I'm just as curious to know too. My guess is yes but until I know for sure I ain't going to order one from spare parts. If it didn't work could I return it to Dell? Don't know what their spare part policy is.
I just tried calling Dell to attempt to get an answer but after been bounced around 4 different dept's and finally ending up with someone that didn't speak english well I gave up. I'm trying the email route as well but so far that's not getting a clear answer either.
Im not exactly certain on this, but with most notebooks the footprint of a videocard is specifically designed for that computer. However I believe that the 5100 has the same Motherboard as the 5150. The 5150 has the same case at the 5100, so it is possible to put a Mobility Radeon 9000 in the 5100. As I learned with past notebooks, unless they do a complete overhaul on a system, a videocard is replaceable. The 32MB ATI Radeon 9000 in the 8500 can be replaced with the GeForce4 Go Ti 4200 card, and when dell upgrades there cards on the system, they will most likely be the same size as the old ones. Unfortunately asking dell on this matter is very tough because most laptops are built to retain that card and that card only, so they will most likely say it is not possible; but do some research, you should be able to learn enough as to if it can work or not. But don't just listen to my advice (if u do that), do some research, and you should be able to find some info that will be really helpful for you.
The I5150's M9 should be physically compatible with the I5100. The big question is whether it will also work in the I5100 since there may be BIOS issues to overcome. Someone will have to step up to the plate and actual try to install an M9 into the I5100 before we can say for sure.
Thank you for writing back to Dell US Email Hardware Support.
Please note that the Video chipset configuration supported by Inspiron 5150 is ATI Mobility Radeon 9000. The features of this chipset are listed below.:
The Mobility RADEON? 9000 graphics technology from ATI provides advanced 2D, 3D, and multimedia graphics performance in full 32-bit color. Incorporates 32 MB DDR SDRAM/SGRAM at up to 220 MHz. Features include:
SMARTSHADER? technology supports DirectX® 8.1 and Open GL applications SMOOTHVISION? provides flexible anti-aliasing and progressive anisotropic filtering technology Dual integrated display controllers to drive two displays simultaneously with independent resolutions and refresh rates DVI compliant and TV-out support Quad pipe architecture POWERPLAY? implementation provides power saving capability by going into low voltage mode
These options are not handled by the motherboard of Inspiron 5100 laptop. The ATi mobility 7500 features are different from the ATI mobility 9000 specifications. Hope now you are aware of the requirement of motherboard once update of ATI mobility 9000 was done.
Even if you just replace the video part, it may make the whole laptop non-functional. These upgrades are not supported by Dell.
Thank you for the kind co-operation and valuable time you had provided in this interaction.
LOL....Yeah but is it true? You are most certainly going to get that speal from anybody who has upgraded anything on their laptop. Heck they would have said that when I decided to put non "Dell" branded memory into my 5100 - yet it works just fine. In my opinion from that response we still don't know. Does anybody know about what if any return policy there is on spare parts or if I could get a used part...h*ll doesn't matter to me as long as it works.
P.S. Dell considers h*ll a use of profanity.....thats just too fu*king funny...shows you what they know
Thank you for writing back to Dell US Email Hardware Support.
Please note that the Video chipset configuration supported by Inspiron 5150 is ATI Mobility Radeon 9000. The features of this chipset are listed below.:
The Mobility RADEON? 9000 graphics technology from ATI provides advanced 2D, 3D, and multimedia graphics performance in full 32-bit color. Incorporates 32 MB DDR SDRAM/SGRAM at up to 220 MHz. Features include:
SMARTSHADER? technology supports DirectX® 8.1 and Open GL applications SMOOTHVISION? provides flexible anti-aliasing and progressive anisotropic filtering technology Dual integrated display controllers to drive two displays simultaneously with independent resolutions and refresh rates DVI compliant and TV-out support Quad pipe architecture POWERPLAY? implementation provides power saving capability by going into low voltage mode
These options are not handled by the motherboard of Inspiron 5100 laptop. The ATi mobility 7500 features are different from the ATI mobility 9000 specifications. Hope now you are aware of the requirement of motherboard once update of ATI mobility 9000 was done.
Even if you just replace the video part, it may make the whole laptop non-functional. These upgrades are not supported by Dell.
Thank you for the kind co-operation and valuable time you had provided in this interaction.
Thank you for choosing Dell Have a Nice day.
Respectfully, Frank Employee ID: 378614
Consider that Dell's canned response on any DIY video card upgrades. They would rather you buy a new notebook.
I agree my impression from that reply was they either 1) the 5100 and the 5150 do have different motherboards and for some unknown reason (BIOS?) the 9000 won't run on the 5100's mobo or they would just rather not have anyone upgrade anything on the 5100 :) Even if there is a different motherboard on the 5150 I still don't understand why a video card wouldn't run on it.
UWguy
50 Posts
0
June 30th, 2003 08:00
Andrew Pratt
5 Posts
0
June 30th, 2003 12:00
I just tried calling Dell to attempt to get an answer but after been bounced around 4 different dept's and finally ending up with someone that didn't speak english well I gave up. I'm trying the email route as well but so far that's not getting a clear answer either.
UWguy
50 Posts
0
June 30th, 2003 19:00
Mustsbro
12 Posts
0
June 30th, 2003 23:00
Im not exactly certain on this, but with most notebooks the footprint of a videocard is specifically designed for that computer. However I believe that the 5100 has the same Motherboard as the 5150. The 5150 has the same case at the 5100, so it is possible to put a Mobility Radeon 9000 in the 5100. As I learned with past notebooks, unless they do a complete overhaul on a system, a videocard is replaceable. The 32MB ATI Radeon 9000 in the 8500 can be replaced with the GeForce4 Go Ti 4200 card, and when dell upgrades there cards on the system, they will most likely be the same size as the old ones. Unfortunately asking dell on this matter is very tough because most laptops are built to retain that card and that card only, so they will most likely say it is not possible; but do some research, you should be able to learn enough as to if it can work or not. But don't just listen to my advice (if u do that), do some research, and you should be able to find some info that will be really helpful for you.
somms
623 Posts
0
July 1st, 2003 00:00
Andrew Pratt
5 Posts
0
July 1st, 2003 01:00
This is the reply I got from tech support....
Thank you for writing back to Dell US Email Hardware Support.
Please note that the Video chipset configuration supported by
Inspiron 5150 is ATI Mobility Radeon 9000. The features of this
chipset are listed below.:
The Mobility RADEON? 9000 graphics technology from ATI provides
advanced 2D, 3D, and multimedia graphics performance in full
32-bit color. Incorporates 32 MB DDR SDRAM/SGRAM at up to 220
MHz. Features include:
SMARTSHADER? technology supports DirectX® 8.1 and Open GL applications
SMOOTHVISION? provides flexible anti-aliasing and progressive
anisotropic filtering technology
Dual integrated display controllers to drive two displays simultaneously
with independent resolutions and refresh rates
DVI compliant and TV-out support
Quad pipe architecture
POWERPLAY? implementation provides power saving capability by
going into low voltage mode
These options are not handled by the motherboard of Inspiron
5100 laptop. The ATi mobility 7500 features are different from
the ATI mobility 9000 specifications. Hope now you are aware
of the requirement of motherboard once update of ATI mobility
9000 was done.
Even if you just replace the video part, it may make the whole
laptop non-functional. These upgrades are not supported by Dell.
Thank you for the kind co-operation and valuable time you had
provided in this interaction.
Thank you for choosing Dell
Have a Nice day.
Respectfully,
Frank
Employee ID: 378614
UWguy
50 Posts
0
July 1st, 2003 02:00
LOL....Yeah but is it true? You are most certainly going to get that speal from anybody who has upgraded anything on their laptop. Heck they would have said that when I decided to put non "Dell" branded memory into my 5100 - yet it works just fine. In my opinion from that response we still don't know. Does anybody know about what if any return policy there is on spare parts or if I could get a used part...h*ll doesn't matter to me as long as it works.
P.S. Dell considers h*ll a use of profanity.....thats just too fu*king funny...shows you what they know
somms
623 Posts
0
July 1st, 2003 04:00
Consider that Dell's canned response on any DIY video card upgrades. They would rather you buy a new notebook.
Andrew Pratt
5 Posts
0
July 1st, 2003 11:00
I agree my impression from that reply was they either 1) the 5100 and the 5150 do have different motherboards and for some unknown reason (BIOS?) the 9000 won't run on the 5100's mobo or they would just rather not have anyone upgrade anything on the 5100 :) Even if there is a different motherboard on the 5150 I still don't understand why a video card wouldn't run on it.
RedHerring
64 Posts
0
July 1st, 2003 17:00
nevermind.
Message Edited by RedHerring on 07-01-2003 03:14 PM
Andrew Pratt
5 Posts
0
July 1st, 2003 17:00
RedHerring
64 Posts
0
July 1st, 2003 17:00
I ordered the 9000 from parts ( #4U284 ) for $130.00
I will look at it, and compare the two cards, and MAYBE
I will plug it into my MB if they look physically compatible.
If not I will send it back, or sell it on ebay.
Ship date is next month tho dam*it (August).
Next problem: Where to get drivers for a 9000 on
a 5100? Any ideas?
Message Edited by RedHerring on 07-01-2003 03:15 PM
somms
623 Posts
0
July 1st, 2003 19:00
You may want to cancel this order since that Dell Part# is for an I8100/8200 form factor M9. It won't fit your I5100. Search the forum for more info.
RedHerring
64 Posts
0
July 1st, 2003 20:00
Thanks, somms
You were right. I cancelled the first order and ordered the one for the 5150.
64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 for 5150.
Part# A0098130 $86.95 + shipping. Should arrive next week on the 8th of July.
I'll keep you informed... ( Still probably won't work, but what the h*ll, huh? )
RedHerring
UWguy
50 Posts
0
July 1st, 2003 22:00