Things to keep in mind when upgrading laptop graphics cards?

[KRALLODHRIB]

I'm considering upgrading my graphics card in my laptop-and I don't know a freakin' thing about the internals. What else would I have to do to upgrade the graphics card? I'm considering a Mobility Radeon 9800.
I don't know if it's even possible?
My system is

p4 2.5gig
512 Ram
30 ghd

Any help would be appreciated when I am slaying mountains of rebellious subjects in R:TW shortly.

[USMCNJ]

ah, laptops.
check with the company that made your laptop.
90% chance the video card is part of the motherboard and cannot be upgrated without changing the motherboard.
If you change the motherboard you will porbably have to change the case, and alot of other stuff. If you look at in in the long run you're better of getting a new laptop.

[exarchi]

Things To Keep In Mind When Purchasing A Laptop And Attempting To Play New Games On It:

Don't do it. Buy a desktop instead.

[kchickenlord]

A lot of modern laptops are very accessible for GPU upgrades, if you check the underneath of your laptop, it might even be labeled, there should be a few trapdoor like openings held in with clips or screw fasteners, if one is for a graphics card, then you should have no problem upgrading, but if your current graphics card is in anyway half decent its probably not worth it, laptop graphics cards are a rip-off, even more so if you buy them from the laptop manufacturer.

Games are not usually designed with laptops in mind, you may find that even with an upgrade it doesnt work very well anyway.

Always read the manual, if your laptop is still under warranty dont do ANYTHING!!

[KRALLODHRIB]

Great info lads. I appreciate the responses.