Which video card should I get?

[CaptainT30]

I've been hopelessly fustrated with the limitiations from my integrated ATI Radeon X1100 graphics card from the first time I fired up a game on my laptop, however, I found that my laptop has a PCI Express card slot, which means I could go for a PCI Express graphics card.

I've been looking around and found a couple:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8521129&productCategoryId=abcat0507002&type=product&tab=1&id=1188558965778#productdetail

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=BROWSE&N=200105+4294963270&Ne=300752&Ns=display%5Fprice%7C0&product_code=344826

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=BROWSE&N=200105+4294963270&Ne=300752&Ns=display%5Fprice%7C0&product_code=347220

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=BROWSE&N=200105+4294963270&Ne=300752&Ns=display%5Fprice%7C0&product_code=349194

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131061

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161192

Which one would give me the best performance and value and the best DX10 support (for the cards that have DX10 support)

[MWISimmer]

I don't want to put a downer on things, but I very much doubt you'll be able to change your graphics card on your laptop... and the cards you're looking at are all full sized desktop cards.
Sorry.  :P

[CaptainT30]

arent all PCI Express slots the same?

________________________Edit:

you were right, you can't use those in laptops  :(, however I'll try to get the xg station when it comes out this year or wait for the ATI Lasso http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=7995

Also, I found something at Catalyst Enterprises http://www.getcatalyst.com/buynow/index.phtml#adapter

under PCIE they have a Pci Express Card to Express card adapter which would work with my laptops express card. How good would this work with a graphics card?

[machineman9]

i believe you would need to employ a trained professional to do this kind of an upgrade. on desktops its alright, but laptops are different


also, laptop hardware is usually a little less powerful/less brilliant than that in desktops.

[GunnerMan]

Meh you don't need a professional to work on a lap top, its the same as a PC compressed into a little tiny box. Do your research and find what can and cant be done with laptops/ your laptop. Then go ahead. Just remember MOST common PC parts wont work in a laptop so you need to be sure your buying the right stuff for the right computer. 8-)

[CaptainT30]

i'm still not sure if I can do it or not I suppose i should go on a few notebook forums and post around. I've seen pics of the cards and they look pretty big, but I'm not sure of the actual size specs.

I am getting a new desktop within the next two years (mind you, I'm only 14 and I have a tight budget) probably an iBuyPower because I found I could get a 3.0 Core 2 Duo with a Nvidia GeForce 8500 512MB and a bunch of other stuff to make my FSX (possibly FSXI) experience a TON better for only $1300, which I could afford in 2 years or so.

However, I would like something to use for the time being, and I thought the first step was to upgrade the grpahics since thats me absolute weakest point (If graphics didn't matter, I'd have a 4.0 computer according to the Vista Experience Index compared to a 3.0) However, I thought it was hopeless because my graphics card is integrated, but then I saw that I PCI Express X16 card slot. I just hope I can use it  :P