V ram upgrade?

[octohunter]

Hi guys,
Is it possible to add v-ram to a 12" powerbook G4? Any ideas out there?

 

[Avalon]

No way...
The VRAM, just like the graphics card, is part of the mainboard on PowerBooks and iBooks (and also on e/iMacs).

It's not technically impossible to replace the VRAM chips with bigger ones, but you should be an expert in electronics, especially SMD electronics, before trying this (with a very high risk to kill your computer!).

 

[octohunter]

I guess I'll stay way away from that one. Thanks for the info. Is this equally difficult for PC notebooks? I imagine so.

 

[Avalon]

Yep, this is true for all notebooks...
As they have to cram everything in a small space, they use the smallest parts possible, and fit them all together on the mainboard.

 

[lar5one]

...except for some new pc laptops which have the new replaceable graphics card system. DELL has it, Alienware has it...that's all I know.
Wish Apple had it too, 'cos I can't get nowhere with my 32mb these days

 

[Avalon]

...except for some new pc laptops which have the new replaceable graphics card system. DELL has it, Alienware has it...that's all I know.
Wish Apple had it too, 'cos I can't get nowhere with my 32mb these days

Yeah, heard about that new system too...but I seriously doubt this will become a general feature on notebooks, because every connector that might get loose due to mechanical stress reduces robustness (which a portable computer needs).

I guess Apple will never have it, their powerBooks and iBooks are just way too slim to fit something replaceable, and also because of the mechanical stress issue (which is way higher on a portable than on a stationary computer).

I guess that's the price you have to pay for portability...

 

[lar5one]

But Apple finally amped up the gfx cards on theirmachines though, so everybody buying today should be doing alright.