The 7800 form factor

this is a good post, it might shed some light on this. To me this is why I got a dell since I was told ou can change parts.

I want a 7800 GTX in my Inspiron 9400 Somebody start modding!

ha modding it is not the big problem i dont think i mean if u really wanted to make it fit im sure u could the real problem is a bios, there is not one that u can flash for the duo so even if u get it to fit u cant flash the bios yet that is, that i feel is the big problem, but u get put the card on it will just run at the lower volt settings and be the same as a Go 7800 pretty much until u get the bios that will allow it to go full force.

Aha, so the BIOS is the big problem when it comes to fitting a 7800 GTX in a E1705. And what does it take to solve the problem?

Dell to come out with a BIOS that supports the Core Duo and the 7800GTX...

So what we E1705 users really want is the Core Duo XPS notebook to hurry up and come out.

Someone correct me on this one if I'm wrong... but:

The Dell Go 7800GTX from the 9300/M170 is a different shape and the actual interface socket is in a different location on the 9400 then it was on the 9300. (This was said somewhere else... so someone will surely pop in here and verify)

And the other part, is that the "squarish Go 7800GTX cards" from other manufacturers uses the Nvidia MXM standard which puts the interface socket on the side edge of the card (like your picture shows) and not on the bottom of the card. How would you plan to move AND convert the pin-out of the 2 different slots to make a non-Dell card fit?

You'll have to wait to see if the next XPS laptop is a 17" form factor. This may be a while though. The next gen of video will be about 3 months from becoming commonplace, and about 9 months before seeing it show up in laptops. That plus the release of Merom and DDR2/800 memory is enough advances worth going into the next XPS to make Dell hold off and wait for now.

Technology is moving pretty fast right now... as much as I could really use a new desktop right now, I'm waiting to see if AMD will really have a Quad Core by the end of the year on the AM2 slot (like they are projecting). If not, then I'll move to a Conroe/Merom style Dual Core in my next desktop for my Media Center streaming with the Xbox360's.

ya like i said it would be pretty hard to make the 7800GTX as it is now to fit but u could do some extreme modding and i know there are some crazy people out there that can do some crazy things so lol im sure someone could get it to fit but with a bios for the dual core it will never work the way it was meant too. wanted to make sure i made that clear that it would still require extreme modding, i didnt want anyone to think that it will just slide right in, but as a i said its the bios that is the big problem

I think If dell releases the next XPS system with Core Duo and GTX then parts and software from that model will solve the 9400 mod to GTX. But Dell has a definate migration plan. These parts and new XPS models will be released when Dell has it's lowest responsibilty to price protected purchases. Which should be mid to late march 06. (90 day from Xmas)

B-I-N-G-O

Question: I realize this is the Dell section, but does anybody here know if the 7800 GTX will fit in the Gateway NX850XL, which has an almost identical duo core config to the E1705? I really like the E1705 (hey, it's a DELL), but the NX850XL is thinner AND lighter with the same specs....if I could find a way of putting the 7800 GTX into THAT chassis....

you forgot to add..."and costs more" didnt you?

yeah that square look to the GPU reminds me of a pic that shows the MXM standard. Interesting. If thats the case, maybe the 9400's will be more compatible with future cards that will be making more use of that standard.. hopefully.

Remember that DELL is using their own PROPRIETARY standard of MXM - the only way one is going to find out if the 7800 GTX will fit in a 9400 is to obtain one and tear down their laptop, and even if by chance would physically fit the 9400 BIOS would have to support it also. It is possible that it would being that the 7800 Go is used in the machine currently.

-Doc X

The 7800GTX plug is closer to the middle of the bottom of the card, while the 7800 plug is closer to the left side when looking from the bottom of the laptop.

And no... Dell video cards will not fit into other brands, that is why Dell has set up their own connector style with Nvidia and Foxconn.

Question: where can a consumer BUY a mobile graphics card? I can't find them anywhere!!

what is the major differences between the 7800gtx and the 7800go? also i will be upgrading ram later this year but i was wondering about the processor can i upgrade it without ordering it from dell? my system is in my sig, i wanted a xps m170. i need someone to tell me it is pretty close and i'll be happy