Some laptops do have a graphics card that is mounted to the motherboard, with it's gold plated contact pins.
The pins slide into an expansion slot on a circuit board, that mounts to the motherboard.
Removable, therefore deemed may be upgradable.
Most however are like Chris stated, and are mounted to the motherboard with a BGA surface mount.
http://www.ersa.com/art-ir-pl-650-346-1472.htmlScroll down, click on the Red ->
Take a few minutes to view the IR 650 demo video. (5 minutes)
Shows you the IR 650 BGA Rework Station at work, but more importantly shows you the BGA surface mount; Solder Balls, and Copper Pads.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_Grid_ArrayIF, your Dell uses Integrated Graphics, the motherboard chipset is an Intel GM965 chipset,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_intel_chipsets#Core_2_mobile_chipsetsIntel GMA X3100 integrated graphics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_GMA#GMA_X3100Means the G.P.U. is integrated in the Intel GM965 motherboard chipset.
Nope. No upgrading of that baby.
IF, your motherboard chipset is an Intel PM965 chipset, it uses Discreet Graphics through a PCI Express bus,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_intel_chipsets#Core_2_mobile_chipsetsMeans the laptop comes with an Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics chipset,
http://www.dell.com/us/en/bpi/notebooks/vostronb_1710/pd.aspx?refid=vostronb_1710&s=bpi
Here we can see the Dell Vostro 1700 series of Notebook PC's, uses a separate graphics (Video) card, (IF your laptop came with this option)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-DY445-VOSTRO-1700-INSPIRON-1720-nVidia-GeForce-8600M-GT-Video-Card-256Mb-/120955693339?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item1c2985691bThe green circuit board of the Nvidia GeForce 8600M, you can barely see.
The aluminum metal plate on top of it, is attached to the copper Cooling Tube, then to the finned rectangular Heatsink.
[Heat is drawn from the graphics chipset {GPU} on the graphics card, to the large aluminum metal plate. The plate absorbs the heat, then transfers the heat to the copper Cooling Tube.
The Cooling Tube is a slightly flattened copper pipe, sealed on both ends, and filled with Nitrogen gas.
The Cooling Tube absorbs the heat from the plate, then transfers the heat up to the finned rectangular Heatsink.
The finned Heatsink absorbs the heat, then radiates it away with it's thin fins. Air flow from the Fan Assembly, helps carry away heat from the fins of the finned Heatsink ]
This is what the Nvidia GeForce 8600M looks like, not attached to the cooling assembly,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASUS-NVIDIA-GeForce-8600M-GT-8600mgt-512-MB-512M-DDR2-MXM-II-Graphic-Card-f-F8SV-/330701665242?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item4cff5af3da
You can see plainly that this is a graphics/video card.
Four mounting holes, and gold plated contact pins on the bottom.
The actual term is graphics ADAPTER card. The Brownish/Red square you see in the middle/bottom, is the graphics chipset.
[ The actual G.P.U. or Graphics Processing Unit, is the black chipset in the middle of that brownish/red square, has Nvidia in white on it, and white characters on the bottom -
***-***-XX.
X's used because I can't read it.
The brownish/red square around the GPU is a small circuit board.
ALL GPU's have to have a small circuit board, in order to mount to the motherboard, or a graphics adapter card. Also for electrically connecting the GPU to a motherboard, or graphics adapter card.
GPU,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPU ]
In conclusion;
1) Depends on what Intel motherboard chipset you have, right off the bat.
Intel GM965 = No
Intel PM965 = Maybe
2) Intel PM965? Then your laptop should have the above Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT, with graphics adapter card, and cooling assembly.
2A) Does that mean you can change the GeForce 8600M GT?
Maybe. You need a BGA Rework machine, and better Nvidia GeForce graphics chipset. You're talking Ka-Ching here. $$$$$$$$$$
Probably have to stay within the same Fabrication Technology in nm.
(nm = NanoMeter. 1 Billionth of a Meter)
The 8600M GT is 80nm fab technology.
So is the 8700M GT.
When you get to the 8800M GTS, it changes to 65nm.
That's the architectural size. Doesn't state all the technological features that changed with it. (80nm to 65nm)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Nvidia_graphics_processing_units#GeForce_8M_.288xxxM.29_seriesMeans your BIOS program probably won't handle it, and doubt there is a BIOS upgrade for it.
3) Better graphics adapter card, and graphics chipset?
Again, that IMHO would only be an Nvidia GeForce 8700M GT, and NOT worth the trouble, believe me.
So that's it? No chance of upgrading your graphics? No, not so.
More information in an added Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette
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