Can I upgrade my graphics card?

hazel123 · 14 Apr 2017

I know nothing about graphics cards

Sony Vaio VPCCW2S1E. Nvidia GEforce GT330M. In recent months, graphics crash if I try to do more than one thing at a time. Sony has two drivers. An original one and an updated one. For many years I have stuck with the original one because the updated one caused loads of issues.

So now I'm thinking - if I replace the graphics card with something else, maybe I can get a better driver as well. Assume it is replaceable as not integrated graphics.

RoasterMen · 14 Apr 2017

Hi

Laptop Graphics Cards are upgradable but not all laptop graphics cards are not compatible with one another mainly because the laptop charger and the battery are only made to power specific specification of the device. It is also expensive as well.

So I'd say it's a no.

Bat 1 · 14 Apr 2017

Most laptop GPUs are embedded and can't be replaced. The best option is to download the latest drivers directly from the Manufacturer. http://www.geforce.com/drivers

hazel123 · 14 Apr 2017

Thanks. I thought that might be the case :) I read somewhere that with Sony's it's best to use their drivers rather than the manufacturer ones because they've been adapated somehow (and Sony's do have some funny firmware) so looks like I am stuck with this driver. Anyway it's not quite so bad since my clean install.

Anyone else got a Sony with a better graphics driver that works well?

Anyway - if graphics card is embedded, does this mean that if it fails I have a dead laptop?

Barman58 · 14 Apr 2017

If your laptop graphics card fails then it's a major repair job to replace, this is not something that is at all common and with Desktops, which take replaceable cards, they are replaced normally for upgraded performance rather than due to failure.

If you wish to try different drivers you can use Display Driver Uninstaller from Here to completely remove the installed driver before trying an alternative - Totally free and prevents a lot of issues

Bat 1 · 14 Apr 2017

Not sure of the BIOS settings on that exact Model, but in most cases if You're using only the laptop screen, You'll be using the Intel GMA graphics unless You're Gaming or doing anything else demanding. The latest drivers for those appear to be from 2013 according to https://downloadcenter.intel.com/pro...Cache-2-13-GHz-

You could also check those by running the Intel Driver Update Utility to check: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/...rt/detect.html

On My Lenovo with a i5 3210M with GT 635M I always run the latest Non-Beta drivers for both Intel and NVidia for the OS version drive I have in.

hazel123 · 14 Apr 2017

Thanks both - I didn't realise I had any Intel drivers as well

Don't think I have. Device Manager just says the Nvidia GT330M. I think I'll just see how it goes since the clean install.

jimmyhackers · 06 May 2017

its proabably full of dust thats blocking up the heatsinks in it. laptops are prone to this.

get it cleaned out and it might stop thermal throttling