04-06-2010, 01:14 AM
The hard drive and ram are definitely doable, easy too. Although with the hard drive, instead of having to reinstall all my programs on a new one, I'd just get a 500 gig USB hard drive, or even one with a terrabyte. Why bother changing over?
The graphic card on the other hand? I'm sorry but laptops are not like desktops,and upgrading graphics cards in laptops is very difficult, if not close to impossible, if not flat-out impossible. Most laptops just don't have enough room inside them and the components aren't usually compatable anyway.
If it's an older Dell it probably only has a 32 bit operating system and isn't capable of 64 bit, and the max a 32 bit operating system is capable of recognizing is 4 gigs, even if there's slots for more. Even at that, most 32 bit processors will only recognize a 3.25 gigs of that 4 gigs regardless. So you'll be limited, right there.
You may be able to find a graphics card you can use that will be compatable, fit and at least be better than what you have now, but probably not one you'd REALLY like. Depending on the rest of your system, you MIGHT be able to install a graphics engine capable of DirectX 10, but almost certainly not DirectX11, and if there's not already a dedicated graphics card in there, well, even IF the rest of the components somehow happen to be compatable, it's just not going to fit. Laptops aren't built with much, if any, room. (Although a few are built with room for an eventual 2nd hard drive, and if that applies to yours, then theoretically, it might be possible.)
Vista sucks so much that the first upgrade I'd recommend is upgrading to Windows 7, which is much faster, smoother and has less problems.
Best of luck!
The graphic card on the other hand? I'm sorry but laptops are not like desktops,and upgrading graphics cards in laptops is very difficult, if not close to impossible, if not flat-out impossible. Most laptops just don't have enough room inside them and the components aren't usually compatable anyway.
If it's an older Dell it probably only has a 32 bit operating system and isn't capable of 64 bit, and the max a 32 bit operating system is capable of recognizing is 4 gigs, even if there's slots for more. Even at that, most 32 bit processors will only recognize a 3.25 gigs of that 4 gigs regardless. So you'll be limited, right there.
You may be able to find a graphics card you can use that will be compatable, fit and at least be better than what you have now, but probably not one you'd REALLY like. Depending on the rest of your system, you MIGHT be able to install a graphics engine capable of DirectX 10, but almost certainly not DirectX11, and if there's not already a dedicated graphics card in there, well, even IF the rest of the components somehow happen to be compatable, it's just not going to fit. Laptops aren't built with much, if any, room. (Although a few are built with room for an eventual 2nd hard drive, and if that applies to yours, then theoretically, it might be possible.)
Vista sucks so much that the first upgrade I'd recommend is upgrading to Windows 7, which is much faster, smoother and has less problems.
Best of luck!
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