So as you may or may not know, the graphics card in our laptop failed maybe four months ago, due to overheating because the GPU is not designed for laptops. We bought a replacement computer, but I'm wondering if it's possible to replace the card anyway?

 

The laptop is a Dell Inspiron 9300 with Windows XP Professional. The failed graphics card is some model of NVidia GPU:

NVIDIA

Data bus PCI-Express x16

Video controller G Force Go 6800 Ultra

Video memory 256 MB

LCD interface LVDS

TV support NTSC or PAL in S-video and composite

modes

 

Specs from the owner's manual at Dell: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins9300/en/om/om_en.pdf

 

Is it possible or probable to replace the GPU, since it's not integrated but has no instructions on how to replace it in the owner's manual? [Especially since this thing is now just taking up space and not really usable ie risk of breaking it more is not really an issue] Would this require taking the entire thing apart or any special tools? And what kind of GPU can I get to replace the one that overheated?

A laptop GPU is not replaceable.

.

It is possible to replace the graphics card in that laptop, as its a PCI Express x16 part, but the issue is finding a graphics card that actually fits in the computer, as it seems that Dell part P88670 is not for sale anywhere online and no one seems to have its physical dimensions online either. another issue is that in order to remove the old graphics card and put a new one in essentially requires disassembling the half of the computer that is designed to not come apart easily but here are the instructions anyways: Dell Inspiron 9300 Service Manual - Video card and thermal cooling assembly

 

Yeah, this is just standard issues with laptops, with the replacement graphics cards being impossible to find if its replaceable, due to the fact that for all intents and purposes there is almost no market for laptop graphics cards outside of the laptop manufacturers, and they always make it hard to get access to the part as there is not much of a point to taking it out due to the lack of parts to replace it with.

 

EDIT: Also it will probably be a pain to find a graphics card that has the same set of outputs to fit the case and any special internal ports for connecting the display through the motherboard

Alright so it's possible, just really not practical.

 

So if I can find a tiny GPU for a PCI x16 Express, would I be okay even if it doesn't plug into any random things on the motherboard or wherever?

maybe, maybe not. I am not quite sure exactly how the monitor is connected.

Alright so it's possible, just really not practical.

 

So if I can find a tiny GPU for a PCI x16 Express, would I be okay even if it doesn't plug into any random things on the motherboard or wherever?

 

Have you tried emailing Dell to see what they say about it? It woudn't do any harm and might actually solve your problem before you decide to go out and buy something that might not be correct for your own needs.