Laptop gaming (don't laugh)

[PeteJ]

I don't remember the specs of my machine atm, but it's a athlon 2000 laptop with around a gig of ram...but the graphics card is completely pap. Would it be possible for me to upgrade it in any way (without buying a new machine). I'm not expecting major results, just something so I can play the likes of HL2 even on the lowest detail setting.

Have I completely shut myself out of the PC gaming market with my machine?

[Super Stu]

Nothing to laugh about, my laptop made a cracking gaming machine, back in its time.

Unfortunately, I very much suspect the graphics card is exclusively integrated onto the motherboard. Certainly, the ATI rage pro and cpu share the same heatsink on mine.

b0rked tbh.

[superkully]

My only glimpses of PC gaming are through either a PIII-750 laptop or a 1Ghz Celeron and it really annoys me that nearly every genre needs a 3D card.

All I want it some strategy games...

[hobo]

All I want it some strategy games...

Civilsation 2 or 3

[superkully]

All I want it some strategy games...

Civilsation 2 or 3

I try and keep away from that kind of crack... I virtually lost my life with Civ2 and Colonisation last time.

[Super Stu]

Laptops handle the likes of Age of Empires (and subsequent sequals) easily.

[Vikas]

Well I have a Geforce 4 Go Mobile (think the FX is out now) in my laptop and its runs UT2003 and other games fine, just need an extra mouse for some fun LAN

[PeteJ]

I take it an external USB graphics card is out of the question? You can get decent external sound cards...

[Super Stu]

AFAIK, there is no laptop interface (pc card, firewire, usb etc) which has sufficient bandwidth (we're talking in the order of X gig/sec here folks) to drive a modern graphics card.

Unless you can replace the mobo (which is why I tend to pimp branded laptops, rather than taiwanese rebagdes), I suspect you're stuffed.

[choddo]

I don't remember the specs of my machine atm, but it's a athlon 2000 laptop with around a gig of ram...but the graphics card is completely pap. Would it be possible for me to upgrade it in any way (without buying a new machine). I'm not expecting major results, just something so I can play the likes of HL2 even on the lowest detail setting.

Have I completely shut myself out of the PC gaming market with my machine?

Probably. Which graphics chip is it?

[Super Stu]

Probably as in he can upgrade or probably as in shut himself out?

[replicant]

I know that new laptops, depending on the mobo, have the ability to upgrade their graphic gpus. Apparently some Dell laptops now have this option.

Its worth while checking it out as the 9600mob chipset is really good from ATI. And it would allow you to play HL2.

[NiceButDim]

You can only 'upgrade' your graphics chip at the point of purchase, once its attached to the motherboard its not coming off again...

[replicant]

You can only 'upgrade' your graphics chip at the point of purchase, once its attached to the motherboard its not coming off again...

Not exactly true. Theres a discussion on it on one of my overclocking forums.

[NiceButDim]

Got a link? (Or better still, a place that sells these wonderful upgradable graphics chips)