EXtra memory for a Toshiba Satellite Pro A120 (aka TECRA A8)

[Maurice Batey]

My Toshiba A120 at the moment has only 2 x 500MB of DDR2, and I want to
increase RAM to at least 2GB.

I understand both slots can accommodate 2GB each.

My inclination is to replace one of the 500MB units with a 2GB unit.
Does it matter which slot has the 2GB?

Would a 500MB + 2GB unit have a heat problem that 2 x 1GB would avoid?
Would 2 x 2GB have more of a heat problem?

I would very much appreciate some guidance on these questions.

[Adrian C]

Post by Maurice Batey
My Toshiba A120 at the moment has only 2 x 500MB of DDR2, and I want to
increase RAM to at least 2GB.
I understand both slots can accommodate 2GB each.
My inclination is to replace one of the 500MB units with a 2GB unit.
Does it matter which slot has the 2GB?
Would a 500MB + 2GB unit have a heat problem that 2 x 1GB would avoid?
Would 2 x 2GB have more of a heat problem?
I would very much appreciate some guidance on these questions.

I don't think exact placement generally has any problems; it would be a
very weak design move of Toshiba to make one socket be favoured over the
other, as it would surely stress their support department if folks got
an install wrong and started flinging their laptops back for instabilty
due to that...

...and same for overheating issues due to memory. Has this been an issue
for your particular laptop for you or has it been reported by others.
Checked any Toshiba related forums for this issue?

Your laptop probably supports dual channel memory operation, and the
rules for that say that both sockets should contain the same memory
size. Breaking the rule is in practice a slight decrease on overall
system performance, unless you are regulary dealing with huge operations
going on in memory - or the thing has built-in graphics sharing some of
that memory, in which case I would upgrade both to be the same. (2x1GB)

Go for memory from either Crucial or Kingston Technology. Both have very
good support in the (very unlikely) event their matched products don't
play ball straight away.

[Maurice Batey]

Post by Adrian C
same for overheating issues due to memory. Has this been an issue
for your particular laptop for you

No - I just wondered what others' experiences had been.

Post by Adrian C
Your laptop probably supports dual channel memory operation,
... I would upgrade both to be the same. (2x1GB)

Sounds the best bet. Will go for that.

Post by Adrian C
Go for memory from either Crucial or Kingston Technology. Both have very
good support in the (very unlikely) event their matched products don't
play ball straight away.

OK - noted!

Many thanks for the input, Adrian. Much appreciated!

[Maurice Batey]

Post by Adrian C
Your laptop probably supports dual channel memory operation, and the
rules for that say that both sockets should contain the same memory
size. Breaking the rule is in practice a slight decrease on overall
system performance,

As 2 x 1GB modules would cost £43 from Amazon, I shall first try using
one 2GB module (£30) with one of the existing 500MB modules.
If that doesn't provide the speed improvement I need (or doesn't
work with unequal sizes), I'll then replace the other 500MB module with
a 1GB or 2GB.

Thanks for your input, Adrian!

[Adrian C]

Post by Maurice Batey
As 2 x 1GB modules would cost £43 from Amazon, I shall first try using
one 2GB module (£30) with one of the existing 500MB modules.
If that doesn't provide the speed improvement I need (or doesn't
work with unequal sizes), I'll then replace the other 500MB module with
a 1GB or 2GB.
Thanks for your input, Adrian!

Don't bother with Amazon. Go direct to Crucial, and enter the exact
model number AND part number.

<http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?model=Satellite%20Pro%20A120%20%28PSAC0A-00D002%29>

I've just entered that one (PSAC0A-00D002) for an example, first on the
list. Delivered (with, free post*) 2x1GB is £30 for that one. You can
even sign up on QuidCo and get a 7% percent back!

Big hint with Amazon, find the product - if it's sold by someone else on
the Amazon site (i.e. marketplace), check if they also have their own
web outlet elsewhere or on eBay. Often cheaper.

BTH Check the Q&A on that page about dual channel since I mentioned it.
The laptop I chose is actually _not_ dual channel - so a 2GB module
would be a better move pricewise. Maybe yours is like that.

* when crucial say 3-5 working days, my experience (and I buy a lot from
them) has normally been to find it delivered next day (me, london, them,
scotland!).

Good luck!

[Maurice Batey]

Post by Adrian C
o direct to Crucial, and enter the exact
model number AND part number.

Mmm. According to that site the A120 takes only 500MB or 1GB modules,
but info elsewhere said could max to 4GB with 2 x 2GB!

So my order for a 2GB module may not work...

[Maurice Batey]

Post by Maurice Batey
info elsewhere said could max to 4GB with 2 x 2GB!

E.g. kingston.com site for Toshiba Tecra A8 (aka Satellite Pro A120,
according to the user manual):

"Search Results for: Toshiba Tecra A8 Series

Memory upgrades:
KTT667D2/1G 1GB 667MHz Module Get Price
KTT667D2/2G 2GB 667MHz Module Get Price

The information below describes the basic configuration of your
system/device.

Maximum Memory: 4 GB

Expansion: 2 Sockets"

I've ordered one KTT667D2/2G.

[Maurice Batey]

Post by Maurice Batey
I've ordered one KTT667D2/2G.

My Toshiba laptop's manual says:

"A 256, 512, 1024 (DDR2-667/533/400), or 2048 MB memory module
(DDR2-667) can be installed."

[Adrian C]

Post by Maurice Batey

Post by Maurice Batey
I've ordered one KTT667D2/2G.

"A 256, 512, 1024 (DDR2-667/533/400), or 2048 MB memory module
(DDR2-667) can be installed."

Well, that's printed from the horses mouth, and note Toshiba have worked
pretty closely with Kingston over the years, often branding Kingston
made memory as their own including quite possibly that one.

So you should be fine :-)

[Maurice Batey]

Post by Adrian C
So you should be fine

The RAM arrived today.

Following the suggestion on the enclosed slip, I tried to'verify' the RAM at
kingston.com/verify.

The odd things there was that the facility imposed the 'Asia' region, so
that when it came to entering 'customer information', the only selection
available from the dropdown was from Asian countries!

Looked at their Europe site but no sign of 'verify' option there.

So are we suppose to pretend that we are in an Asian country - or what?!

[Maurice Batey]

Post by Maurice Batey
Looked at their Europe site but no sign of 'verify' option there.

Called their UK number, and the guy verified the module over the phone!

[Maurice Batey]

Post by Maurice Batey
I've ordered one KTT667D2/2G.

Arrived yesterday, fitted today in top slot (which turned out to be 2,3
rather than 0,1 - leaving one of the original 500MB modules in situ in the
other slot).

Works fine; VirtualBox reports 2.46MB RAM.