Entry: Rant Monday, August 04, 2008



Okay, so I’m a bit of a computer noob.  I was installing The Sims 2 on my laptop, and I kept encountering a problem.  So I did some troubleshooting, and found that it was most likely my video card.  So, being the computer noob I am, I hopped on Yahoo Answers, and asked this. 

Is it possible to move a video card from a desktop computer to a laptop?

If so, how would one go about doing it?


So I get up, get something to drink, and come back to 7 new answers.  Most of them are helpful.  But there are two answers in particular I’d like to focus on.  We’ll start with the one who invoked a smaller amount of irritation in me first.

Michell L

you should check out this site where you can get a sony vaio laptop for free

  • 2 hours ago

Source(s):

http://laptopfedfab.blogspot.com


Now don't be an idiot and visit the site. 


Dear Michell L,

I hate you.  I hope your skin falls off.  Seriously.  Scamming is way overrated.  Go do something productive you douchenozzle.

Love, Alahnnah
 

Next contestant,

Mike

Compare the size of the card to the slimness of the laptop. You tell me if it is possible...

  • 2 hours ago

Dear Mike,

I hate you more.  Had I known one damn thing about video cards, much less the size of them, I wouldn’t have even asked the fucking question.  Don’t try and insult my intelligence just because I don’t know how goddamn big a video card is.  Fuck you.

Love and kisses, Alahnnah

 

I really hate people.

Yes, I know, I probably took that too far.  But you know what?  It makes me feel better.  I’m not stupid, and any attempt to make me feel so will be met with malice in the form of blog ranting, or the death glare for the REST OF YOUR PATHETIC MEANINGLESS LIFE.

Kthxbye.
   2 comments

Ami Hughes
December 31, 2008   12:29 AM PST
 
207-313-0125

Despite the fact that laptops use specifically designed "mobile" external video cards, most of them have the video built on the chip on the motherboard with no expansion option.

Your desktop might also have built-in video as opposed to an actual independent video card. Regardless, the architecture will not be compatible.

If your laptop has an expansion slot for an external video card (which I seriously doubt), you might have options. However, unless you buy from "special" vendors who specifically advertise that they offer upgradeable, scalable laptops, its not very likely. These types of things are usually only purchased by PC enthusiasts or people who are really educated on what their options are and have an understanding of how to make these changes themselves.

As far as "the size of video cards" which I noticed you replying to Mike about, it really varies. Older cards that use the PCI or AGP interface are actually pretty small, especially if they were recently manufactured because the chips have just gotten smaller and many don't even need large heatsings or coolers to keep cool. Newer PCI Express cards tend to be noticeably larger, particularly the latest stuff which sport huge heatsink and cooling fans. One of these things can weigh the same as your entire motheboard without anything mounted on it. Laptop video cards are specifically designed to be smaller, produce less heat, operate in a confined environment. Even if you were to have a laptop where the architecture for connecting a desktop video card was compatible, you'd have no way to do so without running your laptop outside the chassis in a controlled, electro-static free atmosphere.

So, the short answer is, no you can't. The long answer is in case you had any questions like "Why not?"

Sorry for the bad news. If you plan to pick up a new laptop and you don't want to have to worry about running into this kind of roadblock again, feel free to contact me from my homepage. ^^
Ami Hughes
December 31, 2008   12:24 AM PST
 
Despite the fact that laptops use specifically designed "mobile" external video cards, most of them have the video built on the chip on the motherboard with no expansion option.

Your desktop might also have built-in video as opposed to an actual independent video card. Regardless, the architecture will not be compatible.

If your laptop has an expansion slot for an external video card (which I seriously doubt), you might have options. However, unless you buy from specific vendors who specifically advertise that they offer upgradeable, scalable laptops, its not very like. These types of things are usually only purchased by PC enthusiasts or really people who are really educated on what their options are and have an understanding of how to make these changes themselves.

As far as "the size of video cards" which I noticed you replying to Mike about, it really varies. Older cards that use the PCI or VGA interface are actually pretty small, especially if they were recently manufactured because the chips have just gotten smaller and many don't even need large heatsings or coolers to keep cool. Newer PCI Express cards tend to be noticeably larger, particularly the latest stuff which sport huge heatsink and cooling fans. One of these things can weigh the same as your entire motheboard without anything mounted on it. Laptop video cards are specifically designed to be smaller, produce less heat, operate in a confined environment. Even if you were to have a laptop where the architecture for connecting a desktop video card was compatible, you'd have no way to do so without running your laptop outside the chassis in a controlled, electro-static free atmosphere.

So, the short answer is, no you can't. The long answer is in case you had any questions like "Why not?"

Sorry for the bad news. If you plan to pick up a new laptop and you don't want to have to worry about running into this kind of roadblock again, feel free to contact me from my homepage. ^^

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