Upgrading to Higher Graphics

[Nishant97]

I have a Hp Laptop(HP ProBook 445 G2) which has AMD A10-7300 APU with Radeon™ R6 Graphics(Quad Cores, 3.2 GHz/1.9 GHz, 2 MB L2 Cache). I want to increase my GPU performance and want to switch to a higher version of Graphics. Can I do so by replacing the existing graphics card or should I go for an External GPU ? Will External GPU enhance the gaming and designing experience ? I work mainly with designing and rendering softwares like 3ds max,Catia,unigraphics.

Please help!!

[mdklassen · Accepted solution]

> Can I replace the existing graphics card ?

No. Your notebook computer: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04763032

does not have a separate graphics adapter.

> Should I go for an External GPU ?

That seems to be your only option.

> Will External GPU enhance the gaming experience and the designing productivity?

Probably yes, in both cases -- two screens probably are better than one.

[Nishant97]

Which external GPU will best ? 

If I go for a new budget gaming laptop which has a better GPU than the present one,  which one should I buy ? 

[banhien]

@Nishant97

Welcome to HP Support Forum. The 445 G2 with AMD processor series has 3 options for UMA graphics:

• AMD A10-7300, Quad Cores, 3.2 GHz/1.9 GHz 2 MB L2 cache/Radeon R6 graphics
• AMD A8-7100, Quad Cores, 3.0 GHz/1.8 GHz 2 MB L2 cache/Radeon R5 graphics
• AMD A6 Pro 7050B, Dual Cores, 3.0 GHz/2.2 GHz 1 MB L2 cache/Radeon R4 graphics

and looks like your machine is the top of the range with Integrated UMA.

1. It uses Integrated UMA graphics therefore you can't change, can't add any internal GPU without changing maotherboard (only if available) and this is a very, very, very expensive upgrade - buying a new machine would be cheaper and better.
2. External GPU: This machine does not have any port which is suitable for an external CPU.

Regards.

[mdklassen]

> Which external GPU will [be] best?

I don't know.  Try:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/j5create-superspeed-usb-3-0-to-2-x-hdmi-external-video-adapter-silver-wh...

because it connects to a USB 3.0 ("highest speed") port on your computer, and has 2 HDMI connectors, and claims to be "4K-ready" for the newest TVs.

> If I go for a new budget gaming laptop which has a better GPU than the present one,  which one should I buy ? 

It's a contradiction to write "budget" and "gaming" in the same phrase, because "gaming" requires more performance than "budget" can deliver.