Idea Storm

Give us the option to upgrade / replace the videocard in all laptops

April 24, 2010

260 Votes

Status: Partially Implemented

Promote

Do not Integrate the videocards to your motherboards, but use a proprietary module! This case we do not have to change the whole motherboard if the videocard going to dead. We also could replace your cheap Nvidias, ATIs to better watt/performance videocards like to Ati Mobility HD5830 and later to more modern. Thanks!

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Status Update: Please see bill_b's comment for further information. Thank you for posting!

260 Votes | 27 Comments | Report Abuse

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Feb 28, 2012 Comment Link

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Posted By:
Hyncharas
I love this idea; by far it's the best solution I've heard, and it might even solve the annoying form factor issue of GPUs between different laptop models.

Feb 21, 2012 Comment Link

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Posted By: mano_g
By the way, this has already been in place for Dell Precision mobile workstations for a few years now also.

Feb 21, 2012 Comment Link

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Posted By: bill_b
Thanks for the idea submission. Dell has no plans to make all video cards replaceable, seperate modules. The cost implications are a consideration here, and with the projected "attach rate" (users who would take advantage of the feature) being very low on all but the high end gaming systems with MXM slots offered on some Alienware notebooks, it becomes cost prohibitive. However, we can consider this idea as partially implemented due to the fact we actually adopted the MXM standards on the Alienware systems.

Sep 16, 2010 Comment Link

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Posted By: Rebel333
I have just seen the StudioXPS 16 has a new video card in it, called Mobility Radeon HD 565v. it uses the same chip as the Mobility Radeon HD 4670. Bravo Dell, great improvement! This is how you going to loose your customers!

Sep 7, 2010 Comment Link

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Posted By: tahrey
YES.
OK, it'd put the price of the machine up by a possibly crucial $5~$10, but you could try to make it a USP of some kind. Modules like that could even be user-replacable for much easier and less costly service procedure (send them the new one, have them swap it, send the old one back) as it'd basically be plugging into a variant of PCI-X.

The amount of desktops at my workplace that have had to have motherboard swaps, or be replaced entirely (if the mobo wouldn't come out easily) because of something simple like that failing, OMG.

In fact couldn't we just regress to the days of socketed chips or something? As the idea behind the integration is to reduce the chip count by bringing all the functions together, it could at least be simplified to the level of "release broken multifunction chip A from it's socket, replace, and secure new one, leaving motherboard and MFCs B, C and D plus all other components in-situ". They don't look to have such high pin counts that this would be an impractical thing to do. Just cost a few dollars more (and add a few extra SKUs) for much easier and more efficient servicing.

Aug 6, 2010 Comment Link

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Posted By: Rebel333

btsmith52
Many graphics cards are in the same power consumption range, and choosing the right cards that would not cause thermal and power limitations.

Mobility HD 5830 -->24 Watt

Mobility HD 5750 -->25 Watt

Mobility HD 5730 -->26 Watt

Mobility HD 4650 -->35 Watt

For example, if we have an StudioXPS 16 with HD4650 than we would love to upgrade it for HD5830. We get better power consumption, less heat and much much better performance. Unfortunatelly that HD4650 is integrated on the mainboard, so we do not have this option!! ...Than I could mention the future videocards and etc.

Most of these videocards (expect HD4650) could fit in (from) 14" laptops without drive the cost and size up. We do not need Alienwares (hell ugly), but we would like to get Inspiron, Studio, StudioXPS, Vostro, Latitude with better graphics.

For demoters:
Sad to see you only registering to demote this important idea without a comment or reason. I would love to discuss with you.

Aug 6, 2010 Comment Link

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Posted By: btsmith52
Engineering laptops with swappable graphics cards sounds better that it probably is. Besides the terrible thermal and power limitations, it would really drive the cost and size up. It would really be available to the highest configuration. It has already been done (previous alienware models), and people just didn't buy them. The external graphics card for laptops might have more promise ( but a lot less portability).

Jul 23, 2010 Comment Link

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Posted By: Rebel333
Addition idea:

The proprietary module can even stay empty for those who do not require harder graphics than Intel (Intel graphics is already integrated in CPU). But if we going to add graphics into the available proprietary module, it goes to switchable or optimus system!

Jun 18, 2010 Comment Link

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Posted By: marios
Perhaps Dell is Nvidia orientated, so you can wait for DirectX 11 laptops until October - November. However DirectX 11 is not a big deal yet...