Video Card Upgrades In Newest Laptops

Unfortunately, new Sager didn't designed to use a new feature in Radeon 9600M (FLEXFIT™/modular graphics subsystem). I believe you need to upgrade the whole systemboard to get a new graphics card.

Wait one BIG second.....

Adam is this for sure?
Are the new 8890 and 5680 NOT going to have user upgradeable GPU's? Are they not going to be using the Flexfit technology? This is going to be a large factor in my purchase decision.

PS- To other users reading this: I would like an "official" answer from Adam on this. Unless you work for PCTorque or Sager or can link to some type of official press release I would rather get the official answer and not just someone's supposition or rumors.

I think that Flexfit is: different ATI GPUs use the same pinout, so the motherboard-maker can upgrade (the motherboard) without new research and development. I've read that ATI is promoting the use of small card for the GPU and memory so you can upgrade (such as mini-pci). Some motherboard-makers will use this and some not. Is the same as the use of external memory or in-chip memory.

So... flexfit is not the same as GPU upgrade.
I don't know if I explain myself.

andres
----
I'm sorry for my poor english

Sager may still offer upgrades to the 800FSB and ATI 9600PRO with a motherboard swap.

No, I don't think they're using the removable GPU setup. Most laptops are not using it I believe because there is no guarantee it will work with future video cards. They would have to R&D it and the laptop price would go up for the system and it would release later. Then you'd be out to money if the next GPU had different power requirements or something that made it not work with the current system. Laptops and mobile GPUs aren't as universal as desktops yet. I'm sure when there's more of a standard more will use it or something like it.

I always wondered about that. Not just the "possible" incompatibility, but also the RESELL/RETAIL value.

I mean, forcing people to upgrade the whole machine is what the computer industry is all about now-a-days.

If it turns out people are actually upgrading their stuff too much, well... change the pin-out (like Intel does) and force them to use new mobos... and memory... and SATA... and...

See the point? It's a great "pro-consumer" idea, but it's got to pass the board of weasles, and that isn't likely. Not in a big corporation.

-myrkat

Board of Weasels

Sounds like a great reason to start looking at alternatives. After all, the machines we love are using desktop chips, and folks have been building their own desktops for years. Perhaps its time to start building laptops for ourselves and forget the Board. All the parts are there for the buying, the instructions are on the net. The biggest snags with that scenario have been getting small footprint mobos, affordable LCD screens and portable power supplies. Well, top end mobos are getting smaller and smaller, LCD screens are almost mainstream now (not to mention heads up wearable displays) and its probable there will be practical fuel cells available within a year or so. Most people don't really run on their batteries anyway. Even without the fuel cells, there are better and better external power supplies becoming available and more and more locations with power outlets. With truly Smart Bays, ones that can take HD's, Opticals, multi-port modules and battery packs, you could reconfigure on the fly for what you needed at that time. Storage is getting smaller and smaller, pretty soon solid state memory will be competitive with drives. Imagine how many Smart Digital chips you could fit in even a 2.5" HDD case. With mini-DVD discs, optical drives could be half the size they are now. There are solid state heat pump solutions (why do they put the peltier in the box instead of outside) that could allow NEMA compliant cases you could snorkle with if you wanted. Check out the MicroShip project controller (www.microship.com) for what can be done in small spaces.

So perhaps its time to start thinking about home built laptops. Actually, desktops are evolving to laptop dimenions anyway. So it could be we will soon be able to bypass the Board of Weasels and have total upgradeability at the same time. Ah, heaven on earth.