Upgrading Samsung Laptop's GPU

Winter7211

Honorable
Sep 14, 2013
23
0
10,510
Hello,
A while ago, I purchased my first gaming laptop, a "Samsung - 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive - Metal" (name as listed on bestbuy). This wonderful computer served me for a long time and I have enjoyed the company of many games which have run smoothly on its hardware. Unfortunately as this computer ages, and games become newer and newer, I find my having issues with lag and freezing in games. Now, I am in no position to shell out another 1-2,000 dollars for another computer when this one works fine (just not on new games), so I examined my options. I decided to upgrade my graphics card. I am a complete newbie at this type of stuff, although I do know a thing or two about computer hardware. Looking at my specifications I would assume the GPU would be the way to go. Unfortunately, the only experience I have with building/upgrading a computer, is helping a friend construct his desktop. Now upgrading a desktop is easy, a laptop is another story. I was hoping someone out there would have advice for me on what card to chose, which ones will "fit" with my specs and literal dimensions and system, as well as information on going about taking the whole thing apart and installing the card.


With that said, I should state that I have already posted those exact previous words on a post here on Tom's Hardware. All of the following results consisted of replies such as "It is not possible" or "I checked based on that model number and it can not be upgraded" (those are not direct quotes referencing anyone in particular). After these disappointing answers I looked into some more solutions using the means of external graphics card. Now I know that these cards will not be as powerful as anything internal, so I was wondering if there was a way (without spending too much) to pair an external card with the one currently existing within my computer, allowing them to run at the same time, parallel for "double" the video processing power. Or, idea #2, to somehow attach (what would normally be used as an) internal desktop graphics card to the laptop to be used externally. This all very well may be impossible, if then, so be it, I will save up and wait for another laptop to suit my needs. If more info is needed about the computer, simply ask, and I will give it to you, for now, here's a brief summary below. Thank you in advance
~Winter7211

Processor: Intel i7 2.4 ghz
GPU: AMD Radeon 8700m
Hard drive: 1TB SSD
RAM: 8GB DDR3
 
Solution
The gpu is probably soldered on the motherboard, so you won't be able to upgrade it.
And you can use an external gpu, but most of the people who do it are using a diy system. This is a thread with more info on how to do just that: http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1191969-external-gpu-for-laptops-supercharge-your-graphics/
The gpu is probably soldered on the motherboard, so you won't be able to upgrade it.
And you can use an external gpu, but most of the people who do it are using a diy system. This is a thread with more info on how to do just that: http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1191969-external-gpu-for-laptops-supercharge-your-graphics/
 
Solution



Thanks I'll check it out, in the mean time I encourage anyone with any info or knowledge on this topic to please come forward, any advice will be useful to me, thank you.