Hello, recently I've become aware that my graphics card is letting me down. And I've decided to get a new one this year, but I'm pretty dumb when it comes too Graphics Cards as I genuinely do not know which are the best. I'm going to want a Graphics Card that can play GTA IV, on at least minimum settings. (I can play it now on low settings with Intel (R) HD Graphics with Game Booster)
Maybe you'll need to know these too:
RAM: 6GB (5.68 Usable)
OS: Windows 7
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 370 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
640GB HDD
So I just want to know some good gaming graphics cards for a laptop.
Also, when I play GTA IV, sometimes my laptop over-heats and shuts off. Will this be fixed once I've gotton a new Graphics Card?
I'm really not sure if I've broken one or two of the rules here, I apologise if I have.
Graphics card on laptops are soldered on the motherboard, you won't be able to upgrade it without replacing the motherboard. So basically you have to get a new laptop if you want a new GPU, also, what's the model of your laptop?
EasyNote TK85
Here's a picture because when I read the name I always think of one of those really small netbook things:
[IMG]http://www.bitdynasty.com/images/comparison/notebooks/Packard%20Bell/packard-bell-easynote-tk85c.jpg[/IMG]
So, roughly how much would a good new motherboard be? Or is it simply impossible to get a new motherboard?
Unless it has an external PCI slot (HIGHLY UNLIKELY), you will most likely not be able to upgrade the graphics card in that laptop.
[QUOTE=Itszutak;37204408]Unless it has an external PCI slot (HIGHLY UNLIKELY), you will most likely not be able to upgrade the graphics card in that laptop.[/QUOTE]
Shit. So would I not be able to purchase a new motherboard?
No, unless the (very) rare occurrence that there was another computer (or model) they sold otherwise identical but had better graphics on the motherboard, but even then it would be very hard to find and rather expensive.
I would clean the dust out of your laptop and apply new thermal paste (if you know how) to help with the overheating and start saving for a new laptop, as yours is several year sold and, from what I read, quite a piece of junk anyway.
[QUOTE=truckerdude99;37204824]No, unless the (very) rare occurrence that there was another computer (or model) they sold otherwise identical but had better graphics on the motherboard, but even then it would be very hard to find and rather expensive.
I would clean the dust out of your laptop and apply new thermal paste (if you know how) to help with the overheating and start saving for a new laptop, as yours is several year sold and, from what I read, quite a piece of junk anyway.[/QUOTE]
It may be old, but it's definitely not a piece of junk. The only game I cannot play (That I've encountered or tried to play) is Skyrim. And everything non-game wise is incredibly fast.
So if I need a new laptop, fuck. Because I don't get pocket money.
Yeah, I didn't mean a piece of junk as far as speed goes, but more in a sense of build quality (hence the overheating). It is still newer than anything I own. (D630 2.0 ghz c2d 2 gb ram nvs135m and Phenom x4 9950 3.0 ghz oc desktop 8 gb ram gts 450)
[QUOTE=Itszutak;37204408]Unless it has an external PCI slot (HIGHLY UNLIKELY), you will most likely not be able to upgrade the graphics card in that laptop.[/QUOTE]
You can do external graphics cards with an Expresscard slot, though his laptop doesn't have one and it's not very pretty.
Search for the product called ViDock. That's the only way.
[QUOTE=truckerdude99;37205071]Yeah, I didn't mean a piece of junk as far as speed goes, but more in a sense of build quality (hence the overheating). It is still newer than anything I own. (D630 2.0 ghz c2d 2 gb ram nvs135m and Phenom x4 9950 3.0 ghz oc desktop 8 gb ram gts 450)[/QUOTE]
Well, I think the only reason it's overheating is because I'm playing a game (GTA IV) that's well beyond my Graphics Card capability. (Withought [B]THAT[/B] much lag too.)
[QUOTE=weenus;37205190]Search for the product called ViDock. That's the only way.[/QUOTE]
Just looked it up, sounds like exactly what I need if I read it correctly.
You'll have to use an external monitor, it's not really worth it. Buy a desktop if you want to play games, the (cheapest) ViDock is $200 itself, plus you'll need a decent GPU for it which is at least 80. Plus a monitor. That's nearly $300 (without the monitor), and at that price you have enough for a low-end PC which will run games much better than your laptop.
[editline]12th August 2012[/editline]
Plus from what I see you don't have an expresscard slot
[QUOTE=Shadaez;37205910]You'll have to use an external monitor, it's not really worth it. B[/QUOTE]
No you don't actually, you can use a modified version of nVidia Optimus or Lucid Virtu or whatever that thing is called, if your laptop comes with sandy bridge or newer. Either way, the card's performance will be greatly impacted and the setup is very messy.
Well, he doesn't so he can't!
Well, there's no issue for a monitor as I actually have a monitor. I have a desktop but it's really, really old and horrible. Takes like 20 mins to startup and crashes upon the slightest over-use, but for some reason it can play Amnesia: Dark Descent without any extra software help but I dunno. But that's broken now anyway, whenever I turn it on it just gos to standby. Might post in the Technical Problems section actually. Thanks for all the feedback too.
Then just reinstall Windows on that desktop? Put XP on there for the best performance if it's very old.
[QUOTE=weenus;37210274]Then just reinstall Windows on that desktop? Put XP on there for the best performance if it's very old.[/QUOTE]
That's the thing, unless I some how take it apart to install it, it's not gonna happen. Because it gos straight to stand-by when it's turned on, no writing on the screen or anything.
[QUOTE=Vasey105;37210366]That's the thing, unless I some how take it apart to install it, it's not gonna happen. Because it gos straight to stand-by when it's turned on, no writing on the screen or anything.[/QUOTE]
Try putting the Windows XP installation disc in there and mash the keyboard buttons, because before it boots from the disc, there's a "Press any key to boot from CD..." message. You might get lucky.
Also, very strange, it shouldn't go into "stand-by" as soon as you turn it on. Can you describe that a bit more?
When it used to work, and you left it on for too long it'd go on standby, and there's a light behind the power button that gos orange when it does that. Now for some reason as soon as you turn it on it gos orange straight away and nothing happens on the monitor.
Is this old desktop a dell?
[QUOTE='[EG] Pepper;37211380']Is this old desktop a dell?[/QUOTE]
Nope, Packard Bell. Windows XP.
I mean, we got it for free so I can't expect much from it.
[quote]I'm going to want a Graphics Card that can play GTA IV[/quote]
Not sure if the rest of you missed this or what, but wanting to play GTA IV on that hardware is pretty much out of the question. Unfortunately, GTA IV is notorious for being poorly programmed and inefficient. It's difficult to run it on any hardware which lacks a very powerful modern CPU and GPU. The fact you're able to get low setting is fairly impressive given it's a laptop. I'd recommend you take a look at a laptop cooling pad, and give the fans a check for dust. Clean as is needed.
[QUOTE=Biotoxsin;37231534]Not sure if the rest of you missed this or what, but wanting to play GTA IV on that hardware is pretty much out of the question. Unfortunately, GTA IV is notorious for being poorly programmed and inefficient. It's difficult to run it on any hardware which lacks a very powerful modern CPU and GPU. The fact you're able to get low setting is fairly impressive given it's a laptop. I'd recommend you take a look at a laptop cooling pad, and give the fans a check for dust. Clean as is needed.[/QUOTE]
Laptop cooling pads aren't that effective, it's more of a duct tape solution.
I would say replace the thermal paste on the laptop with something like MX4 and blow out the dust.
[editline]14th August 2012[/editline]
But yeah, i would save up for a new PC.
Umm, does your laptop even HAVE a GPU? As far as I can see you're just trying to run games off the HD3000.
[QUOTE=Warship;37233369]Umm, does your laptop even HAVE a GPU? As far as I can see you're just trying to run games off the HD3000.[/QUOTE]
It aint even a HD3000 there.
[QUOTE=Warship;37233369]Umm, does your laptop even HAVE a GPU? As far as I can see you're just trying to run games off the HD3000.[/QUOTE]
I've been told that my Intel (R) HD Graphics is my GPU. And no one before you has said otherwise.
-snip-
[QUOTE=tratzzz;37234630]It aint even a HD3000 there.[/QUOTE]
Oh right.
[editline]15th August 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=Vasey105;37235091]I've been told that my Intel (R) HD Graphics is my GPU. And no one before you has said otherwise.[/QUOTE]
Intel HD graphics is basically just your CPU doing the graphics work. The newer CPUs are getting pretty good at graphics, but a dedicated GPU is always better. Your laptop was never meant for gaming.
[QUOTE=Warship;37240475]Oh right.
[editline]15th August 2012[/editline]
Intel HD graphics is basically just your CPU doing the graphics work. The newer CPUs are getting pretty good at graphics, but a dedicated GPU is always better. Your laptop was never meant for gaming.[/QUOTE]
It seems to run games pretty well though. Like I said, it's only the high-end games I can't play.
[QUOTE='[EG] Pepper;37233187']Laptop cooling pads aren't that effective, it's more of a duct tape solution.
I would say replace the thermal paste on the laptop with something like MX4 and blow out the dust.
[editline]14th August 2012[/editline]
But yeah, i would save up for a new PC.[/QUOTE]
Depends on the quality of the cooling pad and the age of the laptop. Odds are replacing the thermal paste on the laptop would be too difficult for a hardware novice to attempt without risk. Dust removal will probably really help.
OP, make sure when running the laptop with power-hungry applications to allow for adequate airflow on a hard surface. Sounds like common sense to most of us, but you'd be surprised how often people fail to realize the importance.
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