Upgrading my Graphics Card

[07tonzpau]

Hi, I'm using an Asus G1S gaming notebook and want to upgrade its graphics card. i know it'll be hard, but my warranty is already expired and it will be a nice challenge for a beginner like me.

 

My question is, how do i know what video cards are compatible with my notebook? It would really suck if i dismantled the whole thing and installed the new card only to have it not work or explode in my face :D

 

Also just to double check is it theoretically possible to upgrade the card? Do i just have to peel back all the layers to finally get to it or is it actually irreversibly connected to my motherboard?

 

Also, any recommendations on what card to buy?

 

theses are my specs.

You might notice i've upgraded the Hard Drive added 2 extra Gb of ram to make total 4Gb and changed from Vista Ultimate 32 bit to 7 Ultimate 64 bit. Just to avoid any confusion!

Give me a holler if you need to know anything else.

For a more complete list of my specs i found them on this site. They're pretty detailed!

Newegg.com - ASUS G Series G1S-A1 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo T7500(2.20GHz) 15.4" Wide SXGA+ 2GB Memory DDR2 667 160GB HDD 5400rpm DVD Super Multi NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT

 

Operating System Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit

CPU Type Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz

Screen 15.4" WSXGA+

Memory Size 4GB DDR2

Hard Disk 500Gb WD Scorpio Black 7200RPM

Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT

Video Memory 256MB GDDR3 VRAM, TurboCache up to 512MB

 

Thanks so much for your help!!!

Edited August 14, 2010 by 07tonzpau

[Synapse]

You can't change the video 'card' in your notebook - the chip is soldered to the board. Have a look at this link, page 2-23 you can see the nvidia chip.

 

http://tim.id.au/laptops/asus/g1s.pdf

 

I've read that to gain performance with this notebook you can overclock the video. I wouldn't recommend it as the 8600 chips have a really bad reputation for dying. They get hot, really hot and some batches (depending on who you believe, it may be all batches) fail after a certain period.

 

Apple used them on the 2.4GHz Macbook Pro and loads of those failed too.

 

Have a look at this info, which deals with your question.

 

Asus G1 s Graphics card

[07tonzpau]

Damn

 

Daamn that sucks, those cheeky ASUS designers!

Is there no chance of me un-soldering it and then changing it? My dad is a TV Technician with a home setup so he has (i presume) all the necessary equipment for soldering etc with boards :D This could be really fun ahahha

 

In regards to overclocking, i've read the same things you have about the heating problem, i was getting idle temps of 75*C and it would game till it auto powered off at 102*C. i Cleaned out my completely clogged heatsink and fan and applied new thermal paste and it works like a dream. idles in the 50s and at MAX MAX usage might get up to the high 70s. Still i'd prefer not to overclock it if the fault is there. Plus, changing an apparently unchangeable graphics card is much more interesting :D

 

Also, is it just the graphics card i need to change? Or are there a few thingomajiggies around it i need to change when i change my graphics? Like i said, im pretty new to all this computer stuff.

 

Cheers for your help!

[Synapse]

No chance of the soldering. I used to install and solder strain gauges as part of my job and I wouldn't even try a video chip.

 

You would have to find 100% compatible chip, pretty difficult in itself, and then unsolder each leg, how many are there, 100 maybe more, make sure each was actually free from the board. Remove the chip, clean up to perfection, resolder, really needing to use high quality flux, then clean it all up again to perfection as flux is corrosive and it leaks current to ground. Doing all that and making sure you don't overheat the chip with a soldering iron is really beyond diy - you need a purpose built machine.

 

The only thing I can think of is to approach one of the specialist companies that change faulty video chips, they have a stock of interesting chips but honestly I would find a way to live with what you have.

[07tonzpau]

Aw man thats SUCKS! it would have been such a fun project. Damn you ASUS!!! Oh well, ill manage i guess.

 

Is it the same deal with the processor?