Upgrading Graphics card on HP Pavilion DV6920ea

[Net_slayer]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if it's possible to replace the graphics card of my HP Pavilion DV6920ea. It comes with the Nvidia 8400m GS graphics card.

I have been searching around and I understand that it is difficult to upgrade graphics card on laptops/netbooks and that an entire motherboard replacement may be necessary to replace the card if it's integrated into said motherboard.

I have looked at what I think is the graphics card inside the laptop and there doesn't seem to be soldered. Provided I'm looking at the right thing, does this mean it's easily replaceable?

I'm thinking of upgrading to a higher end graphics card... (above 8400m maybe 8800m)

Any help is very much appreciated.

[erico]

A notebook's graphics solution is rarely upgradeable. Use CPU-z to see if yours has integrated(soldered onto motherboard) or a discrete graphics card (usually mini PCIE).

Notebooks with upgradeable graphics are generally high end models.

Best regards,

erico

[Net_slayer]

I've analyzed using CPU z and it says the following:

Chipset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge            Intel PM965 rev. C0
Southbridge            Intel 82801HBM (ICH8-ME) rev. B1
Graphic Interface        PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width        x16
PCI-E Max Link Width        x16
Memory Type            DDR2
Memory Size            3072 MBytes
Channels            Dual, (Symmetric)
Memory Frequency        332.6 MHz (1:2)
CAS# latency (CL)        5.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD)    5
RAS# Precharge (tRP)        5
Cycle Time (tRAS)        15
MCHBAR I/O Base address        0x0FED14000
MCHBAR I/O Size            4096

and it also says:

Graphics
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of adapters        1

Graphic APIs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

API                NVIDIA I/O
API                NVIDIA NVAPI

Display Adapters
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Display adapter 0   
    Name            NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
    Revision        A2
    Codename        G86M
    Technology        80 nm
    Memory size        256 MB
    Memory bus width    64 bits
    PCI device        bus 1 (0x1), device 0 (0x0), function 0 (0x0)
    Vendor ID        0x10DE (0x103C)
    Model ID        0x0427 (0x30CC)
    Performance Level    Default
        Core clock    169.0 MHz
        Shader clock    338.0 MHz
        Memory clock    100.0 MHz
    Performance Level    2D Desktop
        Core clock    275.0 MHz
        Shader clock    550.0 MHz
        Memory clock    200.0 MHz
    Performance Level    3D Applications
        Core clock    400.0 MHz
        Shader clock    800.0 MHz
        Memory clock    400.0 MHz

So could I safely assume that this card is replaceable as mini pci e?

I'm sorry I 'm not very experienced with hardware as opposed to software.

[erico]

---

Net_slayer wrote:

I've analyzed using CPU z and it says the following:

Chipset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge            Intel PM965 rev. C0
Southbridge            Intel 82801HBM (ICH8-ME) rev. B1
Graphic Interface        PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width        x16
PCI-E Max Link Width        x16
Memory Type            DDR2
Memory Size            3072 MBytes
Channels            Dual, (Symmetric)
Memory Frequency        332.6 MHz (1:2)
CAS# latency (CL)        5.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD)    5
RAS# Precharge (tRP)        5
Cycle Time (tRAS)        15
MCHBAR I/O Base address        0x0FED14000
MCHBAR I/O Size            4096

and it also says:

Graphics
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of adapters        1

Graphic APIs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

API                NVIDIA I/O
API                NVIDIA NVAPI

Display Adapters
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Display adapter 0   
    Name            NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
    Revision        A2
    Codename        G86M
    Technology        80 nm
    Memory size        256 MB
    Memory bus width    64 bits
    PCI device        bus 1 (0x1), device 0 (0x0), function 0 (0x0)
    Vendor ID        0x10DE (0x103C)
    Model ID        0x0427 (0x30CC)
    Performance Level    Default
        Core clock    169.0 MHz
        Shader clock    338.0 MHz
        Memory clock    100.0 MHz
    Performance Level    2D Desktop
        Core clock    275.0 MHz
        Shader clock    550.0 MHz
        Memory clock    200.0 MHz
    Performance Level    3D Applications
        Core clock    400.0 MHz
        Shader clock    800.0 MHz
        Memory clock    400.0 MHz

So could I safely assume that this card is replaceable as mini pci e?

I'm sorry I 'm not very experienced with hardware as opposed to software.

---

No. That would be a faulty assumption.

Only one adapter is shown. That means there is no switchable second graphics adapter in your notebook. 

This link shows what your graphics chip looks like.

What is the part number that CPU-z shows for your systemboard?

Best regards,

erico

[Net_slayer]

Sorry but where do I find this part number in cpu-z?

[erico]

Use the mainboard tab. The following example is from my scratchbuilt playtoy system.

 

Just click on the tab.

Best regards,

erico 

[Net_slayer]

[erico]

Sorry, but your notebook graphics solution is not internally upgradeable. 

Best regards,

erico

[Net_slayer]

Thank you very very much for your help.

I'd just like to know a few other things before I leave this alone though. How did you diagnose that it is not internally upgradeable?

If it's not internally upgradeable then does it mean basically I can't just open it it up replace the card and fire it up, yes?

Furthermore what other things can be upgraded in order to improve 3D performance? (That aren't so risky)

Thanks again.

[erico · Accepted solution]

You can improve 3D performance ( as in playing games) by turning off Aero snap and changing your desktop theme to Windows Classis. That will free up some memory resources for your gaming.

As far as how I diagnosed your notebook upgradeability goes.. I use research to do that. I find out which chipset is installed and the capabilities of the HP systemboard. Reading the tech manual on the notebook always helps.

With HP laptops/notebooks you can generally assume that unless switchable graphics are part of the package you purchased then you cannot upgrade the graphics solution.

There are some relatively expensive external graphics upgrades available on the market. ViDock2 is one such product. It is an interesting device. Using the ViDock you can play any game on the market using your notebook.

Best regards,
erico