I own an early 2007 MacBook with 1.83 GHz Intel and 512 MB of RAM(hopefully upgrading soon to 2 Gb) and i would really like to put an NVidia graphics card into my macbook without having to buy a MacBook Pro. I'm planing to buy a MB Pro eventually but not right now, so... can i put an NVidia into my macbook?
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NVidia graphics card into my MacBook?
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Considering even on Windows based laptops video card upgrades are next to non-existent (yes I know some models have the ability yet doing so is not an easy task) Apple's laptops follow along the same standard in non-upgradable video cards from the users perspective in regards to laptops.
Upgrades which you see on purchase pages are done at the factory (as with all laptops when you buy them)
Those that can be upgraded are not very easy to do, let alone the cost of said video cards (if available and for Macbooks you can't) are pretty costly, especially for older models.
Short answer, no, MB's cannot have the video upgraded. Best you can do is add more RAM so that video can share in the ram. Beyond that it's best to wait it out until you can get a more powerful laptop.
Upgrades which you see on purchase pages are done at the factory (as with all laptops when you buy them)
Those that can be upgraded are not very easy to do, let alone the cost of said video cards (if available and for Macbooks you can't) are pretty costly, especially for older models.
Short answer, no, MB's cannot have the video upgraded. Best you can do is add more RAM so that video can share in the ram. Beyond that it's best to wait it out until you can get a more powerful laptop.
sure you can put an nvidia card into your macbook! just buy the video card, shove it into your macbook wherever there's space, and presto you've got an nvidia card on the go!
getting it to work w/ your macbook, however, is impossible!
getting it to work w/ your macbook, however, is impossible!
Installing a graphics card on MBs is not possible. They come with an intergrated card and there's nothing that can be done about it. The only latop with an upgradable card is the MBP.
Sorry, but wrong. The MBP does not have an upgradable graphics system. There are two different versions you can choose from when configuring your machine from the factory, but once built it is not changeable/upgradable.
Correct, MPB prev version and current (penryn) both have integrated (by integrated I man NON REMOVABLE, the GPU is the middle chip) cards:
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Thanks a lot for the info. Guess I'll have to wait till I upgrade my RAM or till I buy an MBP to get better graphics.
No, they are not integrated. The MBP has a dedicated graphics system it is just soldered to the logic board making it impossible to take off. Integrated means it is part of the logic board and motherboards for PCs and Macs don't originally ship with a high end card built into the motherboard. It would actually be impossible. The MacBooks however are integrated.
If the video card was just "SOLDERED" on it would be upgradable but not likely.
If you look carefully, the GPU is the middle chip. Now I'm no hardware genius nor do I claim to be, but that GPU chip seems pretty set in the logic board and does not look 'removable' by any means even de-soldering it. And correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the GPU part of the graphics card and by looking at the pictures of both versions the GPU seems to be part of the logic board, not just soldered on as an extension card.
So although "integrated" may not be the technically correct common term, it's still INTEGRATED into the logic board meaning it IS part of the logic board, de-soldering is NOT an option.
Yes I know what the common reference to 'integrated graphics' means, and yes it's not true integrated, but it's still integrated by similar definition.
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I'd settle for a low end dedicated graphics option in the mb. Heck, I'd settle for apple writing some decent drivers for the x3100.
Ah well... In a few months I'll be able to go desktop, and then I'll really be happy.
Jpoon said:
I'd settle for a low end dedicated graphics option in the mb. Heck, I'd settle for apple writing some decent drivers for the x3100.
Ah well... In a few months I'll be able to go desktop, and then I'll really be happy.
If the video card was just "SOLDERED" on it would be upgradable but not likely.
If you look carefully, the GPU is the middle chip. Now I'm no hardware genius nor do I claim to be, but that GPU chip seems pretty set in the logic board and does not look 'removable' by any means even de-soldering it. And correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the GPU part of the graphics card and by looking at the pictures of both versions the GPU seems to be part of the logic board, not just soldered on as an extension card.
So although "integrated" may not be the technically correct common term, it's still INTEGRATED into the logic board meaning it IS part of the logic board, de-soldering is NOT an option.
Yes I know what the common reference to 'integrated graphics' means, and yes it's not true integrated, but it's still integrated by similar definition.
Either way it's still a dedicated chipset in the MBPs.
yup there is no real way to do this as the board was develop to be used with the crappy gpu so sadly there is no way to do, well there is always a way, i would think that with a little of tinkering you could be able to get the card in, but that requires to rebuild a few of boards parts, unsoldier and resolder all the parts of the video card, so the cost wise, it will be beyond expensive, might as well build your own mother board :O, now tghat is extreeme!!!