A Lesson in Laptop GPUs

[Verinaut]

I've been a software engineer for a long time now and I'm only just getting into the hardware side of things and it is AWESOME. Unfortunately my enthusiasm is dwarfed by my ignorance, so please bear with me if this is a stupid question.

I've got an old Dell XPS L501x and I thought I would pull it apart and upgrade it into a more powerful desktop (for fun and profit). I would especially like to upgrade the graphics card. I google that shizz and all signs say it's impossible to upgrade the GPU because it's soldered to the board.

I get that, but according to the manual the Intel HM57 chipset in this thing has a PCIe 2.0 x16 slot which I should be able to jam a nice GPU into. So what am I missing? Is the current GPU soldered into that slot or what?

While I'm at it, I'd love to upgrade the CPU too if I can. Is that feasible?

Thanks in advance for what I'm sure will be awesome, constructive feedback and not outrage at my poor understanding of computers [strike]also why are the smilies terrible what year is this[/strike]

 

[MalakiArtook]

no. laptop parts for the most part are not interchangeable like desktop parts. everything is proprietary and requires different an vry particular parts designed for that product.

 

[Verinaut]

Ok, but a PCIe slot is a PCIe slot, right? I know there are cards that will plug into that. Will the CPU just not work with it or what?

 

[MalakiArtook]

LOL no. Can you show me this GPU you want to put in this pcie slot?


Lets pretend for the sake of understanding that you could fit a brick sized GPU in a laptop case. GPUs take a lot of power. How would you deliver the extra power that would be required? Lap top gpus are little chips that look like tiny cpus, they dont go in pcie slots like desktops. its 1 big board built as 1 unit designed to run of of a set amount of power. i highly doubt it has any slots. does that make sense?

 

[Verinaut]

[strike]Well, if you actually read what I posted, you'd know that it's an Intel HM57 chipset and I've already linked the manual http/www.orbitmicro.com/download/resources/JNF98-QM57_manual.pdf [/strike] EDIT: You totally didn't say anything about the chipset/mobo, my bad! Just woke up.

I plan to take the laptop apart and turn it into a desktop. I'm not concerned about fitting anything inside a laptop case, and if it needs a different power supply, then cool, I'll get one and plug it in.

Let's say this is the GPU I want to use http/www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=ZT-650DHV1&c=FR&pid=7397e4b122e186acf80b0fe873fa230da6d0bd87a667a632c8618ad432c7889f&gclid=CJjjpfTd1r4CFdBbfgodvDcAKw

But frankly dude, you're being kinda rude. What's the deal?

 

[Verinaut]

@Construkt
Thanks for the feedback! Can you explain what the difference is between a PCIe 2.0 x16 slot on a laptop, versus one that comes on a desktop mobo? If the only difference is the required power and cooling, I'm happy to buy a larger power supply and fan.

 

[MalakiArtook]

I apologize, i was not trying to be rude. i was stressed last night doe to something unrelated and it might have came out in my writing. for the sake of precociousness no you can't do it. desktop parts can not be used in a laptop and there is no way to simply change the PSU.

 

[Verinaut]

Are you referring to the m.2 PCIe slots that are meant for connecting stuff like this?

I'm not sure. The manual just says PCIE 2.0 x16 by 16 lane slot x1, and Mini-PCIE slot x1. Would it specify if either were m.2?

 

[Verinaut]

I apologize, i was not trying to be rude. i was stressed last night doe to something unrelated and it might have came out in my writing. for the sake of precociousness no you can't do it. desktop parts can not be used in a laptop and there is no way to simply change the PSU.

No worries, man. I'm still a newb here so I appreciate any feedback!

 

[Nuckles_56]

Or you can always do something like this if your laptop is capable and has thunderbolt connectivity http/www.anandtech.com/show/7987/running-an-nvidia-gtx-780-ti-over-thunderbolt-2