Laptop question

[OBB]

I have a Toshiba Satellite M30, and I'm just sort of wondering about the possibility of changing the video card on the machine. It's got a 64 MB Nvidia GeForce FX video card right now, and I am curious as to whether or not I can throw a better one in here.

I have no idea HOW, mind you, but I want to know if it can be done.

[eo000]

just bounce a quarter at it.

[Infobahn]

I think it could be done, but it would be very expensive.   What is it doing/not doing that makes you want to change it?

[Alice]

Why not just have GOBB knit you a new laptop?

[OBB]

I think it could be done, but it would be very expensive.   What is it doing/not doing that makes you want to change it?

Like "very expensive" above and beyond the cost of a new video card?

It's not doing anything wrong, per se, but I was just curious to see if it could be done. Everything on my laptop runs well, but I figured that with a bigger and better video card in there, I might be able to run some more high-end games or something.

[ReBurn]

If you are able to change anything at all I would think that at most it would be to increase the video memory, if the chipset and configuration support it. 

Most of the time in a laptop the graphics chips are integrated directly into the motherboard, so you can't upgrade them without also upgrading the motherboard.  On the chance that you have a laptop with the video components on a separate breadboard you'll need to make sure that the motherboard will support an upgrade, and you'll also likely have to flash the bios.

Another thing to consider is that in general laptops aren't built to support high-end gaming.  There are some manufacturers that build them specifically for that purpose, but most don't.  Unless you have a top-notch LCD in it you are likely going to have refresh issues such as pixelation, lag and ghosting on your display.  You might even have to connect it to an external CRT.

I honestly don't know that it would be worth it unless you know for sure that it could be done, and the best way to find out is to contact the manufacturer.

[Bishamonten]

If you are able to change anything at all I would think that at most it would be to increase the video memory, if the chipset and configuration support it. 

Most of the time in a laptop the graphics chips are integrated directly into the motherboard, so you can't upgrade them without also upgrading the motherboard.  On the chance that you have a laptop with the video components on a separate breadboard you'll need to make sure that the motherboard will support an upgrade, and you'll also likely have to flash the bios.

Another thing to consider is that in general laptops aren't built to support high-end gaming.  There are some manufacturers that build them specifically for that purpose, but most don't.  Unless you have a top-notch LCD in it you are likely going to have refresh issues such as pixelation, lag and ghosting on your display.  You might even have to connect it to an external CRT.

I honestly don't know that it would be worth it unless you know for sure that it could be done, and the best way to find out is to contact the manufacturer.

A goodly number of laptop video cards are mini-PCI nowadays, so there's a chance you'll have a small videocard attached to your motherboard.  It is, however, not easy to get at.  I know for my Inspiron 8200 ( which is about 4 years old ) I have to disassemble through the keyboard and the I can pop my videocard.  I believe there's a chance you'll have one because one of the variables on laptop orders these days is video cards.  But I'll just echo what ReBurn said:  Call the Manufacturer.