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General discussion

Need new video card

Feb 23, 2005 6:05AM PST

I have a Sony Vaio V505 with a 32MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 graphics chip, which only supports DirectX 8.1 (I think?). I would like to replace it with something that supports DirectX 9.0 and has at least 64 MB of memory.

Any suggestions on what to buy/where to buy it?

Discussion is locked

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Not possible.
Feb 23, 2005 10:20AM PST

I can say this safely for two reasons.

1. Most laptop video cards are not user-upgradeable. Even if you can get the parts (in excess of $300 usually), installing is fraught with disaster.

2. Laptops in that milieu use the ATI Radeon 9000 and 9200, which can be gotten sometimes in 64mb, but does not support DX9.

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Dammit
Feb 23, 2005 10:35AM PST

That's disappointing...

What if I had one professionally installed?

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I had a similar question...
Feb 23, 2005 10:53AM PST
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No proffessional can do that.
Feb 23, 2005 10:54AM PST

If you really need directx 9, it may be possible. Obtain the latest video driver from Sony and run the directx update.

But the warning here is this. If you are trying to run today's GAMES, then stop now and save your efforts since it won't help run then at top speed.

Also, you didn't tell what was driving this need.

Bob

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Games
Feb 23, 2005 11:41AM PST

I was hoping to play some games on it, but that's not the main reason I bought it. I'll survive...

I don't understand why this can't be done. The graphics card is separate from the motherboard on this laptop. I assumed that meant it could be replaced.

Oh well. Maybe I'll sell it and buy something that can handle some gaming.

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Then do this.
Feb 23, 2005 11:55AM PST

See what Sony offers for the replacement cards and get one.

When I looked up that laptop, the Sony description didn't tell that you could remove a video card. Just that the video has such and such a chip and dedicated RAM. The video looked as if it was just like most laptops. Soldered chips to the motherboard...

Bob

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Ok
Feb 23, 2005 9:55PM PST

Alright.

While doing some research on the laptop, I read somewhere that the card was removeable. I hope that is correct.

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Help us out....
Feb 23, 2005 11:15PM PST

I must have not read that one. When you dive in and make posts, supply reference web pages so the forum members can quickly find out what your machine make/model is and see what was written.

Sometimes a reviewer will screw up and write "dedicated video card" which has lead to someone demanding the video section is changable. Those words were not exactly correct. "Dedicated video system" or "RAM" would be more precise.

Bob

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Can't find it
Feb 24, 2005 1:03AM PST

I can't find the site where I read that. Maybe it was right, maybe it was wrong. Either way, I got the laptop for like a tenth of the retail price, so I'm happy.