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.

    Toshiba Portege A200 Graphics Card Upgradable?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by FlyRawrtimate, Apr 22, 2005.

  1. FlyRawrtimate

    FlyRawrtimate Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I would greatly appreciate it if someone could find this answer for me.

    I've heard graphics card for notebooks are usually built in and cannot be modified unless the entire motherboard is changed.

    But, I just want to confirm this for my laptop.

    It's a Toshiba Portege A200, and it uses Intel(R) Extreme Graphics. It is capable of running Half Life 2. However, when it comes to game that needs shader model 1.1 available on ATI 8500 +, it wont let me run the game.

    So my question is, is my laptop's graphics card upgradable?

    Thanks alot if someone can find the answer for me! (I checked the Toshiba site, but couldn't find a definite answer)
     
    FlyRawrtimate, Apr 22, 2005
    #1
  2. Brian

    Brian Working at 486 Speed NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    947
    Messages:
    8,970
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    No, it's not.

    Brian

    www.BargainPDA.com | www.DigitalCameraReview.com | www.NotebookReview.com | www.SpotStop.com | www.TabletPCReviewSpot.com
     
    Brian, Apr 22, 2005
    #2
  3. qwester

    qwester Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    366
    Messages:
    2,755
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    To make it simple on you:
    1- If you have an intel built in graphics then for sure there is no way to upgrade because you have no graphics slot, be it agp or pci-ex, the graphics is within the chipset.
    2- If you have a pci-ex then there is a slim possibility of (a) having the chip plugged in throw a socket and hence exchangable vs. being soldered in and unexchangable, (b) not having any compatibility issue with another chip. PCI-EX is not a standardized technology for notebooks, and thus each manufacturer has SEVERAL standards that they follow!

    But as brian said, in your case NO.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    N6010: P4M 3.2G, 512MB Dual 333MHz, 60GB 7200RPM, ATI 9700M, 17" WXGA+
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
    qwester, Apr 22, 2005
    #3