Looking to upgrade my X205-S9349

Evening, everyone - or morning, you might say.

About a year ago, I bought a Toshiba x205-S9349 from Best Buy. Least to say, I'm very satisfied with this purchase. I don't often push the limits on computers, but on the times that I do, this laptop has been able to withstand the punishment. I enjoy this laptop, and I don't see myself replacing it altogether in the next several years.

However, just recently, the warranty has expired. Along with that, I've been having a sudden craving to upgrade my laptop. Since the warranty is essentially void now, I kind of see this as a grand opportunity to upgrade what I can of the laptop.

I've been searching around some, and I noticed there are two particular things I can upgrade: the processor, and the memory.

At the moment, my X205-S9349 is still stock, and nothing's been changed about it, which means it still includes the following:

TOSHIBA
Satellite X205
2.00 GB RAM
32-bit operating system (Vista Home Premium)
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7100 @ 1.80GHz
64-bit capable

NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT
Total available graphics memory 1023 MB

That is about as much as I can gather. If there's anything that I'm missing, please, tell me.

In any case, from what I understand, there's no point in upgrading the graphics card, since the card is virtually not upgradeable. But I still wish to do something for the memory and processor. A new hard drive is not that big of a deal for me - I don't use a lot of space to begin with.

Now, from what I hear, the T9300 is a good buy that is fully compatible with the X205 series. Is this correct?

Regardless, here is my question to you, the forum and all its members:

Which processors are available for upgrade for the X205-S9349, and where does the T9300 stack up to them?

Also, would upgrading the memory do me any good? Or is 2.0 GB a good foundation?

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I realize that some of these answers are easily locatable on the internet - after all, that's what it's for, right?

However, I would rather hear from those who have such experience with these items. I may be more than fairly efficient with technology, as what most people tell me; but, at the moment, this is still forbidden ground to me.

With that said, is there any place where I may seek professional installation, at the off chance I do decide to upgrade my processor? I hear the memory is easily installable, so I assume that is something I can do on my own.

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Thank you for your time in reading this. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

The T9300 is 2nd only to the X9000 in pure processing power of all the CPUs that can be put into your X205, but from a price perspective, the T8300 is supposed to be the best "Bang for the buck". I upgraded to a T9300, $312 plus shipping from Compuvest" and I'm extremely satisfied.

The memory is very easy to upgrade, will take you less than 5 minutes from start to finish as it's all done through a small access panel on the bottom of the computer. I upgraded to 4Gb and Vista 64 bit, but if you're staying with 32 bit Vista you are probably better off sticking with 3 Gb. Some people say there's no difference in performance between 2 and 3 Gb but I subscribe to the more is better school of thought myself.

The best upgrade I think I've done to my computer was replacing the existing 120GB 7200 RPM hard drives with a WD Scorpio Black 320Gb 7200 drive. Night and day difference in boot times and load times. If I weren't so lazy I'd order a 2nd one for the 2nd bay, but instead I installed a WD 160 7200 in it and called it good. If you decide to upgrade your hard drive, install the new drive in your 2nd bay and use your disk management tools to format it, then when you move it to your primary drive slot Windows will see it when you go to re-install your OS.

One thing to keep in mind, once you swap your processor, your Toshiba recovery discs will no longer work and Toshiba support can't or won't help you with replacements so I would strongly suggest purchasing a new copy of whatever OS you decide to go with. Vista 64 has quirks and issues with some games and other software that I've tried to run, but overall I like it better than the 32bit OS so I'd suggest that.

You'll have to search around your area for a shop that can do a professional install, but I was able to do it myself here in Iraq using only a jewelers phillips head screw driver, the disassembly guide posted somewhere in this forum and a knife so I'd bet you could handle it yourself too.

 

Well, seeing as how the T9300 is more readily available to me than the X9000 (I can't seem to get a price tag on it anywhere), I'll go ahead and settle for second-best. After all, that's almost one more GHz that I didn't have in the first place.

At the moment, though, I am going to keep the 2 GB memory, since most of my investment will be going into a new processor. Thanks for the info, though.

By the way you say it, too, the job for installing the processor does sound easy enough, though not without difficulty to some extent. I'm sure I'd be able to do it myself, but I've had problems in the past when it comes to installation or even basic repair: I somehow have the ability to take a small mess and turn it into a huge clusterf*ck, with just the push of a button.

So, thanks for all the info. It's greatly appreciated.

But, now I have to ask...when it comes to finishing up the install for the processor, you say that I would have to have a new copy of an OS, since the recovery discs will not work in my favor?

Well...while that isn't so much of a problem, is there any way around having to fork out another 300 dollars or so for a new OS? Because, in all honesty, I'm rather content with the 32bit I have right now. Also, I'm sure that half of the stuff I have on my laptop right now are pretty much incompatible with the 64bit.

...and I really don't see any reason in upgrading to Vista Ultimate, considering the price tag.

But, if that's the case, then my next question is this: do I need an all new copy of an OS, or can I settle for one of those upgrading OS discs? There is a considerable difference in price between the two types, but will one prohibit me from upgrading the processor fully?

And I think that's about it...thanks for the info again.

Oh, and how much did the new hard drive cost, by the way?

 

I got the WD 320 for $175 from Newegg. You can get an OEM install disc for the OS for right around $100 - $110 also from Newegg. There are ways to clone your existing hard drive or do a back up and restore to the new hard drive but I've never had much luck with getting them to work for me, maybe you'll have better luck or else you can have someone explain it to you better.

Installing the new processor really isn't all that difficult, you just need to keep track of what screw came out of what hole since a lot of them are different sizes, and you want to take care to remember where each cable connects inside the computer. All in all it took me about 2 hours working slowly and separating the screws by size and location in conjunction with the photos from the disassembly guide.

 

I upgraded RAM and found that putting in 4GB made the computer reboot constantly... I think this is more about Vista detecting 4GB and trying to do something silly.

I took out 1 2GB chip and it boots with 3GB easily enough (either chip in either slot btw so I don't think it is hardware)

Methinks I wait to throw in the other 2GB chip until I can find a 64-bit CD (not so hard as I have an upgraded version of Vista and thus a retail key which I think will work as soon as I find media...)

FYI, 3GB runs smoother IMHO.

I'll be tossing in the T9300 as well I think. IN the same boat as you pretty much...

 

Okay, thanks for the info guys. Hopefully I'll be able to do this soon enough.

I'm a little questionable about the new OS though, since the OS discs come in two types - the regular OS, and then a smaller version of the same OS that is used as an upgrade from your older OS.

Which of these would I need? Or is it possible that I can keep my 32-bit OS, even after installing the processor? Because I think I was given a copy of that OS along with Toshiba's recovery discs. I'd have to check up on that, so I'll let you know...it's whatever came in the box, really.

 

Yeah, so I checked the box, and I found the disc I think I was looking for. It's called Windows Anytime Upgrade, and the disc has the 32-bit OS on it. I looked around in the instructions, and I do have the option to make a "new" clean installation of the 32-bit.

Of course, that means that I would have to back up my files and the sort, since everything gets deleted when the OS reinstalls, but that's no problem.

So, would I be able to use this instead of having to go out and buy either of the two types of OS discs for the 64-bit or even Ultimate?

 

I know the anytime upgrade holds ALL versions of the 32-bit OS... not sure on the 64-bit....

The difference is the product key and registration.

I am going to back up my secondary drive, blank it and install 64-bit to try it.