Pictures of my Toshiba M30-S304

M30-S304 /M30 Series Model. Centrino Notebook.

Graphics for this M30

Manufacturer : NVIDIA®
Type : GeForce™ FX Go5200
Memory : 32 MB-DDR Video RAM
Graphics accelerator : 128 bit
Connected Bus : 8 x AGP bus

You are correct; this is the only drawback.
When I originally needed the laptop, my older A15 model got whacked - uhmm...orange juice and vodka got spilled on the kbrd. - I contacted Toshiba and even though I had to pay for the repair - new motherboard, they were excellent in their service. I had laptop picked up by DHL the next morning after my phone call to the Toshiba International. And they had it fixed within 4 days. I had a major paper due at the time, 10,000 words, and I could not be without my computer at all. So, I bought the M30. I did some research before I bought it, this was the only model available retail with this amount of v-ram.

I do love my Toshiba. And I did buy a 3-year warranty extension - including accidental damage. So, next time I bust a screen or drop it into a bathtub they will fix it. They will also replace it if it is stolen! It was the best peace of mind for $199.00 bucks. I used my US Credit Card and bought it from the Toshiba USA not UK. Since dollar is so low against the British pound sterling I recon I saved about $200.00.

I do want to buy Satellite P25-S670; I like the fact that P25-S670 has a 17” display. Or, if I come into some money next year, I will definitely buy Alienware laptop. I hope, however, that by the time I buy another laptop, Alienware will come out with the 17” display.

This is Antec’s Notebook Cooler [Pearl] version. I think it is brilliant! I bought it after I upgraded the laptop to 1GB memory and 7200RPM HDD.
It is USB Powered with Pass-Through connector. Not a good thing for your battery, obviously, since it will drain it fairly fast. I have it hooked up to the Adaptec USB Hub and since it is a powered hub I have no issues. Also, I am using my laptop as a desktop replacement and it works marvellously.
As far as the performance of it is concerned:
When I ran my laptop without the cooler, for about two weeks, it would get fairly warm: 75 degree Fahrenheit /23.8 degree Celsius. The notebook-cooling fan would come up often as well. Now, however, the fan comes up rarely or when it does – since Toshiba’s M30 have variable speed built in – it is barely audible. I have to place my hand next to the vent in order for me to find out if the fan is on or off. It is mostly off. The average ambient temperature of the laptop running is about 65 degree Fahrenheit/ 17-18 degree Celsius.
So, it is about 10 degrees drop. Very nicely done, it has 2 built in fans and an aluminium surface – which definitely helps with heat dissipation.

I am including pictures of my setup. Also there are photos of this machine playing DVD and Hitman 3.

Naww... don't use it on your lap. It is not designed for it. They made this cooler specifically for the use on a flat, even surface. It has rubber non-slip feet. My laptop fits just-right. As you have seen the coolpad is star-shaped. Well, my Toshiba fits right on it, at the edge. So it did work out for me.

Behind the laptop is an Adaptec USB HUB - Here is the link: ADAPTEC

HDD was £120.00 = $190.00

And installation free.. since I paid myself to do it.

Havent done 3d bench thing - But, Plays Hitman 3 w/o problems. Touchpad - , at least on this machine, is OK. It gets warm, but not hot and remember this machine has a 7200rpm hdd under there. Uhmm....Well thats about all I can think off. Oh... at the moment of this note this machine has been on for over 60 hrs. And its awesome - not even a hint of overheating. I atribute it to following: 1- Coolpad Helps. 2-Average Ambient Temp outside is about 15 degrees with nice breeze.

Cheers