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This tutorial explains how you can upgrade your Dell Inspiron E1705 a.k.a. Inspiron 9400 by replacing the graphics card and installing more memory.
Dell has done something great here, a laptop that is user-serviceable and user-upgradable…Tonight, I ventured into wild with a few components and upgrades not normally available.
Dell Inspiron E1705/9400 laptop has two user-accessible memory slots. According to Dell specifications, you can install up 2GB into this unit (up to 1GB into each slot). You should use PC2-5400 DDR-II 667MHz modules.
Even though Dell says that you cannot install more then 2GB, the author of this tutorial installed 4GB (two 2GB modules) into his laptop.
The issue with a lot of bios’ out there (desktops, laptops, and even the XPS-line of previous laptops) is that they do not allow full access to all 4096 MB of ram – if you were to stick in 4GB of ram. The E1705 is one of them, and limits you to utilizing only 3.2 GB of ram available to the OS.
In addition to memory upgrade, the author was able to replace his ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 graphics card with a more powerful nVidia Quatro FX2500m 512MB graphics card. In order to install new graphics card, you’ll have to modify the laptop case.
Make sure to read through comments posted after the tutorial. You’ll have to install modified drivers to make your new graphics card to work correctly.
What you want to do is download a special “hacked” set. It’s basically the highend drivers from nvidia “desktop only” series of cards (laptops have lower-end versions). But with a slight tweak to the INI files to allow you to install it for your 2500m Quatra mobile edition.
Here’s another tutorial for upgrading the graphics card in a Dell Inspiron E1705 laptop, you’ll find it here. The author explains how to replace ATI x1400 graphics card with NVIDIA 7800go. In this tutorial you’ll find step-by-step laptop disassembly instructions, graphics card installation instructions and a few benchmarks to show you of the difference in performance.
The top picture in the x1400 that we removed, and the bottom picture is our new baby that is going into the e1705. The 7800go, while not the top of the line for NVIDIA mobile graphics anymore should be more than enough for the gamer that is taking his laptop on the road and will do some gaming. The installation of this card is no different than the x1400 as they use the same heat sink and assembly, so just pop it in, and then put everything back together.
ATI x1400 graphics card
NVIDIA 7800go graphics card
UPDATE: I just found another guide for Dell Inspiron E1705 (9400) users. This guide explains how to disassemble the laptop and replace the video card.
Originally, my notebook, a Dell Inspiron E1705 (9400), was equipped with a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 video card. In order to improve its graphical performance, I decided to replace it by a NVIDIA Geforce Go 7900 GTX.
Also, check out my new instructions for replacing a damaged keyboard in a Dell Inspiron 9400 laptop.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
I have a DELL INSPIRON E1705 with Nvid 256MB graphics card. Couple of weeks ago the display goes distorted after pluging in a network cable to computer. Everything was seems working but some wierd color lines and at the end Windows screen goes unreadable than turned black. After couble of hours work I could it fix it. Then I removed the battery, run the computer and after waiting 4-5 minutes, unplug the power cable to give my laptop a shock. And it worked. After this shock, I restarted it again and it worked normally….Now…I have the same problem but this time my shock tactic does not seem to work. I think the graphic card has a problem. LAst time, by chance, I have reseted it (I guess) but this time it is not working. Any suggestion or any way to reset my graphic card before deciding to buy a new one?
January 24th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
oguzhan orer,
Sounds like you purchased a wrong motherboard and unfortunately I cannot help you.
The best way for find a new motherboard replacement is searching by the manufacturer’s part number. In most cases you can find the motherboard part number in the memory compartment.
January 24th, 2009 at 5:28 am
I want to tell you about my problem. I hope you can advise me so I am cofused now.I have got Dell 1705/9400, 2Ghz Dual Core, 4GB Ram, 256 MB geforce7800 go, 1920*1200 resolution display.
I had a problem with my power suppy after then my mainboard has crashed. I sent it different services but they couldnt fix it. So I have searched new mainboard from e-bay, alibaba.com etc. Finally I found the board and get it. Even i told seller that i have got extra graphical card, send me card which is avaible for geforce 7800, he sent met he card with integrated card. Whats different is they are looks like same. Difference is new one doesnt have stereo, mic output, heatsink fan power socket. And it has got extra display socket near to PCI-Ex socket.
I cant plug display card to socket cause of other display socket, and i cant plug heatsink fan power cord to socket, cos it hasnt got socket.
So what should i do? I can remove to included display output socket on the board and welding heatsink power socket. Then instal geforce 7800. But i am not sure that it will work or not. Should i remove and force to install my card or work with internal simple intel graphical card?
December 26th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Wow – fantasic, I’ve been searching for something like this for a while…
My question is, is this viable on an inspron 1505?
Is this process essentially the same?
I’d dearly love to upgrade my 1505.
Cheers,
Rich
December 5th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Jason,
I think you’ll have to search for a new video card on ebay.
December 5th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Where did you get the part? I called Dell and they weren’t interested in selling it.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 am
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