My CN15-A1 / Tutorials

My Purchase
I purchased my Vizio CN15-A1 in August after failing to get my hands on a CN15-A2 for months. I had a pre-order with walmart and all they did was guess release dates, I canceled it a few months later and ordered from Amazon when it was in stock only to have a payment issue resulting in them selling the laptop to somebody else while I got it sorted out. So I settled for a CN15-A1 and decided to upgrade it, and I am now glad with my decision.

Original Hardware
CN15-A1
- Western Western Digital Scorpio Blue WD10JPVT 1TB 5400 RPM (3.94 x 0.374 x 2.75 inches) in the sata slot.
- ADATA 4GB 2RX8 PC3-10600S-999 DDR3 RAM AD73I1C1674EV Laptop Memory


The Upgrade
I have upgraded the RAM and added a SSD where the cache drive should be in the CN15-A2 model.
The ram is CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 1600MHz PC3 12800 Laptop Memory(CMSX8GX3M2A1600C9)
Amazon.com: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory (CMSX8GX3M2A1600C9): Computers & Accessories
and the SSD is a Mushkin Direct Atlas Deluxe 120GB mSATA SATA III Solid State Drive MKNSSDAT120GB-DX
Amazon.com: Mushkin Direct Atlas Deluxe 120GB mSATA SATA III Solid State Drive MKNSSDAT120GB-DX: Computers & Accessories

I am not responsible for any damage done to your laptop. Please continue at your own risk. Vizio does not cover any damage done to your laptop while trying to modify/upgrade it.
Also make sure to return your laptop to the way it was (ram/hdd) before sending it in for repair if it does break from a legitimate issue.

PLEASE READ
After opening your Vizio laptop it will not turn on. This is normal, simply plug your laptop into the charger and turn it back on. After doing this it should behave normally again.

-Opening the laptop
Click for Picture
1. Remove the 6 screws using a T-5 (Torx 5) screwdriver (A T-4 might work, but it is not the correct size and you may strip the screws)
2. Remove the metal cover
(After you are done installing your new hardware continue)
3. Re-install the metal cover (bottom tabs in first) and make sure it is seated correctly by checking the screw holes
4. Re-install the 6 screws on the laptop.
(See the "PLEASE READ" section after putting your laptop back together)

-Installing new RAM
Click for Picture
1. pull the metal pins away from the first ram until the ram starts to lift up
2. Put your finger slightly under the first ram and lift up gently until the ram pops up
3. With a finger on each side of the ram, pull it out to the right and place it somewhere safe.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the next ram stick
5. Get a new stick of ram and place it in the bottom slot at about a 45 degree angle and gently push it in to the left
(You should just barely see the copper contact points if seated correctly)
6. Gently push down on the ram until it clicks into place
7. Repeat steps 5-6 for the next ram stick

-Installing/Replacing HDD (Do NOT attempt unless you know how to install/clone OS correctly)

PLEASE READ First
The original OS has software which can not (at least easily) be recovered after installing a fresh copy of Windows, please keep this in mind before doing so and if you insist on installing a new HDD, clone your hard drive first before doing anything. I recommend cloning the HDD onto your new HDD and making sure it was successful before thinking about formatting it.
Also make sure you backup the "VIZIO" folder on your C: drive as this contains all your drivers.

-Sata HDD
Click for Picture
1. Remove the two screws(phillips screw driver) from the left side of the HDD mount
2. Slightly lift up the HDD and pull/wiggle it out of the sata port.
(I have not added a new hdd personally, you may need to remove the 2 screws from the existing mount and install it into your new HDD if it fits correctly)
3. After installing the mount simply slip the HDD into the sata ports to the right
4. Re-install the screws into the HDD

-mSATA Drive (Do NOT attempt unless you know how to install/clone OS correctly or know how the cache works on the CN15-A2 or similar model)
(I have not personally replaced the mSATA "cache drive" in the CN15-A2. I would not recommend doing so unless you know what you are doing)
Click for Picture
1. Remove existing screws(phillips screw driver) from the mSATA mount (If they exist) and gently pull out the existing mSATA drive in the angle it currently is (if it exists)
2. Gently insert your new mSATA Drive at a 45 degree angle and push down on the top until it sits flat and in line with the mounting holes.
3. (Re)install the screws (my CN15-A1 did not come with screws for this. I "borrowed" a screw from the I/O board next to the silver ribbon cable)

After installing my mSATA SSD I am not sure if the fan always did this but it seems to kick on randomly and is slightly loud. I assume this is because the OS is trying to take the temperature from the SSD and it does not have a temperature sensor. Correct me if I am wrong please!

About Support
I am sorry I have to say this but support is not great. They have been rather nice/friendly, but the information they give is usually wrong in some if not all ways.
Examples include...
- Can I add an mSata SSD to the CN15-A1? Their answer was no as it is only for cache. As you can see above I clearly did the impossible. I believe support is just making sure you do not attempt this since installing a new OS might get rid of original Vizio software and they do not want to be the ones the customer is yelling at to fix it.
- What size screwdriver do I need to open the CN15-A1? I was told by different reps Torx-0, Torx-10, use a jewelers tool? All of which were incorrect. The correct screwdriver is a Torx-5.

I wouldn't ask too much from them other than simple questions about the laptops or how to return/get it repaired by them. Feel free to contact them though, this is my own opinion.

Questions?
Please feel free to ask questions about the laptop, I will attempt to answer them the best I can and I will consider running benchmarks. Just keep in mind the benchmarks will not always be correct of a standard CN15-A1 model as I have upgraded the ram and added a SSD.

Q/A
Q-What is your startup/shutdown time?
A-Approximately 17 seconds to login screen. 6 Seconds to shutdown. Login screen appears about 2 seconds after opening lid from standby.

 

Hello there. Awesome post, thanks for taking the time!

Do you think this laptop would support the larger versions of those upgrades to RAM and the mSATA drive?
Amazon.com: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory (CMSX16GX3M2A1600C10): Computers & Accessories
Amazon.com: Mushkin Direct Atlas Deluxe 240GB mSATA SATA III Solid State Drive MKNSSDAT240GB-DX: Computers & Accessories

Also, what software did you use to clone the drive? What are your average read/write speeds with the new mSATA drive? About how long is the boot time?

Thanks!

 

The Upgraded SSD should be fine, I don't see any reason it wouldn't work. I believe the motherboard supports a max of 8GB ram so 16GB will not work. I am not 100% sure, but Amazon states 8gb max and I could not find any other source which will tell me.
To clone the HDD I used Acronis True Image 2013 Trial version. Works just fine. Might have to search for a tutorial, I seem to have lost the one I used. Basically you make a full backup of your C Drive (every partition), swap drives, boot into the program's recovery cd, recover each partition in order as it was shown on your disk management page and make sure it resizes the main C drive partition. This should help Clone old HDD to SSD windows 7 64 bit | Knowledge Base

Boot time is approximately 17 seconds to login screen after pressing power button. 6 Seconds to shutdown. Login screen appears about 2 seconds after opening lid from standby.

 

Aweseome thanks dude! I just ordered the laptop and SSD so I'll give it a go when I get them in. I may try to upgrade to 16GB as well; I could always return the RAM if it doesn't work...

Did you, or are you planning to upgrade to Windows 8? If so how will you deal with the driver issues that won't be there from the cloned stock drive?

 

Awesome, let me know if you do get the 16gb how that turns out. Be sure to read the return policies, they sometimes wont take electronics back or they will slap you with a large fee making it pointless to return the item.
As of now I am not upgrading to windows 8. I am not sure how that will work out if I do. I have not done a clean install yet so I do not know what is missing. It really might not be a big deal as long as you back up your vizio folder, it's one of those things I might have to try eventually to see if anything is wrong. michaeljean posted about it here. http://forum.notebookreview.com/vizio/673075-vizio-impressions-ms-store-39.html#post8877167

 

The laptop doesn't appear to support more than 8GB of memory unfortunately. I haven't had time to do more than a quick test: The laptop boots with one 8GB stick installed but won't boot with either 8GB + 8GB installed, or 8GB + 4GB installed. So it can read the 8GB sticks just fine, it just won't read more than 8GB total. Bummer. Seems like an odd limit. Is this something that a firmware could fix?

The Mushkin 240GB drive works, haven't had a chance to move anything onto it yet though.

 

Good news! 16GB does work. Long story short, I believe I received a defective unit initially and I ended up returning it for a replacement. The replacement sees both 8GB sticks of RAM for a total of 16GB. Awesome. I'm also booting from the new 240GB mSATA drive now which I cloned over from the stock 1TB SATA using EaseUS Partition Manager, which is free for home users. (I wasn't able to get Acronis True Image to work; cloning was disabled for me on the trial version). I'm going to give Win8 a try next. Vizio has put out instructions in a PDF for upgrading to Win8. Hard to pass up the $15 upgrade deal from Microsoft for Pro.

 

That is great news! Awesome find. Glad you got your windows cloned also. I still am not convinced enough to upgrade to windows 8. I still believe it is strictly for tablets, I personally do not like what they did with it except for a few features.
Glad you got everything up and running, enjoy the new laptop

 

many thanks
You gave me boldly open my ALL IN ONE Vizio 24
and upgraded the 16G RAM and added a Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD3 SSD.
photo to motherboard http://b23.ru/h341
comparison HHD vs SSD
I will buy another mSata SSD Plextor


I'm looking for a folder Visio,disc C A24T-A3 A-4 model.

 

Hassek,

I have a Vizio AIO AC27-A1 and I also want to upgrade the memory but I've been stuck trying to open the case. I took out all of the bottom screws but everything seems so firm and I was afraid I could break something. Can you please explain how you managed to do it?
Thanks a lot.

ajaxr

 

oK Don’t Worry

first of all remove the legs.

there are 4 in the corners are soft pads
carefully peel their angle-like spying, not to take all ...
and unscrew.
the screw can not be removed.

-Vuala its opening



I think that all the models have a touch screen, you only need to include tricky.
or am I wrong...

 

Thanks for the reply Hassek. I'll try opening the computer again. Is there a trick to turn the ac27-a1 monitor touch screen? If you have any idea, let me know it! Thanks a Lot.
ajaxr

 

ajaxr

Please look this Test_1920x1200

give me screenshot you monitor,

 

The screenshot is attached.



Thanks for your time.

 

Sorry, look this Test_1920x1200

 

i love the cn 15

i sort of wish there was a haswell nvidia 750 version upcoming. touchscreen too.

there is an asus a lot like that actually for 1000$ its called the n550 i think something like that. definitely the hot item.

Without having seen it, i bet the vizio is a lot nicer.

im on the lookout for a closeout deal on the cn 15.

i see it for about 850 on amazon I want to see it for less