Swapping Graphics Card On Laptop?

[positronics]

Hi everyone. I have some basic A+ experience (took a certificate course years ago) and have built a couple ATX towers from the ground up. I have no laptop modding experience, however.

My G73Sw laptop is a few years old now, and its GTX 460M isn't exactly cutting edge anymore. I've heard various rumors about modding ASUS ROG laptops, from it's very easily upgraded to it's impossible as components are soldered on.

Is the G73Sw upgradable? I'd like to replace the GTX 460M with a 760M or 780M, is it possible? If not, is it possible to replace the graphics in general? If it is possible, what specific cards are compatible?

Thanks!

[kkn]

try and post in the notebook section, theres where the ones that have experience whit laptops can help you faster.

[Nodens]

Thread moved to appropriate section:)

[Zygomorphic]

The graphics card is socketed, yes, but it is a custom MXM design, so a standard card won't fit. That's a bummer to me, since I would love to have the option to upgrade the cards. The RAM is standard :p, as is the CPU, so you can upgrade that. If you want to upgrade the graphics card, you have to find an ASUS card being sold on eBay or some place.

[positronics]

Thank you for your help.

Is their custom MXM design standard across all G series ROG laptops, or is it breed-specific? Does the G73Sw's card have the same MXM as any other Asus-GTX M card?

If it is specific to the G73Sw, what is the MXM type I should be looking for?

[Zygomorphic]

As far as I know, the ASUS MXM design is similar, though the actual boards and heatsinks change from laptop to laptop. I would honestly recommend that you consider just getting a new system, and handing that one off to someone in the family who could use a still-powerful-but-not-cutting-edge laptop. The current systems run cooler, run faster, and are just better.

[jmhdj]

Asus G73sw is upgradeable Laptop definetely and now big BUT it is not straight forward as other brands that follow MXM standard. I have managed to Upgrade my G73sw to dell 680m gpu. As far as I know I am only one in whole world With G73sw fitted With 680m and I am very proud of it. You need gpu heatsink form older asus G73jh as it is closely shaped to standard MXM form. Second and most important is to made and install custom video bios onto 680m. I have it but are not willing to share as I spend days to get it to work properly with G73Sw system. At least not for free. So conclusion is it is possible but only if you are willing to sacrifice time and money to do it.

Here is link to thread that shows all trouble i had to og throught to get it working: http://forum.techinferno.com/asus/2359-can-we-upgrade-g73sw-gpu.html

I have same user name there to.