laptop upgrade help

[Zirafa]

So these days i got some fre time and searched on internet and found that laptops can be upgraded ....so laptop is toshiba sattelite c660d-10m(oldie :$) and i have in plan to upgrade ram to 8gb so am intersted can i change proccesor .motherboard or add graphic card cuz this one is intergrated...if someone has options just hit here....am not at home most time so i have to carry laptop..i found that everything can be changed but needs same slots and connectors()motherboard and proccesor needs same level of heat....help with questions ;)?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

You have an AMD based laptop that is old and poor overall.
No point in upgrading it. You can't upgrade more helpful parts like GPU anyways.

[The Muppet Surgery Special]

Originally posted by -|HaZaRdOuS|-:

So these days i got some fre time and searched on internet and found that laptops can be upgraded ....so laptop is toshiba sattelite c660d-10m(oldie :$) and i have in plan to upgrade ram to 8gb so am intersted can i change proccesor .motherboard or add graphic card cuz this one is intergrated...if someone has options just hit here....am not at home most time so i have to carry laptop..i found that everything can be changed but needs same slots and connectors()motherboard and proccesor needs same level of heat....help with questions ;)?

How to upgrade memory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCjvcQf3HFE

Here is a video also about the inside of that model

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhIHfBy0khY

Current processor you have..

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K10/AMD-Athlon%20II%20Dual-Core%20Mobile%20P340%20-%20AMP340SGR22GM.html

That is socket S1 Generation 4 (S1g4) 25 Watt TDP. Scroll to the bottom to get a list of possible compatible processor upgrades. I recently did a cheap Intel upgrade for 8 GBP, no way could I get that price with AMD, simply becuse Intel are more abundant expecially for older out of manufacturing processors. Last order date on those was circa. 2011.


The problem with Socket 1 and AMD is the TDP rating, you have to jump up 10 watts to get a decent upgrade, I faced the same issue on my Acer Ferrari One F0200 with AMD S1g1 (Socket 1 Generation 1).

This is one reason why it is better to go with Intel, you get far more upgrade options with a similar TDP profile (or lower).

That will be your main problem with AMD upgrading especially on Socket 1.

I ended up only upgrading RAM and 802.11n to 802.11ac PCIE module in my AMD's. All my Intel laptops I could upgrade all the RAM, 802.11ac and CPU with ease.

You're lucky you get to pay DDR3 cheaper memory prices, I had to buy DDR2 at inflated prices to upgrade mine lol, even though the northbridge supported DDR3, they used DDR2 for some oddball reason lol.


I recommend you dump AMD and go Intel, just get a new laptop tbh. If you like to upgrade and tinker, then DO NOT buy AMD on laptops.

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

You have an AMD based laptop that is old and poor overall.
No point in upgrading it. You can't upgrade more helpful parts like GPU anyways.

Not completly true, you can upgrade GPU's by two methods

1) Replace the MXM board with a higher rated GPU
2) Reball a new pin compatible higher GPU BGA package onto the PCB. (takes maybe an hour or so, you can buy reballing equipment on Amazon now :) ).

Advantages of all this is you can resell the extracted GPU module / BGA package as people are always looking for good GPU's due to DIE to BGA package balls fracturing due to temperatures. This is where most GPU's fail, not on the BGA package to PCB balls, but on the DIE to BGA package balls. Those are much harder to fix, so we simply reball a new good package in place (if you want a proper long term fix).

But yes, AMD are not great to use in laptops if you want to tinker and upgrade. Your best bet for success is Intel and Nvidia. Simply for the fact of availability and diversity in the range.

The best you can do is upgrade ram and wireless (802.11ac pcie module - Intel 7260 for pcie, you may need a extender adapter if it was full length pcie, to allow the half length to fit the screw pillars) and replace HDD with an SSD (Samsung 850 Evo's are good), and you can always replace the ODD with a ODDSATAHDD tray for dual SSD/HDD. You have to decide whether it's worth that or upgrade to a new laptop (Intel / Nvidia for the reasons I outlined).

Some guestimate prices

The 802.11ac module costs about 16-20 GBP on Amazon UK (I use Intel 7260 for PCI-E).
PCIE full length extender for half length modules (if needed) are circa 4 GBP on Amazon UK (for two if you are prepared to wait from Hong Kong or China).
Samsung 850 Evos are circa 50-110 GBP on Amazon UK.
Ram for 8 GiB is circa. 30-40 GBP on Amazon UK. (you want 2x4GiB for dual channel).
ODD SATA HDD tray is circa 4 GBP on Amazon UK (if you order from a supplier in China).

You may have a problem with wireless module upgrading due to Toshiba whitelisting in their BIOS.

[Zirafa]

Thanks bro :)

[Eastman51]

Yea, I agree. AMD platform laptops have little upgrade space/room. I got a laptop for school (HP with AMD based hardware) and I could not even upgrade the RAM. However, it has 8GB DDR3 so it's not a small amount. It also does not have any extra minin PCIe ports and only has 3 USB ports. But it does it's job, and can run a few games if I get bored.

[The Muppet Surgery Special]

Originally posted by Eastman51:

Yea, I agree. AMD platform laptops have little upgrade space/room. I got a laptop for school (HP with AMD based hardware) and I could not even upgrade the RAM. However, it has 8GB DDR3 so it's not a small amount. It also does not have any extra minin PCIe ports and only has 3 USB ports. But it does it's job, and can run a few games if I get bored.

HP is the worst to get, HP whitelists their modules in the BIOS. So that will prevent you installing non-HP approved modules.

To fix that you have to 1) modify the BIOS to unlock them, or 2) stick to HP approved modules (good luck getting that list, see option 1).

I just read that Toshiba do the same for their wireless modules, so

So if you like to upgrade and tinker with laptops

1) Do not buy AMD for laptops
2) Do not buy HP laptops
3) Do not buy Toshiba laptops


My advice, stick to Acer or ASUS or some other reputable non-locking in brand, I know they do not whitelist in the BIOS (at least not currently). I am not sure about MSI or Lenovo.