NotebookForums.com › Forums › Off Topic › Desktop and Hardware Discussion › Upgrading Video Cards
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Upgrading Video Cards

post #1 of 7
10/24/04 at 3:34pm
Thread Starter 
I apologize, in advance, for my ignorance.

One of the desktops I own is a Sony VAIO 530G. I was looking to upgrade the stock video card (128 MB ATi 9200) to a ATi Radeon 9800 Pro but when I e-mailed Sony customer service, they said that upgrading the video card "is not possible." I then contacted Best Buy and they said that it "was possible."

I'm confused. LoL
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 7
10/24/04 at 6:12pm
Well the first thing you'll need to do is make sure your PC sports an AGP slot. It is usually brown in color and offset above the PCI slots. Next, you'll need to see if it is AGP 4x/8x compatible. If the machine is < 3 years old, it's most likely 4x/8x. If the machine has an AGP4x/8x slot, upgrading should be no problem.

You may run into a problem where the power supply can't supply enough juice to run the new card, but in most circumstances you will be fine.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 7
10/24/04 at 7:09pm
my motherboard says it cant handle 3.3v cards, how do i know if its 1.5v or 3.3v?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 7
10/24/04 at 8:36pm
It sounds like a relatively new computer, and the 9200 is a decent card. The card can run at AGP 8x, and as far I know it is 1.5v. I would say go ahead with it, assuming the 9200 is an AGP and not PCI.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 7
10/25/04 at 12:59am

Got News For You

Actually, Best Buy is right, you can, because I work there, and I looked it up at work today for you.

The 9800 Pro is an ok card, but if you really want a nice card, I would go X800 Pro, or just switch to nVidia (I prefer Nvidia cards myself). If your planning on playing Doom3, then go nVidia for sure (takes like 11 patches to run on newer ATI cards (I like ATI, but still prefer nVidia) Try Best Buy for the 6800 made by BFG. It is overclocked, and should be on sale for $305, so it is a really good deal (same price almost as the 9800 Pro) Well, anyway, that's all I got for you, Good Luck!
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 7
10/25/04 at 1:07am
There's a pretty low chance that the 6800 will work on his PS though. The 9800 may be all it can take. you should be totally fine with that 9800.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 7
10/29/04 at 12:57am
wat kinda cards r 3.3v? quardro or something?
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Desktop and Hardware Discussion
NotebookForums.com › Forums › Off Topic › Desktop and Hardware Discussion › Upgrading Video Cards