Would like to get any info on component upgrades for the Inspiron 7500. Specifically interested in video card, but any upgrades would be good!

Forget it - best you start looking at buying a newer, faster & better notebook.

http://www.walmart.com/search/brows...

Your probably right, but I would still like to know if it is possible to upgrade the video card

Again forget it - not going to happen.

I'm not sure what your saying, there is no other video card that is compatible or it is too much trouble. I believe the models came with 4 mb and 8 mb cards, so without knowing which I have I do not understand how you can make that statement. And this computer meets my needs at the moment, so I do not need a new one now, I'm just curious what I can do with this one.

I really do not need to know what you have in details to make my earlier notebook assertions.

As you may or may not be aware, notebook graphics are generally not upgradeable & in those seldom cases where folks have experimented with the idea - the overwhelming outcome was & still remain that the procedure is impractical to mainstream laptop owners.

If you've got an "ace" up your sleeve about just how you intend to get this done on your Inspiron 7500 - I don't think you would have bothered posting an inquiry to start with. Anyhow, I think the URL below might be informative to you.

http://www.bay-wolf.com/

Maybe I'm not your mainstream laptop user, I know how to change out components. I have put together several laptops using parts from broken ones. This includes propietary components such as Dell. It would be extremely simple to change a 4mb ati card to an 8mb one in an inspiron. I am however far from an expert, but I have researched enough to have learned that there are many laptops that are upgradeable I just haven't come across anything in reference to this one. It may be that it cannot be done, but if someone out there knows this to be the case I would appreciate them explaining to me why, in english, instead of a flat statement saying I cannot do it. Your own site led me to believe it might be possible because the ones you have listed as not upgradeable say the video card is an integrated part of the motherboard. This one is not, it would be a simple matter of finding one that fits, if one exists. This is the gist of my original question.

The vast majority of laptops/notebooks don't use video cards. The graphics are integrated into the motherboard & can NOT be changed or upgraded. The ones that are upgradeable are usually high end systems...your old Inspiron 7500 doesn't qualify. It uses an "Intel Mobile 440BX AGP 2X" chipset, which in plain English means the video is integrated into the board. Had you looked at the Dell website or simply opened up your laptop & had a look, you would know that...

http://support.dell.com/support/edo...

Like I said, I'm no expert, but I'm talking about the video card, VGA card.

Which is a removable card that I have replaced before. Which required opening the case, or at least removing the cover over the board.

"Like I said, I'm no expert..."

Really? I never would have guessed.

"...but I'm talking about the video card, VGA card."

Why is this so difficult to understand? Are you having a problem with terminology or what? Your laptop does NOT have a video card !! The word "card" implies that it can be removed & replaced, such as a sound card, IDE controller card, wireless adapter card, TV tuner card etc.

The video for your laptop is integrated into the motherboard...it is NOT removeable...it is NOT upgradeable! It is NOT a card!!

http://support.dell.com/support/edo...

nope, i don't see a video card listed

Asus P5B-D wi-fi / E6420 @ 350x8
2GB OCZ DDR2-1066 @ 1050
320MB Geforce 8800 GTS
2x 320GB Seagate 7200.10's in matrix Raid0 and Raid1
Sata Lite-On dvd-rw
ocz powerstream 520

Board, card, whatever. If you have an inspiron 7500 handy, you can turn it over and there are three covers, one for the memory, one for the hard drive and one for the VGA card, take off that cover and there is a card with two screws in it. Says "VGA CARD" right on the board. Take out the screws and the board pops right out. I've replaced two bad boards in other computers already. I'll take a picture and send it too you tomorrow if you need it.

Hey, 04ChevyTrailblazer, if you look at figure 6 on that page you put up the link to it shows the video card cover labeled "Video Card Cover". And figure 8 is called "Video Card Removal". Once again, I'm not as knowledgeable as the talent here, but that seems pretty self explanatory to me. Doesn't answer my question of upgradeability yet though.

Looks like I'm gonna have to eat crow on this one.

From what I've been able to dig up, your video board is an ATI Rage-Mobility AGP 2x with either 4MB or 8MB SGRAM. It doesn't appear that anything else was ever available.

ok, thanks jam.

..... so it's back to ground zero - how poetic eh!

I'm guessing that the "video card" that picture refers to is simply a video memory expansion board. The best you'll be able to do with that laptop's video system is up the VRAM to 8MB, if it doesn't already have that. You'll still be using the same slow, old "video processor" even after you swap memory boards.

Pentium III--Descendant of Intel Core.
Pentium III-S 1400 @ 1.63GHz, 512K L2
X800XT AIW OC 580/600
2GB of RAM
250GB HD
SB Audigy 2
QDI Advance 12 mobo
Smugly running Vista

Anyone reading this thread with a 7500 would at least know now that if they have a 4 mb CARD they could upgrade it to 8mb. Doesn't help me though, according to jam and what i have been able to come up with so far nothing else is out there. You might add this information to your site though Sabertooth to help people out.

timbre,

FYI. I do not own & neither am I affiliated or connected in any kind of way with the owner(s) or administrator(s) of the Bay Wolf support site that I linked to in that earlier response.

ah, sorry, my bad.

Ive a 7500 here and the card does come out AND it does have the video chip ON it.
Ive been told on authority that this machine was available with a 1600 by 1200 res screen, tho mine is the 1280 by 1024. with 4 mem chips on the video board.
IF you can find the 8meg board youll also needthe high res screen to get the benefit from it.
Id say leave as is.Even tho you could upgrade if you found the right bits.
Id suggest you look for a complete machine, compare the 2 to see what you can changeout and still have it working.
The risk is without a firm imput from Dell technical you will run the risk when swapping out components of blowing up your original as well as screwing up the donor laptop.