[lineinasong]

I recently ordered my laptop and although it hasn't arrived yet, I'm having sneaking suspicions that I won't be able to play any of the newer games. It has a 64 mb (dedicated) ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 card installed but I've been hearing that it doesn't support DirectX 9.0 which leaves it pretty much useless for some of the newer games.

Does anyone know if you can upgrade such a graphics card or is it integrated with the motherboard? The laptop is an HP ZV5000T running Windows XP if that's any help. And if anyone can tell me I'm wrong, and that there are drivers out for this card to support DirectX 9, that'd be even better.

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most laptops use an integrated video card, so you cant upgrade. when you ordered, were there any choices of what video card to use?

laptops in general are a hard way to play new games, as they typically lack the horsepower needed for high end effects, etc. you should be able to run the games at lower settings. even doom3 and half life 2 can run under directX 8.1, at lower settings.

[audioboy]

most laptops use an integrated video card, so you cant upgrade. when you ordered, were there any choices of what video card to use?

laptops in general are a hard way to play new games, as they typically lack the horsepower needed for high end effects, etc. you should be able to run the games at lower settings. even doom3 and half life 2 can run under directX 8.1, at lower settings.

[lineinasong]

most laptops use an integrated video card, so you cant upgrade.  when you ordered, were there any choices of what video card to use?

laptops in general are a hard way to play new games, as they typically lack the horsepower needed for high end effects, etc.  you should be able to run the games at lower settings.  even doom3 and half life 2 can run under directX 8.1, at lower settings.

I ordered a refurbished laptop so there weren't any options.

I saw the same model with the Mobility Radeon 9600 though but it had less RAM so I opted for the one with more RAM.

Thinking I should have gone with the better videocard since I could have easily upgraded the RAM.

[audioboy]

it wouldnt hurt to check with HP, or a laptop shop in your area. they might be able to swap the video chip. I dont really know for sure (especially newer models), but in most your stuck with whatever is on there.

[lineinasong]

Definitely planning on emailing them but thanks for your help =).

I also found out that these video chips should be DirectX 9.0c software compatible so hopefully that'll work out.