel X3100, it can definitly manage DVD- Playback. It still manages 1080p playback with the help of the cpu....

 

@BlackRussian:
I'm sorry, I read that... The PSU is the easy part, though.

@manner:
I have tried different drivers before. 1080 content is choppy and skippy... 720 full screen is a little less so, but still unenjoyable.

Thanks guys... I'll look into the HS combo

 

I have the 8400m gs and have only the 65W PSU. I don't think it's required.

When I upgraded to my T8300, I got the warning message, but I turned it off and have experienced no slow-downs or other problems.

 

well you can change your MoBo toput a highter graphic card?

 

perhaps you had set your powerprofile to power safer, when you where watching it, if i do that, its also a choppy...