Official Sony S11/S12/S13 (2010) Owners Thread

In real life usage, it's fast like all others SSD. I just don't understand why it's slower than the one in others PC (seq read, 512K read and 4K Write).
Maybe it's my SSD, but I doubt it.

 

I have four different notebooks with SSDs of varying capacities and performance. They are all incredibly fast. While Vertex 2 is today's champ, I opt to buy on value ($1.50/GB) and upgrade at least once a year. This is a quickly emerging technology. I have no problems in shifting SSDs to older notebooks or selling them to SSD-less friends, poor things.

 

Installed all 3 a few minutes ago. System still working. I find it great that Sony continues to work on improving the S. Wondering when a new NVIDIA driver will be released though. There are plenty of versions released by NVIDIA ever since but none from Sony.

 

It's worth checking out other models and around the world. Of course there's the S12, which is nearly identical I suspect, and that has a newer NVIDIA driver than the last update for the S11. I currently use one from South America, which is the latest one I've found:

Sony eSupport - VPCS121GL - Software Updates & Drivers

No problems to report, though obviously such non-standard fiddling is done at your own risk. Drivers I'm OK with (because recovery is easy) but I wouldn't use a BIOS from another model. The other things to consider are do these newer drivers bring any advantage, and do you actually have a problem to which newer drivers might be the solution.

 

Exactly. That's why I stopped playing around. The only issue that newer NVIDIA drivers are supposed to fix, is the higher (compared to other notebooks and GPUs) DPC latency. It comes from the NVIDIA drivers, as when they are removed (and standart VGA drivers are used) it looks totally different. This is a known issue between NVIDIA and i-CPUs whereas it is not as bad by the S as by some other brands. It is supposed to be fixed with the latest drivers.

It doesn't bother me but I guess system reaction time could be better if fixed.

 

Can anyone suggest a nice laptop bag for the S Series?

I appreciate everyone has a different taste but it would be good to see what you think as i am undecided!

 

bag or sleeve?? Anyway I use CaseLogic for both and am very satisfied so far.

 

Not sure where you are or which model you have, but I think Sony officially provides and supports the 64bit version of Win7 pretty much everywhere for the current S Series.

Having said that, looking at the UK support page for my model will show a lot of the drivers listed as 32/64bit:
VAIO : Sony Europe
The NVIDIA driver being a notable exception.

If I recall correctly, the US support page for the VPCS111F doesn't mention 32bit.

My guess is you'll have a tough time running 32bit Win7 on your S.

 

2x 4gb of patriot got read sweet as day.

now I have 8gb of love in my pc now to try and get a faster HD

 

Hi. The model I have is VPCS1100C bought from Shanghai.

The only reason I need 32bit windows is because some of the software I use for uni only runs on 32 bit windows.

With the NVIDIA drivers, will it have any compatibility issues if I were to install the drivers provided by NVIDIA instead of the graphic drivers issued from sony?

 

it would work on both. 90% of apps run 32bit and they run fine on 64bit

 

That is true! 80% of the software I have on my 64bit is actually 32bit and running fine.

If it does not work though, install XP mode, enable virtualization from BIOS and run it under the virtual machine. It is quite simple by the 7 - all you have to do is download and install 2 files from microsoft.

 

I have a strange problem that started to occur since the other day - When I leave the PC on idle (not being used) for a few hours (2-3 or more), the WLAN would stop responding during this period - it just doesn't work!! Even the green light on the front isn't lid. Disabling and enabling the device makes it start again.

This happened 3 times already.... ?! Any ideas??

 

Have you checked the power saving properties in the device manager? i don't have my Vaio S yet to confirm this but perhaps Windows is shutting the WiFi card down to reduce power consumption.

 

Thanks for this. The 4k read does seem a bit "slow". Or not quite as fast as it should be would maybe be a better way of putting it. Have you tried installing Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) drivers? I know that lucky Z series owners were finding a significant difference after installing this so you may want to give it a try. If you could post some before and after benchmarks that would be sweet!

While we're on the subject, can anyone explain to me the difference between 4K QD32 and 4K? Which is most important?

 

The benchmark was done with Intel RST 9.6

 

Actually the new Nvidia drivers (25X.XX) come with the Sony OEM inf file nvszf.inf, which includes support for all recent Vaio GPU's. But only a couple of F series GPU's were listed in the GPU list.
Refer my clean install guide to know how to make modded inf with the new drivers, which includes all Sony customizations.

I can make a modded inf for your GPU if you can send me your nvidia hardware ID.

 

Just waiting for delivery of my new VPCS12V5E. I've taken advantage of the i7-620M offer so it will be interesting to see how it performs.
Anyway, looking for a good slip case to give some form of protection in my bag etc. What cases do you use? I am asking because it is not always clear if the s-series will always fit a 13.3" case.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Mark

 

That doesn't work for me. I adapted the nvszf.inf with the according lines for my Geforce 310m (075A). The installation is ok, it doesn't quit anymore - it installs but after finishing the installer tells me that nothing was done. That means still the old driver remains to be there.

Domi

 

You did something wrong. I can make one for you. It works perfectly in my FZ. PM me your full hardware ID from the device manager.

 

The topic also interests me: being able to update the video card driver without losing the Vaio auto-dimming feature is really interesting.
In my VPCS11E7E (Italian version) with the GeForce 310M, the full hardware ID from the device manager is:

PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A75&SUBSYS_9069104D&REV_A2
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A75&SUBSYS_9069104D
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A75&CC_030000
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A75&CC_0300

I would be grateful if you could give us the modded inf file and complete instructions for S series upgrading.

 

Did this start before the latest BIOS and drivers you loaded? Can you think of any other system fiddling you might have done? If negative to those, then it's a bit worrying to have this behaviour develop by itself since it could indicate hardware stress of some sort.

Just for clarity, when you say "on idle" do you mean plugged into the adaptor with sleep disabled (i.e. just sat there with all the hardware active, desktop open but no user input)? When you say "disabling and enabling", is that in the device manager or using the hardware wireless switch on the front of the unit.

Does this now occur every time you idle the PC for long periods, or occasionally? If it's a permanent condition you could try leaving the machine with the web browser logged into an auto-updating webpage. If the wireless stays on in that scenario it would indicate there's some activity monitoring occuring. If it goes off regardless then it looks more like a problem.

 

Can you send me a copy of the latest Nvidia 188.67 Sony driver inf? I need to back check some updated OEM settings, and I can't get this driver anywhere (Sony only provides an update, not the driver package).

The nvszq inf can be obtained here C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvszq.inf_amd64_neutral_xxxxxx.

 

This is the file you've specified:
View attachment nvszq.zip

Thanks a lot for your contribution!

 

You can use the attached modded Nvidia 258.96 modded inf. Download the official Nvidia 258.96 notebook driver, extract it using 7-zip or Uniextract. Make a copy of the nvszf.inf file, then copy and replace the attached nvszf.inf into the extracted driver pack. Run the setup to install the driver, ignore the "driver not digitally signed warning". Any modification to the inf makes the inf to loose its digital certificate, but the driver is still WHQL certified.

You can download a program called Examdiff, and compare the original unmodded nvszf and the modded nvszf files. The changed/ added lines will be highlighted. I will PM you more information regarding what I have done. The modded inf only supports your Nvidia GPU hardware ID. Since Sony uses different hardware ID's with different settings for all their models, I didn't make a unified modded inf for all S series.

 

Hey was wondering if anyone can help me out here.

As most of you know, I am not so fond of the US version of the Vaio S from Best Buy. It was disappointing and I was kind of bummed that it didn't have the discrete graphics I wanted.

That turns my attention to the Vaio S sold else where around the world. The one that does have the discrete graphics. Does anyone know how I could obtain one being from inside the US?

Thanks!

 

Just noticed that the i7 offer is no longer available from the sonystyle uk site. Hopefully I'll be getting mine this week.

Mark

 

No, it started just a day before the last bios update. I now restored windows back from the beginning to solve some other issues as well and unfortunately it did it again just a few minutes ago - I left the PC running just for 10 minutes or less and when I returned the wlan wasn't functional anymore:


- The green LED on the front was off, while at the same time WLAN was ON in the Vaio Smart Network
- turning it off and on again from Vaio Smart Network did not help
- turning it off and on from the switch on the front did not help either
- disabling and enabling it from device manager did help and it started working properly again and the green LED went on. The device was listed as "working properly" in Device Manager...

I'm thinking more of a driver issue? Could it be a hardware issue when turning it off and on from the switch does not help but disabling and enabling from device manager does!?

Unfortunately again - the error isn't easily reproducable! It does not happen every time I am not using the pc.

 

Hi, anyone help me to disassemble the case of vpc-s11, just wanna replace the wifi card to 6250agn. Thanks

 

what is it that you need so badly that 6200agn doesn't have but 6250agn has?

I wouldn't wanna void the warranty and possibly damage a 1000 bucks notebook just for that if I were you...

 

Beats me. If it's a driver issue then something changed on your setup recently and that change has survived a restoration of Windows (plus additions). That should narrow it down.

If you still have your old hard disk around you could put that in (temporarily) with a default Sony install and see if the problem manifests. If it does, you might be joining Vovus in a mining operation.

 

I don't think the HDD could have anything to do with the WLAN. I will continue observing the behaviour and keep you up to date. Kind of a strange bug, isn't it... What shocks me the most is that the device is listed as "working properly" in the device manager, even if I scan for hardware changes...

 

Well, no, of course not. The suggestion is that you make use of your old drive to facilitate a completely default Sony software installation on your machine (as it comes off the restore disks / partition) without impacting on your current setup and inconveniencing your daily use.

If the WLAN issue persists with this default arrangement then you are almost certainly looking at a hardware fault. If it doesn't show up on the default arrangement then the problem is almost certainly a driver / software thing.

 

Thanks for this but are there really any major benefits? Are there any major bug fixes or performance boosts with these new modded drivers?

 

Damn! Well, will probably go for this anyway because of the price difference...

 

The newer drivers do have performance boosts and bug fixes.

 

So which bug exactly do you feel fixed and where do you feel performance boost? does your web browser appear faster on the screen?

I wouldn't play with the drivers unless you are a heavy gamer.

 

my vaio is russian version - there is Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 inside, but N is not certified here yet - so sony locked N in this cards - the only way to get N - open the case )

 

Hi

Does anybody know what would happen if more than 8GB RAM were installed?

Sometimes the manufacturers allege that only a certain amount of RAM is supported but in fact more works... the z series accepts up to 16GB

I would like to put 12GB or 16GB RAM in (multiple virtual servers for development purposes...) but don't know if this will be supported.

Anybody like to try an 8GB stick in one of the slots for me??

Thanks
Gus

 

First of all, 8GB SO-DIMM DDR3 stick doesn't exist yet so I don't really know what you plan on doing or dream of!?Such at least is not sold in europe. Second of all, the i CPU can run up to 8GB ram as far as it's specs are true. Check the MB specs as well. This is what matters.

If the difference from G to N and it's limited field of usage is sooo valuable to you that you wanna risk 1000 bucks... go ahead. I'd rather just buy an external N device if it really really matters to you so much.

 

ok, i see, thanks, it was very easy to do so on mу new Z11z9, so that i decided to replace the card on my girlfriend's S, but it appeares that'll not going to be so easy..

 

I don't have the S , but FZ. The newer drivers (257.XX and above) fixed the DPC audio stutter when the GPU downclocks. Also only the 195.XX series and above drivers support the Flash 10.1 GPU acceleration.
You can play with any driver if you really know how to mod the driver preserving OEM settings

You can try the inf I had attached in my older post if you want the latest driver. It has all the OEM settings with it

Sony will only provide a video driver update 1-2 times during the entire life of your notebook

 

curious if the Auto-Dimming feature would work with yours?! It didn't when I played around with non-Sony drivers...

 

if you live near canada or mexico you might want to take a day trip and pick one up.

i live in mexico and they sell the i3m350, gt310m, backlit keyboard, bluetooth. dunno about canada but they might have some different builds

i just got one a few weeks ago. coming from a thinkpad x, my main gripes are: size and weak battery life. but overall i like it as i feel that it is a very well balanced machine.

 

I don't have that feature in my FZ, but I had added that registry setting for that feature to work in my modded inf for the S series.

 

Oops yes you're right, thanks.. didn't realise that 16GB RAM notebooks had 4 slots. Oh well... stuck with 8GB then which will probably decrease the lifespan of my otherwise amazing S-series.

 

I don't think you will find any 13 or 14" with more then 2 slots.... You will need to go for a desktop replacement and not a notebook for that.

 

your inf that you have provided us here works just perfectly! great work!

Domi

 

I decided to test it myself as well and...

1. It installs without any problems
2. Auto Brightness does work properly!! )

Will report down the line but can already thanks ----> Great Job Rajesh !!!!

Unfortunately though, I can report high DPC-Latency values.... even higher then before - dancing around the 1000 micro s. (most yellow)... not that I trust that thing much, but will keep an eye on it, meybe it will cool down...

 

Thanks for reporting.