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View Full Version : Is there anyway to upgrade to a better video card????



erikpmort
Jan 6, 2007, 04:55 PM
besides buying a macbook pro, is there anyway to upgrade the video card in my macbook? what about upgrading the hard drive, know of any that are bigger for a reasonable price? thankx


tipdrill407
Jan 6, 2007, 05:04 PM
No there is absolutely no way to upgrade the video in the Macbook however, upgrading the hard drive is very easy and instructions are detailed in the Macbook documentation.
MacsAttack
Jan 6, 2007, 05:41 PM
The GPU and memory is soldered onto the logic board (motherboard in Wintel speak). It cannot be upgraded. Only way to get better graphics is to wait for an upgraded to the specs and buy a new MacBook Pro.

While the MacBook hard drive can be replaces with ease, the MacBok Pro requires a fair bit of disassembly.

The MacBook was a ground-up redesign from the old iBook. But the MacBook Pro was just crowbared into the Powerbook chassis. Apple needs to do some rerious redesign of the MacBook Pro at some point.
Queso
Jan 6, 2007, 05:44 PM
Virtually every laptop on the market is in the same boat. Graphics cards can't be upgraded. It's one of the things you have to sacrifice for portability.
MacsAttack
Jan 6, 2007, 05:58 PM
Virtually every laptop on the market is in the same boat. Graphics cards can't be upgraded. It's one of the things you have to sacrifice for portability.

Actually there is a new Mobile PCI Express Module graphics card standard for laptops out there. The 24 inch iMac uses one (making it theoretically possible to update its graphics - were it not for the firmware/bios issues).

Apple are not using it in their laptops at this time.

http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/graphics_card_in_24_inch_imac_are_apparently_upgradeable/
Queso
Jan 7, 2007, 03:42 AM
Actually there is a new Mobile PCI Express Module graphics card standard for laptops out there. The 24 inch iMac uses one (making it theoretically possible to update its graphics - were it not for the firmware/bios issues).

Apple are not using it in their laptops at this time.

http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/graphics_card_in_24_inch_imac_are_apparently_upgradeable/
Hence the "Virtually" at the beginning of my post :) It's there, but not used in most laptops currently on the market. It would be nice if Apple start to put it into the MBPs, but I can't see it going into the MBs soon, if ever.
DigitalN.
Jan 7, 2007, 03:44 AM
Hence the "Virtually" at the beginning of my post :) It's there, but not used in most laptops currently on the market. It would be nice if Apple start to put it into the MBPs, but I can't see it going into the MBs soon, if ever.

if you still want it to be 1" thick, I would not expect to see it anytime soon.
CrackedButter
Jan 7, 2007, 05:39 AM
if you still want it to be 1" thick, I would not expect to see it anytime soon.

Apple didn't ask us if we wanted a 1 inch laptop, they went ahead and made it for us!:)
DigitalN.
Jan 7, 2007, 12:41 PM
Apple didn't ask us if we wanted a 1 inch laptop, they went ahead and made it for us!:)

true, but I would much rather have a 1" laptop than an upgradeable video card.
mkrishnan
Jan 7, 2007, 12:57 PM
true, but I would much rather have a 1" laptop than an upgradeable video card.

Probably representing that vast majority of Apple's market.... ;) Although there does seem to be an influx of people who are more interested in video games since Intel came into the picture. Most of the graphics / design people I know who use Macs do not frequently complain about this issue.
reaper673
Jan 7, 2007, 02:02 PM
Actually, just recently this was announced, that may be a solution for home gaming... if you want to lug this thing around that is. I assume that this is just the start, and in the future even better ones will come around:

http://pcexposure.com/2007/01/06/asus-unveils-xg-station-the-worlds-first-external-graphics-card-for-laptops/