This laptop doesn't use a Graphics Card. It uses Integrated Graphics.
This is a graphics chip that is soldered to your motherboard.
Integrated Graphics is also called OnBoard graphics, and now you can see where it got it's name.
Integrated graphics borrows some of the computers resources. Namely the Processor and Ram Memory.
A computer needs it's system resources. They are used to run the Operating System (Example: Windows XP), and the programs.
When you run an intensive graphics program, such as an intensive game, the graphics processing 'power' is borrowed from the computers processor. The graphics ram needed, is borrowed from the computers system ram memory.
This slows the computers system down, and bad graphics such as poor resolution, frame rate slowdown, and game freeze-up's, result.
With most laptops, what you get with the laptops as far as a graphics chip, is what you have for graphics. There is NO upgrading it!
Even the high priced gamer laptops, are using a graphics chip, or multiple graphics chips, and referring to them as graphics cards. Or at least seeming, to reference to this fact! They do use powerful graphics chips! The Intel GMA 3100 is NOT one of them!
There ARE laptops that do indeed have a graphics card. This is a MXM Module. You CAN take them out, and replace them. There are minimum upgrades available. Unfortunately the MXM Module graphics cards are only semi powerful, and not as powerful as the graphics chip, or chips, offered on the high priced gamer laptops.
These are two upgradeable laptops that I know of,
1.Asus C90s,
A.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPrw89QIXic
B.http://computershopper.com/feature/build-your-own-laptop-preparing-your-build (Click on Close on the upper right of the pop-up transparent Ad. I HATE Ad's! lol!)
2.Asus C90P
http://www.excaliberpc.com/588326/asus-c90p-15.4-intel-core.html
The MXM Module graphics cards offered for the above laptops, are the
Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB's of DDR2 graphics ram, and the Nvidia GeForce 8700M GT with 256MB's of DDR3 graphics ram,
respectively.
If you want to game, and do it with a 'Best Buy for the Buck' theory, I suggest sticking with a desktop computer.
Intel GMA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_GMA
Want to see the most powerful laptop? The best processor available except for the Intel Core i7? The best graphics available?
MTECH D900C
A.http://www.m-techlaptops.com/specifications/mtechd900c.htm
B.Choice of Intel Core Extreme or Intel Core 2 Quad processors for the high-end choice.
Choice of up to 8GB's of ram memory. (Only using a 64bit O/S will realize the full 8GB's of ram)
Option of Three Sata II harddrives.
Optional Bluray drive (2X)
Dual Nvidia 9800GT graphics chips with 512MB's of graphics ram, or
Single Nvidia 9800GT with 1GB of graphics ram,
or Single Nvidia Quadro FX 3700M with 512MB of graphics ram.
http://www.m-techlaptops.com/specifications/d900cspec.html