XPS m1330 MXM Module?

Dell does not package the video cards for their laptops in the MXM form factor. MXM is something that is COMPLETELY optional for vendors to use.

Yeah, unfortunately the use of standardised modules is rather limited throughout the industry, particularly in the high-end market. This is primarily because manufactuers generally differentiate their designs and this often requires different form factor components to get the shape and configurations they want....

Hopefully time will result in widespread adoption of standardised graphics modules that can be easily upgraded, but in the meantime the market is what it is...

Stu

what about contacting Nvidia and asking them where to find out info on whats next to be manufactured in mxm form?

I highly doubt that MXM will be seen again anytime soon.

The problem with MXM is that it does not take into consideration the power draw of the video card... only the size and heat. MXM also requires the video card to take up more space inside the chassis over an onboard discrete GPU solution.

It's probably much more profitable to have smaller, sleeker laptops that can be sold to the public, rather than a bulkier laptop with upgradeable graphics aimed at the enthusiast crowd.

Well its very well possible for "all" laptop manufacturers to come up with an plug in module that makes use of a standard format, MXM or whatever they want to. They choose not to, not because of the size limitations and shape of their laptops, because lets get real here, they can easily make a video card module that slides into a slot the size of a pcmcia slot that has an integrated cooling unit. I have pulled out alot of video cards in these laptops and they are hardly giant cards.

They do not because if they were to really give the consumer options like choosing what graphics subsystem they want to use, or upgrade too. You may actually hold on to that laptop for more than 2 years as long as you can keep a relavant performance lvl over time.

They way they have it now, they can ensure you have to spend the money on a new machine every 18 months or so, as well as spend more money on another warrantee which is really where they make their money anyway.

It is "not" because they have to have a proprietary form factor at all, and the graphics cards do not make the machines bulky. Fans are really low profile, as well as heat pipes. Its just simple is not that hard to make a slide in graphics module that is more universal. Its far easier for them to design a mating system to reach the module's interface connection than it is to keep designing ways to tuck the graphics card in everywhere.