A135-S2386 Disassembly & second SATA HDD

Just got one of these yesterday for $380 after a PM. It was in bits 1/2 an hour after I got it home.... It seems like a good machine for the money, 512M and Vista was a brain-dead decision; it is a slug and took ages to do anything, especially with all the crapware Toshiba loaded onto it. I fixed that with a 4GB memory upgrade (I had a couple of spare 2G 667 sticks)....

I happen to have a 2.13GHz Merom (Core 2 Duo) sitting at my desk, and wanted to swap out the supplied T2080 with this Merom. I managed to seperate the top and bottom half of the machine, having disconnected the keyboard, left-hand media buttons, speakers, LCD etc. etc. but I can't work out how to get the motherboard out. There are a lot of screws.... The motherboard is inverted, i.e. the CPU and heatpipe are on the underside.

Anybody out there know how to remove the motherboard from an A135?

From my research the T2080 should be a FCPGA package and it should be easy to swap out, once I can get the CPU out.

I also noticed another thing. The case can accept two SATA HDD's, although the second HDD connector is missing from the spare drive bay. Again I happen to have a combined SATA data and power connector lying around and was hoping that I just need to hook solder it in place. Any thoughts?

Thanks

- Tim

 

Just an update - swapped out the CPU for a T7400 2.16GHz Merom, all is working fine. Disassembly was a case of taking it slow, making lots of notes and not losing any screws. The motherboard is only held in by 3 screws. The machine is much quicker, although the Vista windows performance index is still pulled down by a low score of 2.6 on the graphics. I didn't need to re-activate Windows or anything or make any changes to the BIOS.
It booted right up and identified the CPU as a T7400. Ran SiSoft memory stress test and burn in for 8 hours, fan was running a bit louder than before. I don't know what the TDP of the T2080 is (this CPU doesn't exist on Intels' website), but the T7400 is around 35W, so I don't think that will be a big difference in power, machine is still quite cool on my lap. Sandra also reports a big increase in memory bandwidth, the T2080 was running at 533 and single channel mode, even though I have matched memory. The T7400 is running at 667 and in dual channel mode. Memory bandwidth went from 3.1GB/s to over 5GB/s!

All in all my $380 notebook is running great. (after a $440 CPU u/g and $500 of RAM)....

 

timfountain -
I am interested in performing this same upgrade on my A135-S2386. Before I do I was wondering if you could provide a few more details. Are you familiar with CPU-Z utility? It tells info about your cpu, memory, bus speeds, etc. Could you download the free CPU-Z (link below) utility and post what it says in the Memory tab (Channels #, Frequency, FSB RAM ratio, and CAS# Latency. Also, could you post what brand and cas are those 2GB 667 sticks?
Thanks

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

 

I am confused. First of all, the computer can only support up 2 GB memory, how can you get 4 GB memory works? Second, support of dual channel depends on the chipset on the MB, if the chipset can only support single channel, it won't support dual channel even you change to C2D? Maybe i am wrong. I really want to know what did you do. I upgraded mine to 2GB by a kingston dual channel kit but cpu-z told me it is single channel.

Also, is it possible to add an internal bluetooth to this laptop?

 

oceantin-
You are correct about the 2GB max memory limit. The ATI XPress 200M chipset will only support up to 2GB. You can still use 2x2GB sticks but the BIOS only sees 1GB on each. So 2GB are essentially unused out of the 4GB.

The 200M is also a single channel memory controller only, so there is no way it will ever run in dual channel, even with a merom T7600 cpu upgrade. Your CPU-Z reading of single channel is correct. The FSB speed will jump from 533 to 667 with a merom cpu because the 200M does support 667 FSB which is nice. The thing I do not get is the OP's sandra memory bandwidth results with his merom T7400 upgrade. He is reporting over 5GB/s which is about 2.5X what I am seeing with mine that I pin modded the cpu to run at 667 instead of 533 FSB and installed PC-5300 667 memory. The only way to get those kind of scores he is reporting must be with some super high-end PC-6400 low CAS timing memory sticks. Thats why I asked him to provide some additional details about his memory, but I guess he left this thread.

MaxFSB

 

so how about the "second sata HDD" point ? is it possible to install a seconf hdd?

i really want to add internal bluetooth if it is possible. Do u think there is wireless card that include bluetooth?

 

Sorry, internal BT is not possible on this model. Its not wired with a BT antenna which is required for internal BT. Your best bet would be a PCMCIA BT card like this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833203014

On the 2nd sata HDD, no go there as well on this model. The mainboard has the port available, but compal (toshiba) decided not to solder a sata interface connector to it. The connector is probably only about a $2.00 part, but its only included on the higher models.

MaxFSB

 

Greetings,

Hey MaxFSB how did you mod you cpu? Do you have a guide/link you can share with us? I just bought one of these systems at last weekends bestbuy sale, have already upgraded to 2x1Gb kingston pc4200. Looks like the HSF is only aluminum and not copper. I've been thinking about adding some AS5 to the HSF to keep the fan from coming on so much (not that its loud). Anyone found out which video driver version is the best/fastest for this 200m?

Best regards,
Loxety

 

just got this notebook yesterday from office depot for $300 AR. I was digging around and got curious why there was an extra HDD bay and ended up here after googling notebookreview's forum. I know this thread is old but still relevant.

I got 2GB of Crucial 667 on the way, should be here by week's end hope that will speed things up a ton!

CPU-z is showing Core Duo T2250 Yonah Socket 479 (but below T2080 @ 1.73 GHz genuion Intel CPU .....)

Motherboard is toshiba RS400 (200m graphics)

Which processors are available to addon to this notebook? Any of the new C2Ds? Aren't they different sockets?

Will any of these work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&Subcategory=-1&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

or only the ones with 667 FSBs? I'd like to get an updated on how you guys are doing with your S2386s and just some of your thoughts.

Thanks in advance.

 

hello
does anyone is aware of how to get this 2nd HDD bay useful and how to put a 2nd HDD in it??? that would be great upgrade..

Thanks,

 

No double posting please.