XPS 1340 vs Vaio SR

I have an XPS 1340 on order, with the g210m graphics card. I have been reading about this computer, and while performance seems good, I am starting to freak out a little bit about the heat issues people are reporting, even recently and with the new g201m. I owned a laptop once with heat issues, and I don't want to go back to the bad old days of lockups and crashes related to heat.

I am thinking of canceling my order (or returning it if I can't), and getting the Vaio SR with the HD4570 graphics card. What do people think of this as an alternative? I lose the backlit keyboard and small amount of potential graphics performance, but also lose heat issues, fan noise, and potential problems related to the SLI configuration.

 

The 4570 is better than the 210M, though not by a large margin. Hybrid SLI have very few applications supporting it, so you'd be better off with a single card. I've heard almost no issues on heat on the SR compared with the XPS13 wherein heat is the main issue.

 

Do you want to run anything with VMware workstation or "XP Mode" in Windows 7 Ultimate? If so, then the Vaio SR might be problematic if they still don't support enabling Intel VT in the BIOS. There might be a hacked BIOS for it, but I'm not crazy about that. Also, make sure you're OK with the reduced number of ports and interfaces on the Sony.

 

Get the Sony so you can avoid Dell's customer service.

 

Yes, Dell customer service is truly horrible, I already experienced that when trying to change my order from Windows Home to Pro 5 minutes after placing my order.

I decided to go with the Vaio SR, purely based on the technical, even though I will get hit with a 15% "restocking" fee (screw you, Dell). Anyway, here was my reasoning:

XPS 13 pros:
-backlit keyboard
-unique design
-eSATA and DisplayPort connections, 8-in-1 card reader
-high 3dmark benchmark scores
-DDR3 RAM (Vaio uses DDR2 I believe)
-slot-loading DVD

Vaio SR pros:
-no heat issues
-better real-world GPU performance (no SLI)
-slightly cheaper given a similar configuration (surprising to me)
-better battery life
-0.6 lb lighter
-attractive design, though more conservative
-fingerprint scanner, modem jack
-Intel WiFi

 

If it's cheaper (I found it to be more expensive when I shopped it) it's because it's using cheaper and slower items. I found DDR2 (as you mentioned), along with 5400RPM drive and other lower specs (ports, as you mentioned, come to mind). But if you dig it, then cool. I've had good luck with the XPS support line, so no issues here.

 

The Vaio SR I ordered is coming with a 500gb 7200 rpm drive, same as the XPS 13 I had on order. I don't know what "lower specs" you are referring to. I find the fingerprint scanner, modem jack, and docking port more useful than the eSATA and DisplayPort connections. The RAM, and perhaps the non-backlit keyboard and tray loading DVD, are the only things that are "cheaper and slower", but I feel the lack of heat issues, better real world GPU performance, better battery life, and lighter weight are more important to me. Really the only thing I will miss from the Dell is the backlit keyboard. Though the Sony's keyboard is very nice, it isn't backlit.

 

One other thing, the Vaio SR supports Intel VT in the latest official BIOS from Sony.

 

I am debating these two as well, is there a reason that the SR cannot use ddr3? Is the the SR all magnesium alloy or just the top visible portions?

 

I believe the lid and base are magnesium, but the top of the base (keyboard surround and palm rest) is plastic. Both laptops are nice looking, but the SR is more conservative.

I'm not really sure if you can put DDR3 RAM in the SR. I'm getting the P8800 which has a 1066 MHz FSB, so it seems like it should get benefit from DDR3 RAM, but it ships only with DDR2 RAM. That is a drawback of the SR vs the SXPS 13. The HD 4570 comes with GDDR3 VRAM luckily, so they didn't skimp there.

 

have u thought about the new vaio cw?

 

The SR can use DDR3 ram, Sony just chose not to use it.

 

Are you certain? I thought another post said it only supported ddr2?

 

Thanks for posting this. Never heard of this laptop until now. Looks like a hell of a deal... Cheaper than the Dell, with a better graphics card to boot!?!

 

Yes, the GMA 4500 chipset can either use DDR2 or DDR3, it is up to the Sony or whoever to decide which to use. In my 3810t, it has the GS45 chipset and Acer chose to use DDR3, meanwhile the 1810t with the same chipset uses DDR2.

 

I think I finally understand. The DDR2 slots in the Vaio SR physically do not fit DDR3 RAM as the notch is in a different place. So the chipset supports DDR3 but the slots physically do not, so you are stuck with DDR2 on the SR.

On the bright side, you can get 1067 MHz DDR2. I was thinking it maxed out at 800 MHz. The difference in performance between DDR2-1067 and DDR3-1067 is negligible. Anandtech did a comparison:

http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2989&p=7

 

I did look at the Vaio CW. Very nice specs for gaming with an awesome GT230m GPU. But I deemed it a little to big and heavy, I was going for something more portable. Also, it isn't much to look at - pretty basic styling. The XPS 13 and Vaio SR are much more sleek.

 

Never mind about DDR2-1067. That isn't available in SO-DIMM (notebook) form. The max speed for DDR2 SO-DIMMs is 800 MHz, at least for now, and it is unlikely 1067 MHz DDR2 SO-DIMMs will come to market now that DDR3 is here.

 

For those interested, DDR3-1067 has about a 2-5% system performance advantage over DDR2-800 when number crunching or gaming. You would think such a large increase in bandwidth would result in a greater performance gain, but it isn't greater because the memory bandwidth isn't maxed out at all times (see the Anandtech article link above).

Still, the XPS 13 has a definite advantage here over the Vaio SR.

 

ah i c. i myself was gonna get the xps 1340 but just didn't trust it's overheating so decided to go for the vaio cw instead

 

Hmm.. the VAIO CW looks even better. GT230m!

 

SXPS 1340 for sure. Sonys use last generation technology, such as DDR2 instead of DDR3. I do like their design though, but power should be valued over design unless it's butt ugly.

 

Dang you guys are taking this heat thing WAY overboard. Does it get hot when both GPUs are running? Yes, but it doesn't become unstable at any point, just don't put it on your lap in SLI. It stays pretty cool with just the integrated card running. I don't know where everyone got this overheating from. The system had some stability issues that were not heat related and were fixed in a BIOS update months ago.

 

Seriously eh? If the heat thing was half as serious as some people make it Dell would be doing recalls.

 

I had the sony SR, it was ok but i disliked every aspect of the book. The 5100 card was pretty good though. I rather use my xps 1340 i love that machine so much.

 

I use the Belkin laptop cooler and it works very well. I just touched my 1340 and it is slightly warm... been using it for a couple of hours.

 

Sadly, the point should be that it shouldn't have been released as unstable as it was. But yeah, with A11 my laptop has been fine with temps. The core of my stability issues was from bad RAM that came with the unit. They replaced it and now the unit is perfect.

 

I have both being shipped to me. I'm still on the fence to be honest. I'll just return whichever one I like less and eat the restocking fee. I love the SXPS 13, which is why I ordered one. I wish Dell moved the vent to the side and got rid of the SLI setup, then my decision would be easier. I think with heat issues aside, I prefer the Dell to the Sony, even with SLI, extra weight, and shorter battery life.

Unfortunately for me, I owned an HP laptop that had heat issues that would cause it to crash when it got hot. Had I not had that experience, the SXPS 13 heat probably wouldn't have been such a concern for me.

While customer support (or lack thereof) didn't play a role in which computer to get, my dealings with Dell thus far have been terrible and, sadly, may play a role in which laptop I return as well.

 

Hey samx1, could you do some benchmarks and impressions of the SXPS 13 once it comes? I'm really curious how the 210M performs and the heat it generates when running Hybrid SLI. Thanks.

 

Yes, but the power draw becomes equivalent to mid-range GPUs when both cards are running. Which makes me think that it could be slapped on with those kind of GPUs.

And a cooler notebook is never a bad thing is it? Heat is detrimental to internal parts in terms of longevity.

 

Sure, I will do some benchmarks if I decide to open up the box of the SXPS 13.

By the way, I went to Best Buy with my wife to check out the laptops and she hated the Vaio SR (this machine is for her, I have a MacBook Pro w/ a 9600gt). Actually I kind of hated it also. It was really stupid of me not to check it out in person. It seems really cheap, with plastic painted to look like metal, and an extremely flimsy feeling screen. It was also much bigger and thicker than I was expecting, and the LCD quality was underwhelming to put it kindly. So I'm definitely not keeping the Sony.

Unfortunately there was no SXPS 13 on display, but I did see a machine there that I loved, really the only one that seemed on the same level as a MacBook Pro quality-wise, and ended up ordering it. It isn't a great gaming machine but it should play WoW and Age of Empires III. It actually performs better than the 9500 in the older XPS 13 and the HD 3470 in the older Vaio SR, though not as well as the newer models. I'm splurging and getting the HP Envy 13. So now I have 3 machines on order. What an ordeal. Lesson learned, try before you buy.