upgrading notebooks

[Pseud]

Hey, I'm running a samsung notebook 2Ghz 256 Mb RAM and I'd really like to upgrade... I could easily get memory for it and put that in, but what would be great is if I could get an upgraded CPU a little faster, with a graphics card that was at least 128Mb... this has got a generic onboard 64Mb card...

Is it possible to get a new cpu for a notebook and upgrade it?

 

[icebreaker]

I am in the market for a new desktop or laptop and I was talking to several pc shops and they kept telling me the only laptops that are upgradeable(video cards) are ones like alienware or voodoo. Im sure there are others but thats all im aware of now.

 

[SirKenin]

9 times out of 10, 98 times out of 100, the CPU and video card are built right onto the board. There is no way of upgrading them. Besides. A laptop isn't meant for games, so what would you need that kind of power for anyways? Microsoft Word not fast enough for you?

 

[Pseud]

Dude, i'm not gonna buy a whole new system just to play HalfLife 2 on when it comes out lol so i'm just trying to make this one function a little better to my needs

 

[DMX]

Just about the only upgrade you can do on a notebook is to increase the RAM. Nothing else...

 

[SirKenin]

lol. I don't think laptops were intended to play Halflife 2 hehe. BTW, I can't wait for that game either. Should be awesome.

 

[Deacon]

Dude, i'm not gonna buy a whole new system just to play HalfLife 2 on when it comes out lol so i'm just trying to make this one function a little better to my needs

Pretty much you will need to get a Desktop PC to play Half Life 2. Sorry but there is no way a laptop has the power to play games like that...

 

[Pseud]

DMX: Bummer.. thanks

Drfeelgood: It's gonna be awesome, I really don't think I can wait much longer without imploding..

Deacon: My fiancee said that I can install it on her computer, so I have a backup plan.. all is not lost! hehe

 

[Deacon]

Well there ya go partner....giddyup.

 

[icebreaker]

Laptops that you can upgrade the video:

http://http://www.alienware.com/system_pages/area-51m.aspx

 

[icebreaker]

hmm not sure why the link messed up here it is again

http://www.alienware.com/system_pages/area-51m.aspx

 

[Durelen]

heh yeah but those are new laptops and they are from alienware. I sorta doubt he has one of those or needs to update any time soon. Friggin nice laptops though.

No you can not upgrade a laptop. Best you can do is add memory and a bigger hard drive and that's it. Laptops are 100% propriatary and most techs wont even fool with cracking the case of one let alone try to upgrade it. If you don't like it any more, sell it and buy a new one. *glares ath the alienware*

 

[icebreaker]

yeah you can get an awesome desktop system for the price of a alienware laptop I was just saying that on the webpage it says you can upgrade the video card yourself in the future unless I read it wrong

 

[Durelen]

Yeah that's what it said. So you can upgrade memory, hard drive and video with it. If you could upgrade the CPU than it would be worth every penny. Even though, you will need to buy a special video card for it when you want to upgrade. You wont be able to drive down to BestBuy and grab just any one. Chances are you will need to order it direct from Alienware or the manufacturer. One day laptops may be upgradeable, but not yet.

 

[PennylessZ28]

I bought a new HP pavilion zd7000 series, came with 3ghz P4, nividia geforce graphics card with 128mb ddr, 1gig of ddr ram only one dimm, upgradable to 3gig. With 80gig HDD, DVD-R+RW+CD+R+RW, 17 inch wide screen montior... and a bunch of other features, 1600, 1300 dollars after I get my rebate back.

Oh this is all a notebook btw. It was cheaper than dell.

 

[Pseud]

I bought a new HP pavilion zd7000 series, came with 3ghz P4, nividia geforce graphics card with 128mb ddr, 1gig of ddr ram only one dimm, upgradable to 3gig. With 80gig HDD, DVD-R+RW+CD+R+RW, 17 inch wide screen montior... and a bunch of other features, 1600, 1300 dollars after I get my rebate back.

Oh this is all a notebook btw. It was cheaper than dell.

Nice rig, where'd you get it that cheap?

 

[PennylessZ28]

Nice rig, where'd you get it that cheap?

The rebate was only till Dec 1st. I sent mine in, should be here shortly. I am unsure of what the current deals are. I shop online a lot.

I custom built my HP at hpshopping.com. It turned out after going over the Dell I was going to buy I could build the HP with the same quality for a cheaper price and get more.

They were also offering a few free upgrades. You have to pay attention becuase a lot of retailers offer special offers online during certian times.

That week they were offering the free DVD burner and 80 gig Hdd upgrade at the normal price of the DVD/CD-RW and 60 gig. So it worked out for me.

Just play with options and price things out if you're going to build new.

As far as upgrading, I think everyone else already spelled it out, so I am not going to repeat it.

But I would highly recommend buying your next notebook computer custom built and buying it ONLINE. You might be able to get it the same day if you go to "Best Buy" but I know mine is better than some of those OEM ones in their display and I got it for cheaper and not MARKED UP BEYOND BELIEF.

Circuit City, Best buy, CompUSA, they are guilty of really taking on a big percentage.

 

[Pseud]

Thanks, the next computer I'll get will be a desktop so thanks for the tips. I'll definitely build from new and buy stuff from offline, so i'll avoid those places, thanks..