Modding Dell laptop video chip.

FormFactor

I have been waiting for Dell to release a 128MB Radeon video chip for their Inspiron 8500 laptops now since I baught it.

It doesnt look like thats going to happen. They HAVE however released them for other models of laptops.

A homie of mine stumbled across this site that has instructions on how to install a video chip from another Dell model into the I8500.

However this appears to be quite dangerous. Evidently those Radeons get so hot that you can fry your poor Motherboard in a matter of minutes. But here is a site with instructions for a MOD that will resolve the heat issues.

I REALLY want to do this to my lappy, but of course I don't want to lose my beloved lappy in the process.

Has anyone attempted this type of mod on a Dell laptop? Or ANY laptop for that matter? How easy would it be for me to fry it?

And lastly, Do you think I would be able to fenagle a replacement from Dell in the event of such a cotastrophe as a fried mobo due to modding? I do have a 3 year warrenty.

Any advice would be greatly apreciated.

topherice

Sounds like a plan for a dank mod. As far as the Dell RMA question goes...Modding...What modding? Just say it failed to boot and won't post, nothing more...nothing less.

qparadox

The mod doesn't look that hard, I've consider replacing the NV28 on my D800 (basically the same laptop with a slightly different case) but I don't have the money to spare on a new chip. If you do happen to fry the motherboard as long as you can reassemble the laptop so it looks like you did nothing (claim ignorance) you shouldn't run into warranty problems. Just claim it got really hot one day when you were working the sun and it shut off and then wouldn't turn back on. If you're going to the the heat mod then you're in for a few more problems. Its going to be a LOT more work to remove all that evidence and it could be a bit tough finding a new thermal pad.

I really can't see you actually frying your motherboard. More likely your chipset will overheat and the computer will just shutdown. Dell must have built a safety feature into the bios that checks the chipset temperature ... especially if they're sticking a GPU right on top. Although if people have reported problems with it frying it wouldn't surprise me.