Upgrade options, do i have any??

[sniperp_99]

I'm looking at possible upgrade options for my laptop. My video card is a Geforce 9800M GTS, my processor is a Core 2 Duo P8400 2.27GHz, an 4 GIG ram (not sure what kind anyone know how to find out without ripping my computer apart). Its running good now but i would like to get some better visuals and start making videos without the lag i normally get.

[Schlup]

Yeah, you're in a tough spot...that's the bad part about laptops, you can't really upgrade them much.  Just from memory it sounds like you're about at the top of your spectrum on the specs too.  You could run a 'dxdiag' from the command screen and save and upload your output here so we know exactly what we're working with.  I'd say that you're probably looking at just buying a new one though, you're stuck with your video, your dual core is probably not upgradeable to quad core, and you're probably at your limit on RAM too.  Are you running 32bit or 64bit Windows?

[sniperp_99]

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/25/2010, 12:48:30
       Machine name: LAPTOP
   Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gateway       
       System Model: P-7805u       
               BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     P8400  @ 2.26GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
             Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4090MB RAM
          Page File: 1420MB used, 6759MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: 120 DPI (125 percent)
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS   
       Manufacturer: NVIDIA
          Chip type: GeForce 9800M GTS
           DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_062C&SUBSYS_0696107B&REV_A1
     Display Memory: 2795 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 1005 MB
      Shared Memory: 1789 MB
       Current Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (59Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: unknown
         Monitor Id: LGD3901
        Native Mode: 1920 x 1200(p) (59.950Hz)
        Output Type: Internal
        Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.17.0011.9562 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.17.11.9562
        DDI Version: 10
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 11/20/2009 22:34:54, 11775080 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: n/a
    WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
  Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-456C-11CF-9156-9D261FC2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x10DE
          Device ID: 0x062C
          SubSys ID: 0x0696107B
        Revision ID: 0x00A1
 Driver Strong Name: oem5.inf:NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1:Section006:8.17.11.9562:pci\ven_10de&dev_062c&subsys_0696107b
     Rank Of Driver: 00E60001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C:
 Free Space: 74.0 GB
Total Space: 293.2 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: Hitachi HTS723232L9A360 ATA Device

      Drive: D:
 Free Space: 27.1 GB
Total Space: 57.2 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: FUJITSU MHT2060BH ATA Device

      Drive: E:
      Model: Optiarc DVD RW AD-7583S ATA Device
     Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7600.16385 (English), , 0 bytes

Heres the info i figured would help from dxdiag i also attached the full dxdiag file. Schlup I'm running windows 7 64bit

[tehfunk101]

My laptop has a removable / upgradeable video card, but they are outrageously expensive and hard to find. Not sure if thats how gateway does their GPU's, but if you take off the laptops bottom cover you should be able to tell easily.  But, your most logical upgrade solution would be to get a desktop :/

[sniperp_99]

im looking at  maybe doing a desktop when i get to virginia in august but was looking at maybe doing upgrades to my laptop instead but i might just do a desktop for my major gaming and use the laptop for travel. but im still open to upgrade options for my laptop if their are any.

[Schlup]

Yeah, that's my recommendation to you too, just get a gaming desktop, it'll be way cheaper buying a whole system rather than trying to upgrade your laptop by just a little bit.

[NavyChief]

Same recommendation here. Get a gaming desktop!

The only time I would tell anyone to get a laptop is if they traveled a lot or where space is not available. In the military, space is just not available for large desktop gaming systems. The only real option in this situation would be a laptop.

A desktop is more versatile in that you can put together the exact specs you want and can upgrade it fairly easily.