Solved! What's the maximum capacity my laptop can support?

[yugithedestiny2030]

I have a 5 year old Toshiba laptop (C50-A230) and I want to upgrade for 1 or 2 TB HDD but I'm not really sure if it can support it?

Here's the info I think you'll need

General Information
Device Name: Intel Panther Point-M PCH - SATA AHCI Controller [C1]
Original Device Name: Intel Panther Point-M PCH - SATA AHCI Controller [C1]
Device Class: SATA AHCI Controller
Revision ID: 4 [C1]
PCI Address (Bus: Device:Function) Number: 0:31:2
PCI Latency Timer: 0
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E03&SUBSYS_FA301179&REV_04

System Resources
Interrupt Line: N/A
Interrupt Pin: INTB#
I/O Base Address 0 3088
I/O Base Address 1 3094
I/O Base Address 2 3080
I/O Base Address 3 3090
I/O Base Address 4 3060
Memory Base Address 5 92517000

Features
Bus Mastering: Enabled
Running At 66 MHz: Capable
Fast Back-to-Back Transactions: Capable

SATA Host Controller
Interface Speed Supported: Gen3 6.0 Gbps
Number Of Ports: 6
External SATA Support: Not Capable
Aggressive Link Power Management: Capable
Staggered Spin-up: Not Capable
Mechanical Presence Switch: Not Capable
Command Queue Acceleration: Capable
64-bit Addressing: Capable
AHCI Status: Enabled
AHCI Version: 1.30
Ports Implemented: 0, 2

SATA Port#0
Port Status: Device Present, Phy communication not established
Current Interface Speed: Gen2 3.0 Gbps
External SATA Port: Not Capable
Hot Plug: Not Capable
Device Type: SATA

SATA Port#2
Port Status: Device Present, Phy communication not established
Current Interface Speed: Gen1 1.5 Gbps
External SATA Port: Not Capable
Hot Plug: Not Capable
Device Type: ATAPI

Driver Information
Driver Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Driver Description: Intel(R) 7 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller
Driver Provider: Intel Corporation
Driver Version: 12.8.20.1002
Driver Date: 22-May-2015
DeviceInstanceId: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E03&SUBSYS_FA301179&REV_04\3&11583659&0&FA
Location Paths PCIROOT(0)#PCI(1F02)

 

[Prostar Computer]

Yes, it will support 1TB and 2TB drives just fine. You can install an SSD, but since any drive you install will be limited to SATA Gen 2/3.0 Gbps speeds, I think the most sensible option would be a mechanical drive.

Happy upgrading!

 

[yugithedestiny2030]

Yes, it will support 1TB and 2TB drives just fine. You can install an SSD, but since any drive you install will be limited to SATA Gen 2/3.0 Gbps speeds, I think the most sensible option would be a mechanical drive.

Happy upgrading!

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't SATA III is the current normal? I mean it reaches up to about 500 Mb/s, so is that kind of outdated now? Also, thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't SATA III is the current normal? I mean it reaches up to about 500 Mb/s, so is that kind of outdated now? Also, thanks!

Yes, SATA III is the current standard.
However, your laptop port is only SATA II.

And SSD will be 'faster' than the HDD in there now, but not as fast as if it were in a SATA III port.

 

[yugithedestiny2030]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't SATA III is the current normal? I mean it reaches up to about 500 Mb/s, so is that kind of outdated now? Also, thanks!

Yes, SATA III is the current standard.
However, your laptop port is only SATA II.

And SSD will be 'faster' than the HDD in there now, but not as fast as if it were in a SATA III port.

Again, correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't this mean it supports SATA III?

 

[USAFRet]

Yes, sorry. My mistake.
I was looking at this line:

----------------------------
SATA Port#0
Port Status: Device Present, Phy communication not established
Current Interface Speed: Gen2 3.0 Gbps
------------------------------

Which is your current drive.

A 2.5" SATA III drive will work perfectly in there.
Samsung 860 EVO or Crucial MX500, in whatever size meets your budget.

 

[yugithedestiny2030]

Yes, sorry. My mistake.
I was looking at this line:

----------------------------
SATA Port#0
Port Status: Device Present, Phy communication not established
Current Interface Speed: Gen2 3.0 Gbps
------------------------------

Which is your current drive.

A 2.5" SATA III drive will work perfectly in there.
Samsung 860 EVO or Crucial MX500, in whatever size meets your budget.

It's totally okay. I just got confused because I was looking up some SSDs before asking that question knowing that it can support it, but I think I'm going for HDD as they were kinda expensive. Anyway, thanks!

 

[Prostar Computer]

I could be misunderstanding, but it looks like your SATA Host Controller - the hardware that processes data across the SATA bus - is capable of Gen 3/6.0 Gb/s speeds, but your ports (the interfaces themselves) are not electronically SATA Gen 3/6.0 Gb/s.

In either case, a Gen 3/6.0 Gb/s drive will be backwards compatible. You'll know for sure if you were to install an SSD that can surpass Gen 2 speeds, but appears capped by them during benchmark tests.

 

[yugithedestiny2030]

I could be misunderstanding, but it looks like your SATA Host Controller - the hardware that processes data across the SATA bus - is capable of Gen 3/6.0 Gb/s speeds, but your ports (the interfaces themselves) are not electronically SATA Gen 3/6.0 Gb/s.

In either case, a Gen 3/6.0 Gb/s drive will be backwards compatible. You'll know for sure if you were to install an SSD that can surpass Gen 2 speeds, but appears capped by them during benchmark tests.

I believe that's because I currently have HDD installed.