Help with Laptop GPU?

[Shivap1998]

Hello guys, First Post!
Anyway, I have a Dell Inspiron 15R (no touch screen) with specs:
-i7 4th Gen 4500U Processor
-Intel HD 4400 / Radeon 8850m (Switchable Graphics)
-8 GB Ram

So, I was wondering if i could maybe replace the laptop's GPU or maybe add an eGPU. But after googling a bit. I discovered that to replace your GPU, your existing GPU must be not soldered in and that for an eGPU, you must have an extra PCI express slot.

The things is, I don't even know if i have a soldered in GPU or not. I don't even know if the laptop has an extra PCI express slot. Can you guys tell me/tell me how to check?

In case neither of those things go in my favor, i have also heard of eGPU being attached through a USB 3.0 port. Is this effective? Please try to help me with as much clarity as possible as I'm someone you could call a noob 😀

 

[snowctrl]

Best bet - contact Dell

But typically, a laptop is not upgradable at all except for RAM and HD, and I'm 99% certain that is the case with your Inspiron.

 

[Shivap1998]

Best bet - contact Dell

But typically, a laptop is not upgradable at all except for RAM and HD, and I'm 99% certain that is the case with your Inspiron.

What about the eGPU through USB 3.0? Would that work nicely?

 

[snowctrl]

To my knowledge you can't do eGPU with USB 3. It has been discussed here:

http/www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1753483/external-graphics-card-money-pcie-usb.html

... which was last Summer. To my knowledge nothing has changed - can anyone confirm this?