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Video Card in a Dell Studio 17

post #1 of 6
6/20/09 at 2:55pm
Thread Starter 
I have a Dell Studio 17 1635 and I was curious if the video card could be changed. By default it has the crappy "Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset. It says its has a maximum memory of 356 mb, but I highly doubt that. I can still play games like Halo 1, but when I attempt to utilize my capture card it lags a lot, and the capture card says it needs at least a 256mb video card.

My computer has 4gb ram and a 2.0 duo processor, so I know that is not the problem. My only guess is that the video card is not strong enough to receive the tv signals readily.

Please let me know if my laptops video card can be changed, and if not, how good my video card actually is.

Thanks,
Mitch.
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post #2 of 6
6/20/09 at 4:49pm
Thread Starter 
Edit: After calling Dell Support I wasn't clearly told if it can be changed. I said "So can the graphics card be changed" and he said "Let me direct you to our sales team so we can assist you in your search for a compatible video card." So I don't know if that means it can be changed, or it can't.
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post #3 of 6
6/21/09 at 1:08am
There were two video options for the studio 17, the Integrated intel and the Radeon HD3650. A different video card required a different motherboard. The Intel one was built into the chipset and there was no expansion area on it. The Radeon however had a different motherboard with the video card built into the motherboard itself. Neither was upgradable. You were stuck with what you chose at time of purchase.

If you have the technical know how, it might be possible to get a Studio 17 motherboard with the HD3650 and then transplant it into the casing and then reseat the old CPU, RAM, HDD, etc.
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post #4 of 6
6/21/09 at 1:38am
As said above except you would just get the MoBo with the 3650 already in. Not being modular it would be insane to ever separate even the 3650 from the MoBo. I mean GPU failure is complete MoBo replacement.

You can upgrade but buying the entire MoBo and GPU is expensive say like $500/$600 guess?
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post #5 of 6
6/22/09 at 3:27am
On studio dell laptops the mobos are a pain to yank out. You will cry during the process and an upgrade of a mobo does not really exist since there is not a newer revision out. =/
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post #6 of 6
6/22/09 at 3:58am
Thread Starter 
Okay, thanks for that.

I believe I am just going to purchase a new lappy. The ram and processor aren't half bad on it, but it does seem to lag during times of extensive use, say when I use photoshop and 3d studio max. Plus the fact that the entire MoBo would have to be replaced pretty much forces me to buy an entirely new system.

Anyways, thanks for the help guys, truly appreciate it!
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