Jump to content

Welcome to Geeks to Go - Register now for FREE

Need help with your computer or device? Want to learn new tech skills? You're in the right place!
Geeks to Go is a friendly community of tech experts who can solve any problem you have. Just create a free account and post your question. Our volunteers will reply quickly and guide you through the steps. Don't let tech troubles stop you. Join Geeks to Go now and get the support you need!

How it Works Create Account
Photo

Upgrading older laptop


  • Please log in to reply

#1
Famous Amos

Famous Amos

    New Member

  • Member
  • Pip
  • 8 posts
Laptop: Toshiba Satellite 2415-S205
OS: Win XP
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go
Sound: Yamaha AC-XG WDM Audio



Alright, my problem stems from this: I've never been into MMORPGs but my friend recently succeeded in convincing me to get World of Warcraft. I, being the naive person I am, assumed my computer would be able to run the game. Sadly, after failing to run the game, I checked my specs and the minimum requirements. It requires a 32mb graphics card with 3d acceleration. My graphics card is only 16 mb( not to get sidetracked, but my card, the "nvidia" geforce4 420 go is one of the rarest graphics cards i've ever seen. NVIDIA, the supposed creator of the graphics card doesn't even have support or drivers for it at all)
So, this brings me to my query. I know that it's extremely hard, because I've already done a little research into it, but is it IMPOSSIBLE to upgrade the graphics card in a laptop? I've never opened up my comp, i don't really want to chance breaking it at all, so i don't know if the graphics card is attached to the motherboard, or if it can be taken out....and please, i don't want any suggestions about me getting a new computer and that laptops suck for gaming. if it comes down to it, i guess i'll have to shell out the cash for a new computer, but i wanted that to be a last option sorta thing.
thank you kindly.
  • 0

Advertisements


#2
rxkevco

rxkevco

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 461 posts
Hi Famous Amos,
Welcome to GTG,
It is not always possible to upgrade sound and graphics on laptops, as a lot of them are actually onboard.
You could take it to a professional repairer who may be able to suggest a way round it, or indeed back to toshiba, but the cost would be so ridiculus that it would be unreasonable to fork out this much.
If you have a PCMCIA expansion slot on your laptop you should be able to get hold of a pcmcia slot graphics card, however these are also very expensive, although not as expensive as a repairer or toshiba upgrade,( if at all possible)
I dont like to put words in your mouth, but you have already said you dont want suggestions about getting a better computer.
This however, is the case.
99% of serious gamers have very high end computers, with very powerful graphics and memory, and the huge majority of these are desktops. Its not possible to get all the benefits of a gamers desktop into even a high end laptop. Laptops are just not designed with gamers in mind.
The money you could spend upgrading your laptop could be much better spent going towards a better specification desktop more suited to gamers,, with lots of potential for upgrades that arent possible on a laptop.
If you are going to become serious about gaming,, i suggest you do get a desktop aimed at that market.
Keep your laptop, you are obviously attached to it and dont want to get rid, but its no good for anything requiring powerful graphics to run smoothly.
Sorry,,, but that is the truth of the matter.
I hope i have provided you with a little more guidance on this matter.
Good luck,,,, kev.
  • 0

#3
Retired Tech

Retired Tech

    Retired Staff

  • Retired Staff
  • 20,563 posts
You could Ask Iris

http://www.csd.toshi...UseBVCookie=yes
  • 0

#4
Famous Amos

Famous Amos

    New Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • Pip
  • 8 posts
Thanks a bunch, the comments were really helpful. I guess the advancements in computer gaming must have improved a lot over the last year. when i first got the laptop 3 years ago, i could play any game under any setting. World of Warcraft is actually the very first game i've encountered that I cannot run on my laptop.
I guess I will look into getting a desktop. I saw some pretty decent computer builds on newegg.com, I'll look into getting something there. Unless, can anyone recommend if it's better to purchase a system already built, or build my own. Obviously building my own computer would allow me to pick all the parts to it and customize the specs to what I am looking for, but I'm not 100% sure I could build my own computer. I know a lot about them, but I wouldn't want to screw something up.
Any suggestions, should I look into building my own, buying a system that's ready to go out of the box, and also, speaking in today's standards, what are the specs that a computer should have? Not a high end machine, but not an outdated one either, but a nice gaming machine that would not need to be replaced for a few years.
Thank you kindly.
  • 0

#5
Retired Tech

Retired Tech

    Retired Staff

  • Retired Staff
  • 20,563 posts
Post a new topic in the games forum to say you want to build or buy a PC for gaming, which is likely to make it high end as the CPU, RAM Memory, Video card and monitor will need to be good
  • 0

#6
warriorscot

warriorscot

    Member 5k

  • Retired Staff
  • 8,889 posts
You would maybe get better response in system building, youll get what you want in games but there si more staff about in the SB&O forum than games.
  • 0

#7
shard92

shard92

    Member 1K

  • Member
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 1,129 posts
I know this has been resolved but as a future reference..... I work on toshiba laptops fairly regularly and so far I've seen one or maybe two that have seperate graphics cards.... most are built in. I have no idea what the cost is on a replacement/upgrade graphics card as I'm a contract/warranty repair guy so I don't normally deal with their pricelists.
  • 0






Similar Topics

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

As Featured On:

Microsoft Yahoo BBC MSN PC Magazine Washington Post HP