Upgrades for a Toshiba laptop computer?

Question

I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop computer with 448MB of RAM and a 40GB hard drive. Does anyhone have specific knowledge that I can upgrade my RAM and get a bigger disk drive for this computer. About what should I expect to pay for these upgrades? Qualified answers only, please.

Answer 1

The ram is an easy upgrade just go to any computer electronics store (best buy, compusa, staples, circuit city, etc.) and pick up another 512mb stick of ram. ( you really have 512mb of ram, you just have a video card that is sharing 64mb of your ram) That can cost like $50 or so. And if you want them to install it for you look at another $50. Anyway regarding your hard drive that's going to be a bit more dificult to upgrade because not only do you have to find the 2.5 inch drive but then you have to find the mounting bracket specific to your laptop model. This can cost (with installation like 200-400) and at this total cost it would be better if you just started looking for a new laptop.

Answer 2

You could definately upgrade the ram, but the hard drive is a little more difficult. If your computer came with a recovery disk than you can upgrade the hard drive, otherwise you can't because you will have no way of putting windows back onto the computer without purchasing another copy of it, becuase the recovery would be on a hidden partition on the hard drive. If you turn the computer over and there is a little door that has some screws in it and has a little picture of a stick of ram on it than it is easy to upgrade the ram because all you have to do is take out those screws and the ram will just be under the door, and the same with a hard drive except the door will be bigger and it will have a picture of a cylinder on it. If it does not have these doors pay somebody to do it because if you have to totally split the laptop it is fiddly and tricky so it is worth getting somebody to do it for you, I work in IT and deal with quite a few laptops.

Answer 3

I am a certified computer technician who has worked on several Toshiba Satellite machines. Your hard drive is a 2.5 inch IDE drive. Most consumer electronics stores now carry them in stock at various prices depending on capacity. You can expect to pay at least $100, shopping around online is also an option. As far as your RAM, without knowing the precise model number, I can't give you an exact answer. If your machine is recent enough to have come with a 40GB hard drive, then it probably uses DDR memory. This type of memory comes in various speeds, but the faster speeds usually underclock to match an older computer. The best thing to do would be to enter your computer's model number in the PNY memory configurator at pny.com - remember that you probably only have two slots, and for the best upgrade you will have to dispose of the memory already in the machine. Expect to pay upwards of 100 depending on the size of your upgrade.

Answer 4

First and foremost, in order to tell what your upgrade potential is you need to give someone the make and model.
Satellite 4000CDS example.

Now, there are Hard drive upgrades, but if its an older laptop I would consider an external hard drive for all data as easiest and most cost effective, since work on laptops is one of those they charge alittle too much for.

Depending on your Ram and where you get it from, how much you can get it could range all the way from 75 for the memory to 200 for the memory if youre trying to max out ram on a fairly new laptop.
But sounds to me like your laptop might be about 5 years old with 448
It actually sounds like you have 512 and 64 MB is being shared off as Video Ram.

Now consider the cost of an external hard drive. you can get one from any retial store for about 100 bucks
smaller is more, but theres some specials where Ive picked up a 250 for 79 after rebates.
Theres alot of smaller ones out there right now,physically small for about $100 for like 80 GB

But without knowing what type og model you have, hard to give accurate estimate of cost, but if I was doing it for someone, I could do it easily for under 200 bucks if youre RAM upgrade is to 1 GB, and you wanted an external Hard drive instead of internal

Go to Best buy or some place like that and I say you will proababy pay in realm of 300-400
check it for yourself and tell me if I was right.

That is with only guessing you can put another 512 RAM stick in

good luck -- hope it helps

Answer 5

you are able to no longer substitute the photos card and processor of a computing device. Your buddy is physically powerful, you will might desire to purchase a sparkling computing device or you are able to purchase a typical laptop as a replace, as you are able to substitute the photos card and processor of a typical laptop once you please.