The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Dell Inspiron 8500 Model Video Upgrade

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by avn06us, Aug 17, 2004.

  1. avn06us

    avn06us Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hey everybody, have a simple question. I have a Dell Inspiron 8500 series model with the nvidia 64mb video card. I would like to upgrade to the best video card available for my labtop. Any suggestions? Doesn't matter who makes it I just want the fastest video card money can but for my labtop. Thanks....
     
    avn06us, Aug 17, 2004
    #1
  2. mathlete2001

    mathlete2001 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    58
    Messages:
    865
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The best GPU possible for that notebook is the mobility radeon 9600 pro turbo 128mb DDR2. It will cost over $200 from Dell spare parts, but it is well worth the money. I have one and it is lightning fast. ie 1680x1050 resolution in Unreal Tournament 2004 with all settings pegged.

    GPU cooling (100°C->75°C)* Inspiron 8600 * 1.8ghz Pentium M * 128 MB Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo (337/242 -> 400/300) * 2x256 MB DDR2700 SDRAM * Aquamark 3: 24058 * 3DMark'03: 3404 * 3DMark'01 SE: 13120
     
    mathlete2001, Aug 17, 2004
    #2
  3. avn06us

    avn06us Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Thanks for the quick response Andrew. I heard the ATI is the best but do I really have to do the mod for cooling and is it difficult?

    Thanks...
     
    avn06us, Aug 17, 2004
    #3
  4. mathlete2001

    mathlete2001 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    58
    Messages:
    865
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You don't really have to for the 9600 pro. The FX 5650 will shut down from excessive heat, but the 9600 pro has never done that to me. I just feel safer knowing that my GPU is running at 75 degrees C as opposed to 100. If you plan on overclocking it is a must, but otherwise you should be fine. It is not that difficult. The hardest part is actually finding the right kind of copper, and cutting it without bending it.

    GPU cooling (100°C->75°C)* Inspiron 8600 * 1.8ghz Pentium M * 128 MB Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo (337/242 -> 400/300) * 2x256 MB DDR2700 SDRAM * Aquamark 3: 24058 * 3DMark'03: 3404 * 3DMark'01 SE: 13120
     
    mathlete2001, Aug 17, 2004
    #4