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Heart Break Kid
Feb 26, 2004, 07:11 AM
simple question -

is this possible? I have a 17" PB with 1 gig ram. Its a Rev A PB (1 ghz). I know that their are very few upgrades possible on laptops, and even fewer on apple laptops at that - but i was wondering if it was possible to stick in a faster more powerful video card if i ever come across one? Since im not as tech savy as some of you, who would i get to do this for me?

also, what cards are out right now that would work in the powerbook that are better then a 64 mb gforce 4 that comes stock with my machine? oh and how much would such a card cost?



MacUser1
Feb 26, 2004, 07:31 AM
no, i don't think you can do that. I think only Alienware and as of recent Dell's gaming notebook are the only laptops that have upgradable graphics cards

robbieduncan
Feb 26, 2004, 07:51 AM
Just ot confirm: This is not possible. Current (and recent) Apple laptops not have graphics cards. The graphics chip and it's high speed video RAM are soldered directly to the logic board. The only way to upgrade the graphics chip would be to replace the whole logic board. This would cost so much that you would not even think about doing it.

luke_s
Feb 26, 2004, 08:17 AM
does anyone know if its possible to upgrade the cpu in a powerbook g4?

srobert
Feb 26, 2004, 08:29 AM
Originally posted by luke_s
does anyone know if its possible to upgrade the cpu in a powerbook g4?

Just copy paste robbieduncan's previous post and replace the words "graphic card" with "CPU". There is your answer. ^_^ (except for the "don't have" part)

MoparShaha
Feb 26, 2004, 01:33 PM
Originally posted by luke_s
does anyone know if its possible to upgrade the cpu in a powerbook g4? Eventually it will be possible. There are a few companies that will upgrade the G3 processor in older G3 PowerBooks to a G4. They remove the old processor and resolder a G4 onto the board. Eventually, they'll probably offer faster G4's for current G4 PowerBooks.

Gymnut
Feb 26, 2004, 02:56 PM
Well hopefully ATI will bring way its mobility 9700 into the PB lineup.

bluetrepidation
Feb 26, 2004, 08:34 PM
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING! Ever heard of surface mount soldering? Yes that's right.. unsolder that old processor and pop a new one in. Someday when I have the $ I'm building me a soldering station to do just that. In fact I have plans from the web by others who have built stations.

Wishfull thinking,
A.J.

Sun Baked
Feb 26, 2004, 08:39 PM
Originally posted by Heart Break Kid
simple question -

is this possible? but i was wondering if it was possible to stick in a faster more powerful video card if i ever come across one?

Since im not as tech savy as some of you, who would i get to do this for me?

oh and how much would such a card cost? Yes...

Apple is willing to do it...

The PowerBook 17 video card updates start at $2999.00+tax (Selling the old card on eBay will cut down some of that cost)

mactastic
Feb 26, 2004, 09:30 PM
NO!

If you want to upgrade your computer, dont buy a laptop. As was suggested, 17" upgrades start at $3K

ZildjianKX
Feb 27, 2004, 12:08 AM
LoL, just replace the word laptop in these posts with "mac" :D

Besides RAM, a hard drive, and possibly the videocard on a powermac, goodluck upgrading.

bousozoku
Feb 27, 2004, 01:44 AM
Originally posted by ZildjianKX
LoL, just replace the word laptop in these posts with "mac" :D

Besides RAM, a hard drive, and possibly the videocard on a powermac, goodluck upgrading.

You may include the processor on G3 and G4 PowerMacs, and selected older machines, as well.

mactastic
Feb 27, 2004, 02:10 PM
Originally posted by ZildjianKX
LoL, just replace the word laptop in these posts with "mac" :D

Besides RAM, a hard drive, and possibly the videocard on a powermac, goodluck upgrading.

That's not true, there are companies that make logic board upgrades, I have a G3 upgrade for my 68040 Performa. You can get G4 upgrades, even dualies IIRC, for your cube.

Just look here (http://www.9to5computer.com/sonnetpricelist.htm) for some available upgrades.

krimson
Feb 27, 2004, 02:57 PM
Yeah, OWC has, i think, all the available G4 upgrades on the market, and some discontinued.
Video cards on the PM's are available too.

if you have the $$, almost anything is possible .