Thread: Video Card Trouble

System: Windows XP
Processor: 2.4GHz Intel Core Duo T8300
RAM: 2.00 GB
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
Laptop Case: Micro Express JFL92

Hi, I have been having trouble with an overheating video card, but I would also like to upgrade it to a more powerful one (which I’m sure will overheat faster). I play a couple computer games that require a more powerful video card, because I have to play them at lowest video settings and it still overheats at times, which I'm sure is due to the cooling system.

I would like to know if anyone can help me figure out what kind of video card slot I have, and how installing additional cooling fans works. I would like it to be internal, but would it be much better to get an external cooling pad to place my laptop on?

When I right-click on My Computer>Properties>Hardware tab>Device Manager>Display Adapters ('+' sign)>Right-Click NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT>Properties I find it tells me the video card location is PCI Slot 6 (PCI bus1, device 0, function 0). I have no idea what this means besides I have some sort of PCI slot. does this mean I have only a PCI and not PCI express etc.? Also, I cannot find the amount of VRAM that I have and cannot find anything on the internet about finding VRAM that works for me.

Thanks

Not entirely true aford10. Some laptops such as the DELL XPS M2010 or the Hypersonic Aviator Series use a PCI-E video card but with proprietary connectors or slots for the cards. Most laptops have a solder on-board video card that cannot be replaced or upgraded. A cooling pad might help you but most likely it sounds like your exhaust port on the laptop itself might be clogged. Try cleaning that out if you can. If you use canned air (Co2) be careful not to lodge the debris further into the system or to accidentally freeze the components by over exposure. One other thing you could try is ATITool sites (the newer version works with nVidia GPUs) or go to nvidia and look for their over clocking tool to knock down the overall speed to help prevent overheating. Also, make sure you are not using the laptop on surfaces like a bed or carpet floor. A flat hard surface such as a table might help as well.