Official Sony VAIO F Series Owners lounge

I share your pain. I once had to deal with a broadcam wifi card as well (I think it was PCMCIA). The only way out there was to use ndiswrapper (windows driver emulation).

 

It sounds to me like a real urban internet myth that creating partitions would not be good for an SSD. Partitions are just data written to a hard disk and there is nothing special about it. I see no problem at all in installing 2 OSes on one SSD in a dual boot configuration.

 

I shipped my F1190 out yesterday. They told me they are installing a "part" that will fix the whistle and said I should have it back by mid-next week.

 

Sorry, I didn't catch that. The link I provided was for Best Buy USA.

 

Well, i don't have my F yet, but I've owned the FE and FZ previously, the easiest Way,on VAIOs, to change your HDD and install windows on the new one is if you go to the help menu, then VAIO recovery, create the recovery DVDs, put your SSD in, boot from the first DVD and do a clean installation, it'll be as if u got it with an SSD from the Factory
Hope this helps you...

 

Makes sense to me. Stopping a production line is usually related to hardware!

 

Good for you.

You are talking about the recording you posted here? http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/z4HBM/hash/3krgnmig.swf?v=273021020903&ev=0

Sounds like a defective fan or max cooling under load.

I just hope they did not remove all the bells & whistles from mine.

 

Yes that's the sound. I tried to find out what "part" they were installing, but the person did not know. Just that they had the part in stock in Toronto.

 

Sounds to me like a normal fan noise. Many laptops sound like that.

 

Gamers might not want the slight disadvantages of an IPS panel, cf. Makosuke's post at a different forum:

"To add to what Cave Man said, TN panels have the advantage of having a faster refresh rate than IPS in general, which if you are a gamer may make them more desirable (less blur during very fast motion). That said, I'm pretty sure modern IPS screens are fast enough that it's not noticeable for watching video or average use." http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=855575

Refresh rate is also related to eyestrain, BTW. The higher the rate the better for the eyes....

 

It's a crappy video and yes the fan noise is normal, but if you try to ignore the air rushing sound, you can also hear a high pitch intermittent squeal/whistle (you might have to crank the volume up to hear it). I've never had a laptop before and I expect fan noise to be normal, but a high pitch morse code squeal is not normal to me and if a laptop makes those types of sounds, then I'll stick to a desk top. I tried to get used to the sound, but it inevitably was driving me crazy.

 

It's not just an urban myth. SSDs have a limited number of writes for each sector. To overcome this, SSDs use wear levelling where writes are spread over the entire drive so that supposedly, every other sector will be written once before the same sector is used again. With this algorithm it could take
years before the SSD reaches its limit. A partitioned SSD has the wear levelling area confined to the size of the partition. In theory, partitioning could reduce the SSDs lifespan, but in terms of real life usage that would be of little concern. If a 256GB SSD was split into two 128GB partitions it would still take years to wear out a partition.

 

Yea, something like 128gb drive would take 5 years to wear out of you transferred 100gb a day. Longer than you would ever have to worry about.

 

The problem is that unless we define was is loud or "normal", it's hard to know what we are talking about. We don't know how sensitive your mic is and we can adjust the volume at will on our computers.

If we had data like this for the F like in this Dell Studio 1747 review Core i7, we could compare orange to oranges with other i7 notebooks:

 

Matt,

What spec did you go for?

I tried spec'ing a couple of models up myself. They always tended to turn out a lot more expensive that getting one of the default configs. Which I suppose is to be expected.

 

I have reinstall Ubuntu in my laptop. then, I try to install NVIDIA driver following ways.

zua3@zua3-laptop: sudo mv /home/zua3/sonyedid.raw /etc/X11/.

# After installing (activate) the NVIDIA Graphic driver I used following codes in terminal, It shows some validation error. When I compare my xorg.conf with you- I found some diffrence between. Then I decided to uninstall the NVIDIA card. Here is

zua3@zua3-laptop:~$ nvidia-xconfig

Using X configuration file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf".

VALIDATION ERROR: Data incomplete in file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.
Undefined Device "(null)" referenced by Screen "Default
Screen".

# Here is my xorg.conf
###########################

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder58) Fri Aug 14 18:33:37 PDT 2009

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Layout0"
Screen 0 "Screen0"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "Unknown"
HorizSync 28.0 - 33.0
VertRefresh 43.0 - 72.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Device0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

 

and also has (and actually is) never been usable with network manager, that's why I always suggest wicd

well, good to know but.. mine will be a 80 gb so either 40/40 or 30/50 will in this case be an issue?

 

Opened the box yet? Still waiting on your thoughts / pics!

 

model VPCF11X5E
Intel® Core(TM) i7 Processor
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional
Premium Black
128 GB Ultra SATA Flash SSD
8 GB 1333MHz DDR3-SDRAM
Blu-ray Disc(TM) writer
41.6 cm LCD, 1920x1080, webcam

Happy shopping, pazz!

matt

 

I've just got mine and I'm doing the recovery disks and other stuff, still if you are a little patient I'll also try to help you out in the meanwhile, but unfortunately I now have to give you some conditions otherwise it's becoming really difficult for me:

1 please try to do what you're been told and only that
2 please answer at the questions that i prompt You otherwise I have no way to help You
3 before deleting something think 10 times, then don't do it and ask someone else


I'll Know reread Your posts and look for clues and come back.

The first obvious one is that You were supposed to edit your xorg to match the shown ones and haven't done it (or you haven't saved it or You are showing us the original one) so if You can go and edit know.

If You don't get that I'll come soon back with even more detailed steps for You.

Also very important, what you mean by "Then I decided to uninstall the NVIDIA card"?



You opened your laptop to do that?

This last one was a joke

 

When I have seen I am able to create a perfect xorg.conf file using nvidia-xconfig code in terminal. It shows this error:
"VALIDATION ERROR: Data incomplete in file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.
Undefined Device "(null)" referenced by Screen "Default
Screen".
Then I decided not to edit xorg.conf file. I just removed the driver software not the drive!!.
I have backup all of my data and also have recovery disks. Thanks again for your response.

 

I notice Sony list two types of screen for their default (fast-track) builds.

- 16.4" VAIO Display Premium (F11Z/S)
- 16.4" VAIO Display (F11M)

Resolution is the same.

 

Finall I did it! After reinstalling ubuntu, first thing I did, I install NVIDIA driver according your sugestion. I did this before upgrading the pacakges as usually have to do after instalation of ubuntu.
OH! I spent two days! I feel very happy now. Thank you so much. I appreciate your help. I have to do same thing for my new Dell Wokstation. Now I feel comfortable to do this expensive system. Thanks again.

 

GGRREEAATT!!!!

I was actually typing a loong post with details and previewing it I saw Yours, so glad You did it since I knew You could, all the steps to take were in front of You and You should only pick the right path... and You did it!!

I think that I'm almost as happy as You are now since this is really what the ubuntu logo is all about


Now I can go back to finally instal my note, I really couldn't do that earlyer since we were both online and I knew that You were struggling since days on that! Enjoy both the laptop and the distro.

 

Re: Accessing Noise

My family recently ordered 3 of these laptops via sonystyle.com (330m, 7200 rpm 320 gb) all identical.

Only one out of the three makes the distinct "accessing noise" i.e. morse-code-squealing which makes me want to rip out my own brains with a spoon. This shows that it is definitely not a normal, or universal, sound.

Visiting the Sony store last week revealed that they were "aware of the issue" and as yet there was no fix.

If anyone has any information as to the cause, solution, or an updated Sony position related to this noise, I would appreciated it.

Of note: if the computer is scrolling on a google map, scrolling down a page, or playing a youtube video, the sound stops. Never heard a noise DISproportionate to load before...



(Sidenote: ordering through the websiste resulted in one laptop with the noise, one with a bright red dead pixel, and all 3 were the wrong exterior color. They did, however, credit us for the wrong color, and replace the dead pixel laptop promptly)

Cheers,

-Grey

 

There are 2 workarounds for the whining:

post#2462

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5748529#post5748529

What is the "wrong color" and are you warming up to it?

 

How many of you chose to engrave your laptop? If so, what kind of things did you engrave? Just names? Did you chose not to engrave because of the no return policy or just didn't want to go that route? A 'just for fun' question.
Sony email today: the production of my laptop has begun!

 

I was gonna get my pokerstars screen name engraved...but canc'd order and bought offline

 

Hey guys, been reading this thread for awhile...have actually read every post in the thread (or at least skimmed them) as time has gone by. Decided to post my good fortune. Kinda long, bear with me.

So I decided to get a CTO F-series in January...ordered it on 1/20/2010..here are the specs:

Product: US-VPCF1190X-LBOM
Component: No Additional Video Editing Software
Component: Intel® Core™ i7-720QM processor (1.60GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 2.80GHz
Component: 16.4" VAIO Premium Display (1920x1080) with NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 330M GPU (1GB VRAM)
Component: No Fresh Start
Component: Microsoft® Works
Component: No additional Photo Editing Software
Component: 6GB (4GBx1 + 2GBx1) DDR3-SDRAM-1333 (Reg. price $185.00)
Component: Blu-ray Disc™ player/burner
Component: Norton Internet Security™ 2010 (30 Day Trial)
Component: No Keyboard Backlight
Component: Large Capacity Battery
Component: Black
Component: No Engraving
Component: Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit
Component: 500GB Hard Disk Drive (7200rpm) (Reg. price $105.00)

This had an initial delivery date of 2/2/2010, which, as you remember, was already a delayed date.

...then a few days later I decided to order the extended warranty after some prodding from my girlfriend about my clumsiness, which would be $399 for the 3 year service plan with Accidental Damage from Handling Protection. Since Sony doesn't let you modify orders (apparently), I had to order this separately. Together (with taxes), the order total came out to about $2250.

You'll notice I didn't order it with the keyboard backlight or Fresh Start...something I also started to regret (right after saying backlit keyboards were unnecessary for an extra $25, and then watching a movie at home and not being able to see my keyboard...heh). By this time, it was already 1/31/10, so I had the decision whether to just wait a few days and get the thing, or cancel BOTH orders and start a new one. This was around the time everyone was speculating whether or not it was being cancelled, as some people in various countries were having problems ordering (and apparently still are...eh, Canada?), and the price for that configuration also went up by $55.

Then it got delayed again to 2/10/2010 yesterday, and there had been talk of 10-15% discounts...so I decided to try for it.

I cancelled both orders, then called up sony sales, and told them I just cancelled my previous order, but wanted to get the same laptop but with the fresh start and the backlit keyboard. I also asked if I could get a 10-15% discount, since I was buying the warranty. She said I could get the 15% discount, if I bought a laptop case.

The total without the discount was about $2300, but with the discount, came out to $2003! So basically, not only did I get the backlit keyboard, and a free neoprene case (which was $24.99), but for about $250 cheaper then the original price I paid on the 20th! And (for now) it has a ship date of 2/4/2010! Score!

So moral of the story, ask politely for the discount, be ready to pony up some cash for a warranty and case, and they'll give you a better deal.

 

Did they tell you that they are fixing the fan or related hardware? When I talked to them they acknowledged that this is a fan hardware issue which is causing the "whistling". Are they paying for shipping both ways and are you under the 30 day return window?

 

I am curious, do any of you Linux users have this Morse code noise issue? If not, it would seem that Sony could fix this thing without having to send in your laptop to have a 'part' replaced!

 

yours is now last in line and will not be shipped before all the other orders placed ahead of yours. I also want to do what you want but I don't want to wait another 2-3 weeks for it.

 

Perhaps, but a) the date currently showing is actually sooner than the date they told me, b) I already waited this long...what's a couple weeks more than a couple of weeks already? c) It's cheaper, plus more stuff, and d) Maybe they'll have those little bugs worked out by then. Guess we'll see.

 

Well I'm really satisfied with it, except for this three little issues... And I really need to decide to fix it or not before I go back to Brazil, because Sony won't help me there. So, are the whistling fan noise and the squeaky space bar good enough reasons to send my F to repair, or are they really not worth the trouble?

 

How does the 330m compare to the 9600m that is found in the Macbook Pro?

 

I've been planning to configure an F11 with an i7-720 CPU, but I'm just wondering whether I'll likely regret not shelling out the additional $300 for an i7-820. What do people think? I tend to keep lots of windows open at once, but my most demanding application (at least for now--who knows about the next 3 years?) is Photoshop.

Also, I'm thinking I'll wait a little while (not sure how long) to see whether the Premium display from Europe (matte screen with 100% RGB gamut) crosses the Atlantic. Since I do tons of photo editing on my laptop, I really want that display. Anything more than speculation on this feature?

 

hi everybody~I got a few questions about VAIO F
1.is the VAIO F in US made in China?
2.how is the display of VAIO F in US(Full HD)? Does anyone compare it with the one with 100 RGB coverage(Asia or Euro version)?

 

I bought mine from Best Buy, U.S.A. Mine says Made in China. Can't answer you second question.

 

Hmm that's interesting, mine says it has foreign components, but was assembled in the USA.

 

The representative was not able to give me any details, as they are not the ones that fix it. Just said there was a part that they had in stock which they would install and would fix the noise. They are paying for shipping both ways. I am under the 30 day return window. I think this would be something covered under the 1 year warranty anyway.

 

OK MM,
(I Have 2 days to return this under the 14 day BB policy) You seem to be the authority on circuits in this thread. What I am trying to glean is what this Morse code thing is and whether or not it can be fixed with a soft patch. It seems like feedback within the laptop itself. If it were a simple issue of code wouldn't they have released a patch by now? If the Ubuntu guys do not have this issue then I think it's safe to say that this may just be some sort of code involving the routing issue you described. On the other hand I don't recall reading where the unbuntu guys got their mics working.
I love this thing! Please ensure my hope that this is 'soft' fixable! Oh yeah, and hurry! Joking my friend.

 

no return policy... no thanks. would've been stuck with a dead pixel if we'd gone that way... scary.

(that's why it's free. it's a cya scam, imo)

 

The post immediately prior to yours, #2690, seems to suggest the nearest authorized Sony depot CAN change a part to fix the noise issue. I'd pursue that avenue.

 

You are my hero. Can we sticky this fact somewhere so it doesn't get lost in this thread? Every f-series owner needs to know this...

 

Thanks for the links! fan frelling tastic. You just saved my sanity.

btw - the "wrong color" was gray, when we ordered black. Turns out: I'm a big fan of the gray, after all.

 

Still waiting for the factory dispatch The EU Logistics Center is meant to be in the Netherlands. If it's dispatched from there on the 4th and you got the logistics center e-mail on the 3rd, that's a very quick delivery time from Japan to the Center and subsequent turnaround.

Hope mine's that quick Think i'll give them a ring today.

 

I think this is related to the fan noise issue we have read about here. I bet they just replace the fan assembly on that situation. I don't have a problem with fan noise. I fear that we have 2 distinct sound issues here with one general muddy desription of those sounds! Some people have fan whine and some have Morse code. Too subjective for this avenue to distinguish.
At this point though, I am seriously leaning toward keeping this baby because I friggin love it! I can still Skype with the new fix I posted from BB, plays games very respectably, smokes everyday tasks, is ripe an ready for an SSD transplant as soon as feasible, runs quiet and cool unless really fraggin. Besides, it only annoys my wife!

 

I found it in the BB reviews. So glad I could give back to the community. Lord knows it has helped me tremendously!

 

I'm concerned about the playback quality of Vaio F11.

It was shocking to see a normal DVD playing on F11 (Blu-ray drive, Full HD Premium Display and NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M GPU with CUDA™ Technology). It seems the system cannot reproduce objects that are moving. Things like hands and faces appear pixalised. To put it simply, the playback quality is VERY bad. To say something positive, the colors of still objects (in the DVD) look excellent.

My 5 y.o. Compaq Presario (beautiful matt screen) plays the same DVD very nicely with warm and rich colors with no apparent problems.

Is this a common problem? Is there a reasonably simple way to solve it?

Incidently, I played the same DVD in Asus N61JQ (Blu-ray drive, glossy 16" 1366 x 768 display and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730). Everything was amazingly sharp. This machine is much cheaper than the F11. I noticed one thing, though. The black is not black. Maybe there is no black on his machine. What should be black appear blueish or some other color.

Anyway, I hope there is a way to improve normal DVDs playback on the F11, and make them sharper.

 

The microphone trick definitely fixed my squeak issue (enable listen to, mute mic). It was the morse code squeak for sure. Reminded me of the cricket that stayed in my fan for a day. Or an ET that was phoning home..

The F series fan is still pretty loud though. And it hits a high pitched tone sometimes as well. Arg, did I get the worst built VAIO F? :[