PCI Express x16 port ?

[SnoopCat]

On my laptop (Inspiron 6000) it says it has a PCI Express* x16 port available. (Listed under "Benefits to Business - Upgradeability".
http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/gma900/

Does that mean i can buy a higher end "PCI Express* x16 port " video card to plug into this port (Such as the Radeon x300)? Anyone know where I can buy one or find more information about this? I tried Dell but they dont offer any upgrades.

 

[Insomniak]

If a Radeon X300 is a higher end video card, I'm the Pope.

Clearly, I am not the Pope.

On most laptops your video chip is integrated and cannot be upgraded. Not sure if this is the case with your setup. You'd need to check your user's manual.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Doubt there would be space in a laptop for any kind of high performance graphics card. Besides, the heat generated would probably way too much.

Edit: Do you know where the port is, is it for some kind of external card like a modem or something?

 

[magomago]

how the heck did you figure an x300 was top of the line

ah well, the marketing wonders of companies....they really CAN make you beleive anything


edit:

in an attempt to avoid a threat crap

though i would wonder what it meant more clearly...dumping a REAL high end card in there...is there SPACE?!?! Are these the special "upgradeable laptop cards" made specifically for laptops? What about power consumptin and heat?

 

[Rock Hydra]

By higher end maybe he meant better than integrated graphics.

 

[SnoopCat]

ya, when i said higher end, i meant higher than integrated graphics

 

[imported_rod]

If it does have a " PCI Express x16 port " (and it appears to) you can add a mobile graphics card to it, to replace your integrated graphics. If you have the money, you could even get theGeForce Go 6800, which is a laptop version of the 6800.

These can usually be bought from the larger computer stores, but often only by special order. Also, they cost noticably more that the desktop versions, due to their smaller size, lower power consumption and lower heat output.

Hope that's helped.
RoD