Elitebook 8730W Upgrading GPU FX 3700M

[jefffydee]

Hello everyone! Quick hardware question. I currently have an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670 (256MB) GPU. Now  I know these elitebooks have dedicated graphics. What I am wondering is can I simply swap my ATI card for an NVIDIA FX3700M (1GB). It seems pretty straight forward, I just don't know if I will have any issues with the BIOS or something else maybe. 

IF I can simply swap the GPUs can I use a 3700M card from a DELL? Or does it have to be specifically from an HP?

[banhien]

@jefffydee

I believe for this type of machine you need to use the right part and from HP

      nVidia Quadro FX 3700M  part numner 493984-001

You also need to buy a right heat sink

      Graphics card heat sink for use in computer models with nVidia graphics cards part number 494011-001

After that, the replacement work is much simpler.

Regards.

[Huffer]

Here is the Service Manual:

Manual

Its not so much that it has dedicated graphics. It has a removeable MXM video card which is only true of a tiny percentage of laptops. NXM video cards are not nearly as universal as desktop video cards. The only safe thing is to use one of the cards offered by HP from the factory. Others might work and a card with the same chipset from Lenovo or Dell is likely to work but this is a gray art at best with a lot of uncharted waters. 

You might also have to use an upgraded fan and heatsink if you upgrade the video. 

Graphics card options:

(8) Graphics cards (include replacement thermal material) ATI Mobility FireGL V5725 493982-001

nVidia Quadro FX 2700M 493983-001

nVidia Quadro FX 3700M 493984-001

As I said you might have to install a different heatsink for the video card, but the BIOS is set up to handle any of the above video cards. 

Service Manual:

Manual

Fans/heatsink:

Graphics card heat sink For use in computer models with nVidia Quadro FX 2700M graphics cards 494011-001

For use in computer models with nVidia Quadro FX 3700M graphics cards 518096-001

For use in computer models with ATI graphics cards 494211-001

"How to" on p. 64. Kind of like installing a big memory module. 

Graphics card:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-HP-FX3700M-G92-985-A2-1GB-NB9E-GLM3-MXM-Video-Card-488125-001-460734-001...

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