HELP! (Upgrading my laptop's GPU)

[Shadow Knight]

Well, I'd like to upgrade my quadro fx2800m to a hd 6970m. I've see alot of videos showing how to upgrade it, (actually 1 video which was a slideshow) and a video of how to upgrade to a gtx 460m. I have an HP Elitebook 8740w, (MXM 3.0B). I really need some help, 🙁 I'm freaking out right now..also, if you can suggest a better card than the 6970m that can work in my laptop, then please, tell me.

links to various videos that I mentioned:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZaq9h9By_I (same laptop different gpu)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXdyQ3jCBEw (slideshow of upgraded gpu, to a 6970m)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9zydIrq9Rg (video card upgrade guide)

Thanks!

 

[i7Baby]

Is the GPU soldered in?

 

[Shadow Knight]

Is the GPU soldered in?

I highly doubt it, it has an mxm slot so why would they solder it? maybe for bad reasons, even if it isn't soldered, could you help me? Ill disassemble my laptop this weekend to make sure..thanks

 

[i7Baby]

You need to look and check. If soldered in then its a waste of time pursuing an upgrade. Most laptops have CPU and GPU soldered in.

 

[Shadow Knight]

How could other people change theirs if it was soldered in? Im really desp and cant check rn :/

 

[i7Baby]

Check when you can. I'm in no hurry.

 

[Shadow Knight]

Its not 😀 Take a look at this vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdpFejW57DU (disassembly of the laptop)

 

[i7Baby]

If your sure then what GPUs are compatible?

 

[Tom Tancredi]

While it is possible (I have done do in my Alienware M17xR2 to a Nvidia 1.5GB 670M) it is NOT recommended at all with Laptops normally.
First the problem is the POWER consumption may not match to what your laptop can output, remember a laptop is made for portability not power consumption.
Second is that the BIOS itself may not support the card in question, it may not recognize it so this is another big stopper
Third the 'cards' aren't just sitting on Walmart / Best Buy shelf, laptop cards are specially designed for THAT maker and sometimes only THOSE models. It may not even 'fit' inside simply because it is 'cut' for a different maker / model. So this is a real problem with even considering it.
Fourth it is VERY high RISK of PERMANENTLY KILLING / Breaking something due to how the laptops are 'put together'. I can't count the number of steps each DIFFERENT laptop has to be done to just get at the RAM sometimes! It is incredible (removing the top case, flip over to disconnect the video cable then flip it over to slowly remove the keyboard, then unscew the covering to get at the RAM) the designs they come up with and how they put the parts together. UNLESS you have the SERVICE MANUAL and REALLY STUDY IT, I would NOT attempt any such things, it isn't like a desktop.

Honestly the 'upgrade' yoru trying for isn't worth it. That is a very old low end unsupported card (the drivers wont' recognize the card because Nvidia put it on the do NOT support list). It is seriously time to replace this system.

 

[Shadow Knight]

I know for sure gtx 460m, hd 6970m, an employee of Eurocom told me this. Other 2 gpus im not sure of inlude gtx 670m and the gtx 770m, these unconfirmed gpus have been said compatible by an ebay seller, particularly: http://www.ebay.com/usr/qunfa_chiu?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

 

[i7Baby]

You need to know they are compatible -the power supply can run them and they can fit in the case. Same as a PC.

 

[Shadow Knight]

While it is possible (I have done do in my Alienware M17xR2 to a Nvidia 1.5GB 670M) it is NOT recommended at all with Laptops normally.
First the problem is the POWER consumption may not match to what your laptop can output, remember a laptop is made for portability not power consumption.
Second is that the BIOS itself may not support the card in question, it may not recognize it so this is another big stopper
Third the 'cards' aren't just sitting on Walmart / Best Buy shelf, laptop cards are specially designed for THAT maker and sometimes only THOSE models. It may not even 'fit' inside simply because it is 'cut' for a different maker / model. So this is a real problem with even considering it.
Fourth it is VERY high RISK of PERMANENTLY KILLING / Breaking something due to how the laptops are 'put together'. I can't count the number of steps each DIFFERENT laptop has to be done to just get at the RAM sometimes! It is incredible (removing the top case, flip over to disconnect the video cable then flip it over to slowly remove the keyboard, then unscew the covering to get at the RAM) the designs they come up with and how they put the parts together. UNLESS you have the SERVICE MANUAL and REALLY STUDY IT, I would NOT attempt any such things, it isn't like a desktop.

Honestly the 'upgrade' yoru trying for isn't worth it. That is a very old low end unsupported card (the drivers wont' recognize the card because Nvidia put it on the do NOT support list). It is seriously time to replace this system.

its better than my quadro fx2800m, im sure the card can fit and the power consumption is similar to the one I have right now, what I'm really asking is if its blocked in the BIOS wut I should do, one person says its blocked in the BIOS, I cant risk $200 for that..I need to confirm its blocked in the BIOS and if it is I need to know what to do thanks

 

[Shadow Knight]

You need to know they are compatible -the power supply can run them and they can fit in the case. Same as a PC.

The gtx 460m and hd 6970m are compatible, thats confirmed by a Eurocom employee

 

[Tom Tancredi]

If you can go up to a 770M be a much better impact, but I wouldn't put my money on it. That is a old system and again can it fit and can it be powered. You might want to see if you can find that model computer laptop forum 'modder clubs' out there. It be best to use their 'experiances' to help guide you (as I did for my Alienware) to walk you through legit examples of modding 'up' past the manufacturer's specifications.

For example while I have a HEAVY brick power supply pushing some serious volts, to go to a 680M or two 670Ms for example there is a special soldering mod that would take TWO of my power bricks to solder the connections togehter and then into the PC to push enough power to power them .

 

[Shadow Knight]

If you can go up to a 770M be a much better impact, but I wouldn't put my money on it. That is a old system and again can it fit and can it be powered. You might want to see if you can find that model computer laptop forum 'modder clubs' out there. It be best to use their 'experiances' to help guide you (as I did for my Alienware) to walk you through legit examples of modding 'up' past the manufacturer's specifications.

For example while I have a HEAVY brick power supply pushing some serious volts, to go to a 680M or two 670Ms for example there is a special soldering mod that would take TWO of my power bricks to solder the connections togehter and then into the PC to push enough power to power them .

It can fit and my psu is capable, again, this was confirmed by a Eurocom employee 😛 , do you have any info on the BIOS that I may need to bypass?

 

[i7Baby]

Is the bios up to date?

 

[Tom Tancredi]

[It can fit and my psu is capable, again, this was confirmed by a Eurocom employee 😛 , do you have any info on the BIOS that I may need to bypass?

No I do not, this is not a dedicated Mod Forum for your model computer, hence why I pointed you to SEARCH for one, because sometimes someone comes up with a Modded BIOS to fit the needs, IF the website by HP / Eurocom doesn't provide one in the instructions to support it. Yes I used Eurocom as well and I had to download drivers from them and so on.

Again though the card that they 'know works' isn't worth the change because it is NO LONGER SUPPORTED BY NVIDIA
It has been removed from the drivers, so if your looking for the card to be compatible / best play with Dying Light it WILL NOT.

I highly recommend buying a new laptop for gaming if that is your goal or switch to a desktop (much cheaper and more options) if you want to keep upgrading. Otherwise if money is a issue, then stick to console, that will be the BEST bang for the buck in performance.

 

[Ricochetv1]

I believe it's just going to be a matter of your power supply being able to output enough juice to power everything. No matter what the power supply is putting out, the motherboad regulates what it actually takes in. So, given that, the power consumption of the CPU, motherboard, screen, RAM, drives, and GPU cannot exceed the total power rating of the power supply, otherwise you'll have issues. Most of the time, the power supply puts out much more than the computer actually needs, given that it is also made to be able to charge the battery at a decent rate at the same time.
Additionally, I do not believe that HP bothered with limiting the BIOS as far as cards are concerned. For instance, HP says, officially, that the largest HD that can be in the main bay is 640GB, and 500GB in the upgrade bay.
However... I have a 2TB HD in the main bay, and I had it in the upgrade bay when I was cloning the 170GB drive that came with it, to the new drive.
So... there goes that...
I really think in our case it's only going to be a matter of physical fit, and power consumption. I don't believe the bios is limiting it. I honestly don't think HP cared enough to bother with it, considering all the extra coding it would take to do so.

Best thing I would suggest if you're looking to upgrade the card, is to find a seller that will agree to take it back, with no hard feelings, if you try it in the laptop and it doesn't work out...
Or, better yet, you could turn back around and resell it on ebay. It's not like there's rules against it... who knows... maybe you'll profit a little bit from it...

 

[g-unit1111]

Thread is from last year. Please don't bump old posts. This thread will be closed for further replies.