Toshiba T1800 memory upgrade

[Papalapa]

After repairing my Toshiba T1800 I want to upgrade their RAM memory because it's only 2MB.

In the T1910 there's a PCMCIA slot to do this, and in fact I have a 16MB card installed, but the T1800 memory socket seems to be different. The Service Manual do not specify which kind of the memory card should be used, just that can be upgraded up to 10MB using 2, 4 or 8MB expansion card.

Someone knows which kind of memory card is needed?

Thank you

 

[modem7]

Possibly propriety to Toshiba.

In case of any use:

The document at [here] indicates:
2 MB 'memory kit' = Toshiba part number PA2000U
4 MB 'memory kit' = Toshiba part number PA2001U
8 MB 'memory kit' = Toshiba part number PA2002U

Supported by the T1800 information in Toshiba's ATLAS CD:

 

[Papalapa]

Possibly propriety to Toshiba.

In case of any use:

The document at [here] indicates:
2 MB 'memory kit' = Toshiba part number PA2000U
4 MB 'memory kit' = Toshiba part number PA2001U
8 MB 'memory kit' = Toshiba part number PA2002U

Supported by the T1800 information in Toshiba's ATLAS CD:

View attachment 1307288

Thank your for your quick response, I'll try to find more information using this references. Unfortunatelly If the memory expansion cards are Toshiba propietary will be almost impossible to find one...

 

[8BitSzop]

I checked these cards, and they work with T1800


it seems that cards with a single row of holes will fit, while those with two rows do not fit the socket.

 

[alank2]

I remember back in the day when a 32MB one of these cards was $1999.

 

[8BitSzop]

Those were crazy times.

 

[Istarian]

I believe these are DRAM / IC DRAM cards which were common ish at some point in time and manufactured by multiple companies, although many may use a socket/connector specific to a series of computers or at least the manufacturer (e.g. Fujitsu, IBM, Toshiba, etc).

Some early PDAs and portable computing technology may have utilized memory expansions in a similar format.

IC DRAM Cards

www.ardent-tool.com

Toshiba T19xx DRAM cards, T4400 DRAM cards \ VOGONS

www.vogons.org

Reddit post
https://www.reddit.com/r/vintagecomputing/comments/1j21gsu/what_is_this_called/

V

Thread 'Identify a Kingston old memory expansion credit card format for Toshiba laptop'

Apr 24, 2022

Hi everyone, I got that old 4MB memory expansion card and I try to identify for what machine it works with. The only thing I know is that it is for Toshiba laptop. It looks like memory expansion card for T1900/T4500/T4600 series but the connector is not the same (holes in 2 lines for those, holes in one line for that card). Any information you could have is welcome Thanks.

• vbug
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Handhelds/Portables

Here are several examples from ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324776826036

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225907067007

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326130610186

 

[Istarian]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is just a more compact format for the same kind of memory and layout as a 72-pin SIMM.

They might have done it by packaging silicon dies chip-on-board (COB) style.

 

[8BitSzop]

I believe these are DRAM / IC DRAM cards which were common ish at some point in time and manufactured by multiple companies, although many may use a socket/connector specific to a series of computers or at least the manufacturer (e.g. Fujitsu, IBM, Toshiba, etc).

Some early PDAs and portable computing technology may have utilized memory expansions in a similar format.

IC DRAM Cards

www.ardent-tool.com

Toshiba T19xx DRAM cards, T4400 DRAM cards \ VOGONS

www.vogons.org

Reddit post
https://www.reddit.com/r/vintagecomputing/comments/1j21gsu/what_is_this_called/

V

Thread 'Identify a Kingston old memory expansion credit card format for Toshiba laptop'

Apr 24, 2022

Hi everyone, I got that old 4MB memory expansion card and I try to identify for what machine it works with. The only thing I know is that it is for Toshiba laptop. It looks like memory expansion card for T1900/T4500/T4600 series but the connector is not the same (holes in 2 lines for those, holes in one line for that card). Any information you could have is welcome Thanks.

• vbug
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Handhelds/Portables

Here are several examples from ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324776826036

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225907067007

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326130610186

It should fit: Toshiba T1000LE, T2000, T2000SX, T1800, T1850/C, T2000SXE, T2200SX

 

[Istarian]

I think there are even some later models (or at least different models) that still use these or a very similar technology/design.

E.g.
Satellite/Satellite Pro 4XX line which was preceded, according to Wikipedia, by the Satellite Pro T2150CDT.

 

[Istarian]

DRAM Card 8MB 3.3v Memory Card for Toshiba T Satellite Laptops HP Printers
https://www.ebay.com/itm/116756910340

This particular card has a label indicating that it should work with the Toshiba T1900, T1910, T1950, and T1960 as well as a few other models.

It also has two rows of pins on the connector! Looks like at least 80 pins total, hard to count visually. Faintly resembles a PCMCIA/PC Card connector, but those should be just 68 pins iirc.

 

[8BitSzop]

In Toshiba T-series laptops, I encounter two types of memory cards of this kind: one with a single row of pins and one with two rows of pins. The ones with two rows are compatible with models T19xx and T4xxx. When I come across a damaged card, I will check internally how it is constructed. Example of cards with two rows of pins that I have:


Toshiba T2150 and later models generally had memory that was traditionally soldered in or connected via a more exotic connector.


I think the technology is the same, only the packaging is different.

 

[vrehorst]

Amazing, I was just cataloging some boxes of vintage hardware that came into my collection, and found one of these. I have no way of testing mine though since I don't have any of these laptop models.

 

[Thermalwrong]

In Toshiba T-series laptops, I encounter two types of memory cards of this kind: one with a single row of pins and one with two rows of pins. The ones with two rows are compatible with models T19xx and T4xxx. When I come across a damaged card, I will check internally how it is constructed. Example of cards with two rows of pins that I have:
View attachment 1311197

Toshiba T2150 and later models generally had memory that was traditionally soldered in or connected via a more exotic connector.
View attachment 1311198

I think the technology is the same, only the packaging is different.

Sadly there is an exception to the rule - the T4400, T6400 & T6600 use memory cards that *look* like standard JEIDA cards with two rows of pins (32 bit?) but they are not JEIDA standard and a JEIDA memory card can't work on those models. I'm not sure if the difference is because of JEIDA being mostly 3.3v memory, while the T4400 uses 5v memory, or if there's a pinout difference - probably it's both of these since the T4400/6400 might pre-date the JEIDA memory standard. Only the PA2005U, PA2004U & PA2003U will work with them.
You can see the innards of a PA2004U type 4MB card here, I had to repair mine: https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1330245#p1330245

and the other side:


JEIDA cards are fine on the T4500,T4600,T47x0,T48x0 & T4900 as well as the T19x0 series of laptops.


Something I haven't seen mentioned in this thread is that if you're good at SMD soldering, you could take the memory chips off of a dead T1850 or another T1800 mainboard and populate the missing memory chips to get 4MB of RAM on your T1800 motherboard.
Or swap out for a T1850 mainboard to get 4MB, which I find is just right for the 386SX.