Graphic Card Upgrade????!!!!

[MonkeyMan]

I recently purchased a HP laptop can it came with this graphics card:

  Display adapter type NVIDIA MCP67M
  Total available graphics memory 799 MB
        Dedicated graphics memory 64 MB
        Dedicated system memory 0 MB
        Shared system memory 735 MB
  Display adapter driver version 7.15.11.5613
  Primary monitor resolution 1280x800
  DirectX version DirectX 9.0 or better

But my Graphics option is only a 3.1 rating on vista and my 3-D Gaming is only a 3.0

Why is that score so low and how do I possibly upgrade my computer so that I can play games like Unreal 3 and other games that take good graphics?

[homer]

to say it quite simply, your score is low because that graphics card is not very good. i strongly believe that you will not even be able to play unreal 3 on low settings.

here are the minimum specs for UT3

Code: [Select]

Minimum Requirements

CPU: 2.8Ghz
RAM: 512MB
Graphics: Geforce 6 series

someone else will have to come by to comment on upgrading the video card for i have very limited knowledge when it comes to laptop upgrading.

[MonkeyMan]

Right now my CPU is a Dual-Core 1.90GHz and I have 2GBs of Ram, Upgradeable to 4GBs. Also the graphics card is a NVidia GeForce 7 series with upgradable memory. I think it gives me the option of upgrading the video memory, is that a wise choice? If not then what can I do to get use of applications with better graphics?

[MonkeyMan]

Ok, more specifically my graphics card configuration looks like this:

Discrete Video Memory      No
Expandable Video Memory    Yes - Up To 1024MB
Graphics Chipset    NVIDIA GeForce Go 7150M (UMA)
Integrated Video Memory    Yes
Native Screen Resolution    1280x800
Upgradable Video System    No
Video Memory    559MB

[quaxo]

Technically, the memory of your video card can't be upgraded. In laptops, the system memory shares a portion of itself with the video card. On some laptops, the portion that the video card gets can be adjusted.

The graphics card itself is not usually removable and cannot be upgraded. I'm not sure how do to it on your laptop, since I don't know the model number. If you share the model number, I'll sure help you find out though. 

[MonkeyMan]

The Model Number is DV2622ca, if you can help then that would be awesome! thanks a bunch!

I purchased it from here:
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10093666&catid=25314

[quaxo]

The most specific information I've found so far (which isn't so specific) says that the shared video memory can be adjusted from the BIOS... although it doesn't specify how.

[MonkeyMan]

would upgrading expandable memory help?

[Deerpark]

In my experience increasing the shared RAM available to the graphics card is only going to lead to a negligible performance increase. Graphics cards that doesn't have dedicated video RAM just isn't meant for gaming.

[Calum]

You cannot upgrade a laptop video card, except on a very few specific high end models.  Even then there is a very limited choice of (expensive) upgrades.
If you wanted a gaming laptop, you should have bought one with dedicated graphics.
Integrated graphics will not cut it with modern games, no matter what you do.
Allocating more RAM to the chip will not help performance significantly.

[elxr06]

You should have bought something like a laptop with NVidia Geforce 7600M or something like that.

Integrated graphics are for people who are not even a casual gamer.

If you wanted a budget DX10 card, then a geforce 8500 might do well enough but you have a laptop so you're kinda out of luck I suppose.