Vista - Intel Graphics Media Accelerator & PCI Express X16??

Hello~

The information for the The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 mentions a PCI Express X16 port:

Benefits to Consumers:
"PCI Express* x16 port available¹ to upgrade to higher performance graphics card if required for extreme gaming."

Benefits to Business:
"PCI Express* x16 port available. Single platform can be deployed for broad range of client user needs, allowing upgrades to higher performance 3D graphics cards if required."

My graphics: Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset Family (Integrated into the motherboard)

Does the Accelerator offer anything for my laptop at all regarding the PCI feature (specs also @ the link below)? Because the footnote under Upgradeability says at the bottom of the page:

"Available with the Intel 945G Express Chipset"

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 Overview

What is the difference between 945G & 945GM? Is it only on new computers & not integrated like the GM is?

And if it is integrated how could the graphics chip be upgraded? I thought there was nothing Intel graphics could be upgraded to, card-wise.

This accelerator, I'm downloading it because it came out after I bought my computer. But is there anything I can do with this PCI Express port? Also, is there such a thing as an external Express port than can be attached via a USB port?

One is the desktop variant (945G) and one is the laptop/mobile variant (945GM), with the desktop variant being the one they are referring too in regards to the PCI-E x16 slot, and no you laptop doesn't have one.

Answered your own question,

There isn't. There are very few laptops available that have the possibility of upgrading the graphics card, and Intel based ones aren't them. Unfortunately if you want a better graphics card on your laptop, you're going to have to buy a laptop with a better graphics card.

Thanks for explaining the differences between the chip sets. Could not find it on the Intel site.

its the Mobile bit that gives it away They use that for the laptop/notebook versions , they consume less power and run cooler for a loss of performance over its desktop version

Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset - Overview

Lordy!
See...It's those obvious things in the forest that are so embarrassing when us non-techie-noobs-at-nearly everything computer-ish miss them. Thanks for saying it so nicely (as the noob walks away with her head bowed down in shame)....