Questions about new Toshiba A135 notebooks.

I just started looking for a laptop. I have a Toshiba 5105 that has served me very well, for longer than I thought it would.

I just noticed the Toshiba A135-4467 and A135-4487. They are low end Core 2 Duo machines with 1 or 2GB RAM, and 1 or 2 hard drives. 2 hard drives in a laptop!

Does anyone know:

Does the single drive version, have the extra drive bay, can you just add a sata drive?

Can you swap out the CPU on either model for a faster CPU?

The cheaper model (A135-4467) has a 533Mhz front side bus. If you can/do install a 2.16Mhz Core 2 Duo later can you set the FSB to 677Mhz?

Thanks

 

"Does the single drive version, have the extra drive bay, can you just add a sata drive?"

I don't think so, it should say on the specifications whether it is a "slot-loaded" HDD.

"Can you swap out the CPU on either model for a faster CPU?"
Yes you can

"The cheaper model (A135-4467) has a 533Mhz front side bus. If you can/do install a 2.16Mhz Core 2 Duo later can you set the FSB to 677Mhz?"
You probably can't do that as Toshiba wouldn't supply you with a motherboard supporting 667MHz when they're selling it at a stock speed of 533MHz. You could overclock it, but it's not worth it.

Other forum members will offer input as well, but that's what I know about the A135 for now.

 

Looking again it seems that the 2 drive models also have the finger print reader and a 677Mhz Front side bus and the 1.66Ghz T5500. The single drive models seem to have the 1.60Ghz T5200 Core 2 Duo at 533Mhz. So there is a good chance the single drive units are just that, with no extra drive bay.

Seems like the 4487 might be the way to go then.

 

I have the A135-S2246 (Celeron M 430 w/ATI x200M chipset). There is an opening in the case for the second drive. But the SATA connector is missing off the motherboard. Also a the depth of the second bay wouldn't accept a standard 2.5" drive in my model. And I can't tell if the connector is the only component missing. Sooner or later I am going to disassemble the whole thing and see if the bios will accept a Duo Core. At that time I will inspent the second hardrive bay for options. I can post pics if anyone is interested in seeing the second bay on this x200M motherboard.

 

I'm interested.
I got the S2246 last week. Wouldn't mind upgrading to core duo some day.

 

I guess I should have come back and answered my own questions....
I did buy the laptop A130 custom from the Toshiba website.

There is a second empty drive bay (with the SATA connector) on this laptop. I have another post with the part number for the rails to mount a 2nd drive.

I've not pulled the laptop apart yet however the really isn't any reason the Core2Duo isn't socketed. Finally I'm not sure about the FSB speed, I'm trying to find out if the motherboard supports dual channel.

 

Does the x200m support Core Duo? I guess it must but I can't remember seeing a CD with x200m chipset!

 

I have the A135-s2276, with the (in my opinion, stupidly named) Intel Pentium Dual-Core. The designation and name are T2060 and Yonah, which means that it's actually a Core Duo, but at any rate, I'm on the Xpress 200m chipset.

 

I have the A135 S-4487 and couldn't be happier. Fast, stable, and have had no problem with Vista Home Premium. I would like to upgrade to the new Intel pro wireless 4965 AGN adapter but Toshiba won't tell exactly where the card is installed. I will just start taking it apart to find out. I can't imagine anyone needing a more robust configuration than the 4487 offers.

 

I think it's right underneath the RAM slots if you flip the laptop over. The little door in the middle, almost on the ridge, between the two middle support feet. At least, that's where the Atheros is on the S2276.

 

I have the A135-4467 and before buying it i did some reasearch of course, i relized that most of the 4467 models were listed with 533MHz FSB L2, 4GB MAX, and a core 2 duo processer. As i was on a budget and wasn't really looking to spend a pretty pennie i bought the machine! When i brought it home i installed some CPU temp software etc and relized the machine had a FSB of 666 MHz!!!! I have one question about the laptop and was hoping someone could give me a helping hand, the laptop has a space which looks like an extra harddrive can be added, but it has no connectors...Anyone have an idea about this?

 

Yep, as a cost-cutting measure, some boards don't have a second SATA plug or controller or something. The only way to guarantee your system supports a second drive is to buy it that way (that's what I did, even though I immediately upgraded the second one).

- Trip

 

Yes I have the A135-S2386 with the ATI chipset and it come with one of the low end Core Duo's (T2080, 1.73GHz, 533FSB the "celeron" of dual core). I dropped a T7400 into it without any issues. Only gripes are the lack of proper XP support from Toshiba and you can only put 2GB in. Oh and it was a biatch to take apart. I still have the T2080 ($50, PM if interested).

- Tim

 

How much did the T7400 run you? I had xp driver problems with this machine aswell, missing drivers etc, managed to get all of them but left out the 56k modem If any one needs the drivers to down-grade there machine from Vista to Xp PM me. Also it looks like the drives will work for all A135 Machines, as mine is a S4467 and the drivers i got were for a S4427.

 

Can someone comment on the improved performance after upgrading the T2080.

I am running my A135-S4527 with 2GB on Vista Home Premium and after removing most of the rubbish software and turning off many unnecessary windows services I have no complaints of performance... I do not play games, but I even use Maya 2008 and I am really content.

When I open 3 or 4 programs there is a slight delay switching back and forth.. it appears that the computer is using Virtual Memory.. but other than that no complaints on the cheapest Laptop I have ever used.

My Girlfriend just bought a new Dell for 2k.. that is Euros!!
Intel Duo Core 2... guess what, I don't see the difference, but I'd love to hear about the Chip upgrade.

Thanks