Graphics Card - Tutorial Series

I have a built-in Intel graphic card that comes along with the processor i5. Is it possible if i change to any external graphic card (e.g. nVidia GeForce)? Is there any spec requirement that needs to be concerned to choose the external graphic card?

Thanks in advance!

rdlf said:

I have a built-in Intel graphic card that comes along with the processor i5. Is it possible if i change to any external graphic card (e.g. nVidia GeForce)? Is there any spec requirement that needs to be concerned to choose the external graphic card?

Thanks in advance!

FYI, I am using a laptop HP Pavilion dv4-2160us

it all depends on your motherboard, rdlf.

more basic models do not have a pci-e slot for a graphics card.

also, make sure that your current power supply unit has enough 'oomph' to power the new card, as these often require a fair bit of 'juice'.

without knowing more details about your machine, it's impossible to tell.

ah - i didn't see your 'i have a laptop' post when i wrote mine - i think we posted at the same time.

sorry, you can't upgrade your graphics on your machine, rdlf - one of the few pitfalls of having a notebook - limited upgradability options.

looking at your machine's manual, it looks like you can upgrade your cpu to a slightly faster one - 2.4 GHz to 2.53 - but it's really not worth the hassle nor expense for the 5% difference (that you wouldn't notice anyway).

Hi, I recently bought a laptop from ASUS with windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. The specs are:

CPU = Intel i5 M450 2.40Ghz
Memory = 4GB RAM
HDD = 500GB
GPU = nVIDIA Geforce 310M 1GB (not the best) + Intel(R) HD Graphics

These two GPU's are, from what I can find on my PC, running at the same time. I know the nVIDIA 310M isn't a good GPU at all but I was wondering...
Would it be a smart idea to stop the Intel GPU and let the nVIDIA work on it's on own? the thing is, when I play a game I do not know whether the Intel or the nVIDIA is working. I was wondering if I stopped the Intel one that the nVIDIA would take over and increase performance. Is this true?
Can someone please give me some advice? I don't have any knowledge about this what so ever.
thanks

Lordbob75 said:

megamind said:

Hi, I recently bought a laptop from ASUS with windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. The specs are:

CPU = Intel i5 M450 2.40Ghz
Memory = 4GB RAM
HDD = 500GB
GPU = nVIDIA Geforce 310M 1GB (not the best) + Intel(R) HD Graphics

These two GPU's are, from what I can find on my PC, running at the same time. I know the nVIDIA 310M isn't a good GPU at all but I was wondering...
Would it be a smart idea to stop the Intel GPU and let the nVIDIA work on it's on own? the thing is, when I play a game I do not know whether the Intel or the nVIDIA is working. I was wondering if I stopped the Intel one that the nVIDIA would take over and increase performance. Is this true?
Can someone please give me some advice? I don't have any knowledge about this what so ever.
thanks

You have a laptop with dual video cards, managed through the BIOS for power management. When doing normal activities, the Intel GPU is active. When gaming or doing more graphics intensive activities, the NVidia GPU activates.

~Lordbob

That's a great set-up to have on a laptop. The 310m is meant as an entry-level card( with something like 16 cores I believe), it wouldn't change much if you deactivate the intel HD graphics... only eating up your battery faster.

I need your help people!
This is my system config
RAM : 2Gb
OS :WIn 7 32 bit
Video card :Geforce Zotac GT 240
Motherboard : 945gz intel
Power Supply +450W

My problem is that , when i insert the graphics card in the PciE slot and connect the monitor cable to the graphics card and turn on the cpu, I dont GEt a Display!

I have updated my bios, i have even tried Disabling the Display adapters in Device manager.