Upgrading Laptop Video Card

So I own an MSI MS-16F2-ID1 laptop computer. It's an rebraded MSI computer that I had an OEM build for me. The MSI branded one is the MSI GT Series GT683DX-840US. The video card that I have in there right now is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570M w/1.5GB GDDR5. Now, I want to explore upgrading possibilities for this video card. So my questions are these, is it even possible to upgrade a laptop video card on my own? I have pretty good computer hardware skills. If so, what interface does this card even have (I think it's PCI-Express, but I have no idea really)? What video cards fit this interface? Basically, I'm looking for any and all guidance as to what I can do to upgrade a video card for this laptop.

I have only repaired a handful of laptops, but in general you cannot upgrade them if yours is already at the top of the spec tree. According to the manufacturer list for that model:

http://www.msiwhitebook.com/product_...

The card you have is the best they offer for that model. If you had a lower card in the spec tree, you could buy a better one from a damaged model in that family and swap it out. Parts for laptops however are usually offered for repair instead of upgrades. That's why you can't find aftermarket internal components (aside from Memory and Data Drives).

There's a delicate balance going on inside that small space of power, heat, performance, and part size. What's worse is most manufacturers choose a different design for the motherboard which requires the components be a very particular spec. So most of them are designed only to handle a couple options based upon what's available at the time.

For example, my desktop has an ATI 6950. If I change it out for a different video card, that card will have different power consumption, ambient temps, and be a different size. In a desktop however I have the room and the ability to add fans, power supplies, and such. This isn't the ability of a laptop. If you want to change one thing, you need everything else to already be able to accommodate it.

I recommend you contact MSI directly though for verification:
http://us.msi.com/service/PreSaleForm/
http://us.msi.com/service/SupportIndex/

I am not saying that it cannot be done if you wanted to totally Frankenstein your rig, but to get a better card to fit in that case and run without overheating the other bits, you have to give up it being portable.

GoldenDog wrote:

I have only repaired a handful of laptops, but in general you cannot upgrade them if yours is already at the top of the spec tree. According to the manufacturer list for that model:

http://www.msiwhitebook.com/product_...

The card you have is the best they offer for that model. If you had a lower card in the spec tree, you could buy a better one from a damaged model in that family and swap it out. Parts for laptops however are usually offered for repair instead of upgrades. That's why you can't find aftermarket internal components (aside from Memory and Data Drives).

There's a delicate balance going on inside that small space of power, heat, performance, and part size. What's worse is most manufacturers choose a different design for the motherboard which requires the components be a very particular spec. So most of them are designed only to handle a couple options based upon what's available at the time.

For example, my desktop has an ATI 6950. If I change it out for a different video card, that card will have different power consumption, ambient temps, and be a different size. In a desktop however I have the room and the ability to add fans, power supplies, and such. This isn't the ability of a laptop. If you want to change one thing, you need everything else to already be able to accommodate it.

I recommend you contact MSI directly though for verification:
http://us.msi.com/service/PreSaleForm/
http://us.msi.com/service/SupportIndex/

I am not saying that it cannot be done if you wanted to totally Frankenstein your rig, but to get a better card to fit in that case and run without overheating the other bits, you have to give up it being portable.

Interesting, I had assumed that listing showed the ones compatible at the time. I figured the 570M was the top of the line when the model was released. But maybe the others just physically can't fit. Very interesting. The thing isn't really portable anyway, it just sits on a little table in front of the TV. It's more of a desktop replacemente that I can put anywhere, rather than a true portable computer.

Thank you very much for the guidance, it's really helpful!

I'm going to try and contact both MSI and the people who put it together. Maybe they can do something for me.

But maybe the others just physically can't fit.

Or, as GoldenDog was saying, that they run too hot for the available cooling. If you put, say, a 770 in there, it might slag itself. Or maybe the laptop won't have enough power to drive a bigger/faster chip.

Usually, spare parts on laptops are so obscenely expensive that you'd be better off, literally, buying an entire desktop computer instead.

The reseller just pointed me to tiger direct. I also contacted the MSI tech support and they said they would call me this week. We'll see what they say.

I think almost all GPUs are soldered onto the motherboard in a laptop, and if yours is BGA you're in for a heck of a time trying to replace it.