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September 10th, 2018 20:00

Upgrading GPU?

Hi, I have a Dell Inspiron 7559 and I used a user benchmark to determine if there were any compatible GPU's for my laptop and I came across the Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB. I'm reading a lot of forms that says it's impossible for the most part to upgrade the GPU in a laptop due to it being attached to the motherboards, then I'm seeing videos of people with my exact laptop with the GTX 1060 in them and I also see a video titled "Dell puts GTX 1060 graphics into the Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming Laptop", so something tells me that is it possible for me that I could upgrade if I wanted to. I just want to be sure cause I don't want to get my hopes up. 

 

10 Elder

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25.3K Posts

September 11th, 2018 03:00

There are many versions of the 7000 series, and yes - the newer ones do have 1060 GPUs onboard.  You can't just plop a new mainboard into your older system - the internal designs are very different (and in fact it's highly likely the 7559 was even manufactured by a different company than the newer, say 7577 sysetms). 

As for the rest, hacking the system apart to install an external GPU is not a practical solution unless you plan to leave the system in pieces - you can't reinstall the keyboard, base cover or both once you do this, and the external GPU will only work with an external monitor - meaning you sacrifice your notebook and turn it into a desktop system.  You'd be better off simply keeping the notebook as is and buying a desktop system with the better GPU - if that's what you're looking for.

 

73 Posts

September 10th, 2018 23:00

....forgot to mention....use USB wireless card after you are using motherboard socket for external graphics card adapter

73 Posts

September 10th, 2018 23:00

Yank the wifi card. Get the pcie adapter that plugs into it for an external video card.

Many Youtube videos on this...

Will rock and your laptop will generate less heat using external graphics card....longer life.

 

73 Posts

September 11th, 2018 00:00

usb thumb wireless device....I am drinking

73 Posts

September 11th, 2018 00:00

Head to Linus Tech Tips on Youtube...probably already done with a video.

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3 Posts

September 11th, 2018 18:00

I thinking about just getting a slightly better laptop instead because the whole laptops being portable thing. 

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3 Posts

September 11th, 2018 18:00

I'm not an all-knowing god about all this stuff so how would buying a desktop system for my notebook help?

10 Elder

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25.3K Posts

September 12th, 2018 05:00

My point about an external GPU is that you will essentially turn the system into a desktop -- it will be non-portable thereafter.  That's why I suggested buying a desktop system for high performance GPU -- that's the least expensive way to do gaming, or other GPU-intensive applications.

For anything other than entry-level gaming, you're looking north of $1,500 -- probably nearer or over $2,000 - for a notebook capable of gaming at even moderate settings.  The entry level is the nVidia 1060 -- and even it's not capable of running many games at their "normal" settings.  You need to move to a 1070 or 1080 for that - particularly with a 4K screen - and that's going to shift you toward a $2,000+ system.

 

December 11th, 2019 10:00

remember many comments here are giving prices that are RETAIL....there are bargains on NEW parts out there...you just have to be patient and search for them....

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291 Posts

March 3rd, 2021 23:00

big fan of linus, we are

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9 Posts

October 3rd, 2024 22:57

@ejn63​ He did not say anything about installing an "external GPU". Why did you think that? Your assumption was amusingly erroneous!

He was talking about replacing the internal GPU, the 960M, with an internal 1060M. And although it might be undoable in this particular case, due to different power requirements, it is certainly in the realm of real-world facts.

See, contrary to urban legend, major laptop manufacturers do NOT "solder the GPU to the motherboard". They are completely removable and sit on a small circuit board that has flat copper connectors, which slide horizontally into a slot.

In fact, there is an adopted standard format for laptop discrete GPUs, the formats are called MXM(a) and MXM(b). Replacing them depends on availability. 

There's lots for laptop GPUs for sale on eBay. Check, there if you don't believe me. And there are plenty of YouTube videos about this also.

So, there, I just buried a myth!

yours,

Robert B.

(edited)

10 Elder

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25.3K Posts

October 4th, 2024 00:47

MXM GPUs were used in mostly high end notebooks for a time, but the technology hasn't been widely used there in quite some time -- and it's never been used in budget notebooks like the Inspiron that started this thread.  I'm not sure why you replied to a 3+ year old thread, but yes - the GPU is directly soldered to the system board in every Inspiron notebook made in well over 15 years.

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