Alienware M17x graphics card upgrade help

[holt2210]

Hi i want to know whether i can upgrade my current graphics card to the GeForce GTX 780M

my current set up is as follows:

Base
Alienware M17x Base
Memory
12288MB 1600MHz Dual Channel DDR3 (2x2GB + 2x4GB )
Video Card
2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 675M
Hard Drive
750GB 7,200 RPM + 32GB mSATA Caching SSD
Operating System
English Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 BIT)
Sound
Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di with THX TruStudio Pro Software
Wireless Networking
Killer Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO with Bluetooth 4.0
Cables
UK 2M 250V Power Cord
Processor
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3740QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.7GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
LCD
17.3" WideFHD (1920 x 1080) WLED LCD
Power Supply
240W AC Adaptor


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[ThatVietGuy]

Probably not. Also, trying to buy a mobile graphics card is prohibitively expensive (at least $600).

 

[Eduello]

Probably not. Also, trying to buy a mobile graphics card is prohibitively expensive (at least $600).

Yeah, you'd be better off selling your current laptop and buying a newer one.

 

[logainofhades]

You want to be able to upgrade graphics cards, get a desktop.

 

[holt2210]

if i had room in my house for a desktop i would. the gtx 780m graphics card i can get for £400 a new laptop over £1100 if i can change the graphics card i will do that just need to know if it can be done if not i will just have to save up for a new laptop.

 

[ThatVietGuy]

No guarantee that it would work in your laptop. Either there is no driver available or the power and cooling requirements would be too much for the system. No one can tell you this answer and the only way to find out is to bite the bullet and do it.

 

[logainofhades]

Often the GPU is soldered onto the motherboard with the graphics memory in a laptop. At least that is how my GT540m is in my Asus, iirc. Make sure your current GPU is not like this.

 

[ThatVietGuy]

No, the M17x has a discrete card that can be removed.

And according to this video you can do the swap and have it work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVdxBnGMXGQ

I guess just do it and hope nothing goes wrong.