Can i upgrade from 8400 to 8600 in a 1720 inspiron?

I am getting a Brand new Dell 1720 inspiron, but not from Dell. (its a result of a computer seller going bankrupt ^^). Therefore i don't have the choice of components, but i am saving some cash. What i need to know is

1.Can i upgrade the 8400 GS card to a 8600 GT card myself?

2. Would getting a techy to do it invalidate my warranty?

3.Would Dell do it for me? or is it not even worth the hassle?

4. Would the existing 8400 GS card be able to handle the Source engine at a decent frame rate, and therefore render the three above questions pointless?

The notebook i am seriously considering buying is detailed below.
------------------------------------------------------

BASE Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5250 Processor (1.5GHz,667MHz,2MB L2 cache)
LCD 17.0" Widescreen WXGA+ (1440x900) TFT Display
MEMORY 2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]
HARD DRIVE 160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
GRAPHICS CARD nVidia® GeForce™ Go 8400M GS with 128MB DDR2 dedicated graphic memory
OPTICAL DRIVE Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software
PRIMARY BATTERY Primary 6-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (56 WHr)

---------------------------------
Thanks in advance

 

1. yes
2. they would not warrant that card if it went bad, everything else they would
3. yes, but not worth the hassle
4. yes its an ok card, especially for the source engine.

 

1)no
2)N/A
3)N/A
4)Not sure

 

No, only 3% of notebook's GPU's can be upgraded and that is going down every day, probably not.

 

If your not gaming, you wont see to much of a difference, if you are I wouldnt get a Dell.

 

Nizzy knows what they are talking about, don't pay attention to the others.

 

ThomasH, a Dell GPU can be upgraded as long as the machine has comes CTO with that option. I've seen you answer this question incorrectly a few times. Most GPUs cannot be upgraded, Dell is an exception.

Same as above, except I don't know you as well.

Staying away from a company is downright stupid.

 

He also need to find a 8600M GT MXM 2.0 for Inspiron 1720, wich may be more of a hassle than sending it right to Dell =/

AS long as the same model is customizeable, it's probably MXM.

 

Dell doesn't use MXM. Dell has a proprietary connection. Only a card from Dell will work.

Anyways, all of this is in the Gaming Sticky. Please read that and we can avoid this misinformation.

 

It's not like most of MXM latpops work with a non proprietary MXM card anyway >-<

 

So if i understand correctly, it is possible. But i would have to source the 8600GT from Dell in order for it to be compatible?

 

Yes, please read the stickies.

 

or you could find one on ebay that someone pulled from your exact model laptop and it would work.

 

My question is can you upgrade to say a 8800GT if Dell ever comes out with it? Im just worried that my vostro 1500 wouldn't be able to power it, or would it matter? (Sorry if this has been answered, couldn't find it, and didn't want to make a new thread)

 

If you buy from Dell spare parts, the part purchased will carry original system warranty.

I got this info from Dell CSR when I was thinking about upgrading my M90.

 

Thanks a lot for your help everyone, what a great forum