Graphic Card Upgrade Question

[Alyosha]

I'm trying to upgrade the graphics card on my Dell Latitude D610 laptop. Would if work if I purchased the DELL D DOCK EXPANSION STATION that has a PCI 32-bit, 33 MHz add-in slot. Would I be able to put in a new graphics card and have it work?

Thanks
Tim

 

[Addis]

Theres not much point in that, even if you did manage to get a graphics card working in a docking station, its PCI so it will be horribley slow compared to budget level modern ones. :(

 

[Exfoliate]

Yup, sorry dude, laptops are beasts to upgrade in almost all cases, Dell's are no easier. There will be a time when it's commonplace but that time is not now:(

 

[Big B]

To answer the question, yes you would. However, as it's been pointed out, there's a limitation on what it can do for you. PCI graphics cards are hampered by the PCI bus itself, and why all but the low-end cards are not made to work on the PCI interface (the PCI interface is not the same as the new PCI Express--PCIe--interface, and is not compatible).

I'm not familiar with the particular dock Dell has, but it sounds like this would use the external video card to either supplement or replace the on-board graphics in the laptop while in the dock.

While I don't see an issue with a PCI video card working, don't expect this to work as a means to play Doom 3 or FEAR as the video cards available to you will not provide enough horsepower to run these modern games. Outside of that, it may be useful to you, depending on your needs.