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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.
May 28th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
My Inspiron 9400 equiped with a Nvidia GeForce 7900 GS has been experiencing graphics display issues (just as described above, giving “The Matrix” like effect on the start up Dell page). Once booted the screen is pixelated in the background. Tried to install the Nvidia driver but it wouldn’t recognize the hardware. Tried a second time the installation blanked out my screen completely, had to go into Safe Mode and restore to the last working starting point. Presently running on default driver.
Being still under warranty (ending in a few weeks from now), I called Dell Tech Support and was able to have them take my laptop to be fixed (being picked up by Puralator). Also took the opportunity to extend the warranty … better be covered otherwise it’s $500 to have them take care of the laptop.
Can anyone tell me whether the graphic card (not sure whether it is embedded or not) will be the same or a different model?
May 5th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I have a Dell E1705. I had the NV card go out twice and had a terrible go round with tech support. They were good but it just seems to be Dells policy to stonewall you. Took several days, have tech go through every test they could think of. I have had similar video card problems in the past with a desk top and was pretty sure that was the problem. One time they sent out a tech and they had me send the unit away to have them fix it. replaced video card like I said. the second time was even longer and more of a hassle, same, bad card, they sent me an ATI after they wanted me to wait 3 months for NV backlog, right. Haven’t had a problem since but will never buy a Dell product again, just because of the run around. NV has had problems with some of their cards for a LONG time. Both them and Dell have known and done nothing. Do a google search about NV card problems
April 19th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Just an FYI – I had the same issue with the video going all ASCII on me and then pretty much becoming unusable. After considerable time with Dell offshore tech support (still under warranty), I convinced them to send the nVidia GO 7800 AND a new motherboard. Turns out, when the tech was here, that if you don’t replace them both at the same time, you end up with the same problem.
Anyway, that was over a year ago and has been working fine since. Now, once my warranty runs out, I might just give the upgrade a try. Good info, thanks a lot
March 26th, 2009 at 8:49 am
I’m having the exact same problem, and mine is out of warranty. Has anyone purchased the extended warranty and had the card replaced under it? Did they send you a new card, or do you have to ship the laptop to them?
March 25th, 2009 at 4:10 am
Laptop Tech Says:
“Have you been able to extend warranty on your laptop?”
When I was on tech support on Sunday, Canada tech support the guy was trying to get me to extend my warranty for 1 year for about $130 or 2 years for about $210.
I told him I would love to do that but only if I can get this issue resolved since whats the point of extending a warranty when they cant fix my current issue.
March 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
“The e1705/9400 has an issue with frying its video card. Try to get your warranty extended. They will replace your entire system with a newer model.”
I believe I have this issue, I have a 9400 with the 7900GS card the warranty is over this august.
I have been having blue screen errors the last while. It seems to happen after the computer has been on overnight or I play a 3d game. If I reboot right after the blue screen the dell screen comes up with a lot of random pixels being the wrong color like the video memory / frame buffer has been corrupted or something. If I turn the laptop off and let it cool down for 5 or 10 mins and turn it on the screen comes back on correctly, no random colored pixels.
The error that comes up is a NMI Memory Parity Error. I have reseated my system ram, 2 X 1 gig sticks, ran with 1 stick then the other the error always returns. I have ran all the built in memory tests and the memory diagnotic utility in vista with no errors. So this plus the wierd pixel colors after a blue screen reboot is pushing me towards blaming the video card.
I have also ran the video card memory stress test application overnight without it detecting any errors and the nvidia ntune stability test and no errors on that either.
What I am wondering is how I can get dell to replace the video card or the entire system prefferably, I have been on the phone with thier support for over a hour on sunday and they are telling me since none of the tests come up with an error they are sayings its a software / driver error and they cant replace anything.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Larz,
How do you do that? Do you have to call Dell and ask for that or they do it for all e1705/9400 laptops?
Have you been able to extend warranty on your laptop?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:24 am
The e1705/9400 has an issue with frying its video card. Try to get your warranty extended. They will replace your entire system with a newer model.
February 19th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
I had the same malfunction in my inspiron e1705 video card(nvidia geforce go 7800) after plugging into a network cable. Geeksquad said i need a new video card. Is there a way to replace/upgrade the video card without having to modify the new card (geforce 7900 gtx by cutting off one of the heatsinks?!) or the computer?
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Okan,
You’ll have to test your laptop with an external monitor and check the external video. Does your laptop work with an external monitor? Can you get any video at all?