Can you upgrade an integrated graphics card

[shortkayke]

Ok Here goes... you guys are my LAST resort!!!

So. I purchased a refurbished dell inspiron 1764 from a 3rd party. The laptop works great, Has windows 7 64 bit OS

Intel Core i5 CPU M 430@2.27GHz

The installed memory is 4.0 GB

and the graphics card is the Intel HD Graphics card With 1696MB of memory.

Now.. My issue is i happen to LOVE the sims games. And wanted to play the sims 3 on this laptop. BUT i'm getting alot of flashing and its telling me the game stops responding, SO i find out that the game is not compatible with this type of graphics card... UGH... SO i start looking into upgrading it, and Dell tells me i would have to change the whole motherboard in order to upgrade. This would of cours cost about 250 PLUS the cost (and installation) of the new graphics card...

Please tell me that its possible to upgrade this? I don't want to have to purchase a new computer just for 1 silly little issue... ok well its not so silly but it seems that its a HUGE pain in my arse!

Thanks!

 

[Mousemonkey]

Some laptops can have just their graphic chip replaced but yours might not be one of them so in this instance the man from Dell he not talk poop! You may only be able to upgrade by replacing the whole motherboard.

 

[Shadow703793]

No. You can not upgrade the graphics card on a laptop with out swapping the board. I would not bother upgrading it, instead I would sell it and get Sandy Bridge based laptop when they come out. The extra $250 you are willing to spend now would cover you for Sandy Bridge. The Sandy Bridge IGP beats the ATI 5450, from what I can tell, the highest you can get on that laptop is a ATI 4330. ATI 5450 > ATI 4330 in terms of performance, so yeah... I'd sell it and grab a SB laptop when they come out.
SB preview: http://www.anandtech.com/show/3871/the-sandy-bridge-preview-three-wins-in-a-row/7

As far as Sims 3 goes, I don't see WHY it won't run. There is probably a driver conflict or some thing else. Are you running the latest drivers? Game patched?

 

[shortkayke]

Yes Shadow, I've upgraded every driver available for upload. I would LOVE for someone to crack this dilemma. When i searched the Intel HD graphics card it surpassed the Lowest needed graphics card for the Sims, i find it hard to believe that the game won't run because i don't have the right brand of graphics card.

This is my system from the diag thingy:

Time of this report: 10/18/2010, 18:43:13
Machine name: DESTINY-LAPTOP
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100618-1621)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Inspiron 1764
BIOS: Ver 1.00 BIOS A06 PARTTBL2
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU M 430 @ 2.27GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3892MB RAM
Page File: 1987MB used, 5795MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

--------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Intel(R) HD Graphics
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) HD Graphics (Core i5)
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0046&SUBSYS_04341028&REV_12
Display Memory: 1696 MB
Dedicated Memory: 64 MB
Shared Memory: 1632 MB
Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: AUO109E
Native Mode: 1600 x 900(p) (60.284Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumdx32,igd10umd32
Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.2104 (English)
Driver Version: 8.15.10.2104
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 3/31/2010 22:47:00, 6534144 bytes
D3D9 Overlay: Supported
DXVA-HD: Supported
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled


And here are the requirements for the Sims 3

The Sims 3 System Requirements:

THE SIMS 3 MINIMUM HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

FOR WINDOWS XP
* Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
* 2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
* 1 GB RAM
* At least 6.5 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content
* 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0

FOR WINDOWS VISTA
* Windows Vista (Service Pack 1)
* 2.4 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
* 1.5 GB RAM
* At least 6.5 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content
* 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0

For computers using built-in graphics chipsets, the game requires at least:
* Intel Integrated Chipset, GMA X3000 or above.
* 2.6 GHz Pentium D CPU, or 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, or equivalent
* 0.5 GB additional RAM

SUPPORTED VIDEO CARDS
NVIDIA GeForce series
FX 5900, FX 5950
6200, 6500, 6600, 6800,
7200, 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
8400, 8500, 8600, 8800
9600, 9800, GTX 260, GTX 280

ATI Radeon™ series
9500, 9600, 9800
X300, X600, X700, X800, X850
X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
2400, 2600, 2900
3450, 3650, 3850, 3870,
4850, 4870
Intel® Extreme Graphics
GMA X3x00 series

 

[Shadow703793]

Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.2104 (English)
Driver Version: 8.15.10.2104

Those are not the latest drivers. The latest is 8.15.10.2202. Try those: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Graphics&ProductLine=Laptop+graphics+controllers&ProductProduct=Intel%C2%AE+HD+Graphics
Note: There is something f***ed up with the native *.exe installation file. Use the .zip file and extract it and run the Setup.exe from there.

 

[shortkayke]

It says... The driver being installed is not validated for this computer. Please obtain the appropriate driver from the computer manufacturer....


**sigh**

this is so frustrating!! All i want to do is play a freakin game! LOL

 

[iam2thecrowe]

The simple answer is NO, you can not upgrade the onboard graphics. The cheapest way to solve your problem is to buy a new laptop unfortunately.

 

[Shadow703793]

It says... The driver being installed is not validated for this computer. Please obtain the appropriate driver from the computer manufacturer....


**sigh**

this is so frustrating!! All i want to do is play a freakin game! LOL

Are you using the ZIP or the exe download?

 

[deweycd]

You can install non-validated drivers and run without issue in most cases.

 

[shortkayke]

Hey everyone!

I ran the .zip and the .exe with no avail! UGH! sooo... it looks like i'm going to have to buy new. **sigh**

I'll just sell this one (i'm seeing they go got about 680 refurbished on eBay) I'll start around 500 and cross my fingers... I'll leave kaspersky on there and my office professional as well... so they'll get a nice little bundle.

I've been looking at these computers... Any thoughts?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174;+Core%26%23153;+i5+Processor+/+17.3%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+640GB+Hard+Drive+-+Red/Black/1307061.p?skuId=1307061&id=1218249064443

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160495331609&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_3111wt_1042

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174;+Core%26%23153;+i5+Processor+/+17.3%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+640GB+Hard+Drive+-+Argento/1287406.p?id=1218247185185&skuId=1287406

 

[shortkayke]

ok, by fresh install, meaning don't save settings? and install windows completely? When i try to install the non validated one, it just closes the installation... how do i force it?

 

[shortkayke]

Ok, will try it tonight!!!

 

[Shadow703793]

DO make sure you nuke the drive if you do plan to sell. Use DBan.