[haloboy100]

Only if your laptop supports cards, and only if the cards are compatible with it (not to mention the huge amount of heat and power you'll need to power the card).

[Fury]

On a partially related issue, is it possible to add a graphics card to a laptop ? If so, any good ones I can get for around the same price?

Normally no. Although NVIDIA did license a graphics cards interface for laptops that allowed end-users to change card, but the interface only supported NVIDIA cards AFAIK. I haven't seen any laptops actually using this interface. I don't know if modern NVIDIA cards support the interface or if even NVIDIA dropped the ball on it.

In other words, in laptops you're pretty much stuck with what you buy. Changing RAM and hard drive are usually the only ones end-user can replace. Even CPU's are often soldered on the motherboard, as are video card chips.

[Hellstryker]

Hey, I have a computer hardware related issue: What is the absolute best graphics card I can get for around 50USD short of buying a refurb/open-box/ebay?

I ask because my new motherboard will have an integrated geforce 7100, and I'm quite sure that that won't do me much good. I'm not trying to go crazy with cost or anything yet because I don't have a job yet, but I do want to get something decent that'll last me a couple years until I do have a job.

There isn't really anything worth buying for $50. You could get an 8800GS for something like $90 last I checked, which is the cheapest card that performs reasonably well in games.

If you're strapped for cash, I'm putting a 7800GT and X1900XTX on ebay soon, so I could offer you one of those. But the 8800GS is quite a bit faster than either one.

Yes, and the 8800 GTS 512 MB, though considerably more pricey currently gives the biggest bang for your buck

[jr2]

Hey, I have a computer hardware related issue: What is the absolute best graphics card I can get for around 50USD short of buying a refurb/open-box/ebay?

I ask because my new motherboard will have an integrated geforce 7100, and I'm quite sure that that won't do me much good. I'm not trying to go crazy with cost or anything yet because I don't have a job yet, but I do want to get something decent that'll last me a couple years until I do have a job.

AGP or PCI-E? PCI-E | more expensive PCI-E (less after $20 mail-in rebate) |  Cheap AGP | more expensive AGP

[MP-Ryan]

Yes, and the 8800 GTS 512 MB, though considerably more pricey currently gives the biggest bang for your buck

Indeed it does *epic grin*