Official Sony VAIO F Series i5/i7 owners thread *Part 5*

Hi everyone, I've been looking for a desktop replacement and today I found the Sony Vaio VPCF132FXB for C$1199 - it seems like the perfect thing for what I need, I don't game but I want a fast and big notebook capable of doing seamless WIDI with my TV.

Any comments before I buy it?

Thanks,
Shazz
(Canada)

 

Hi guys,

Would someone explain once again how I could remove the lcd screen of my sony vaio F? There is something about it in the unification post, but there are no photos. I can't see them. Many thanks in advance!
Tim

 

You could take a look here: Vaio_F Series How To Replace the LCD Display

 

Thank you!!!!!

 

I ran the dead pixel tester and I have quite a few stuck pixels, approximately a dozen, and a couple dead ones. Anyone know Sony's position on dead pixels and replacements within the warranty?

 

Hi,

does anyone know how I prevent my external Western Elements hdd from switching on and off all over the time when there is a minute without I/O? I got the Windows cache activated, yet it goes to standbye, and when I play songs from my mounted backups, it goes offline every song I play. This is bad for the mechanics! Any help, please?

I assume the hdd controls the standby function by itself. But maybe still there is a programm that keeps steady I/O to the hdd to keep it from shutting down. Or anything else? This should be a common problem, but I can't find any thread on the web!

Got it at USB port. No eSata case at the moment.

 

Just got my US F13 with full HD display today. So far I'm very happy, the laptop is a joy to work with. The glossy screen looks very nice to me, and I haven't even been playing around with different color schemes yet. I'll admit that the noise of the fan is present, but compared to other laptops I've owned it's quite acceptable and I'm not at all bothered by it. Turning the power profile down helps a bit, and actually my fan makes a more deep "bass'ish" noise, compared to higher pitched fans I've owned earlier. The only thing I find a little annoying is the "dronning" noise from the fan that comes once and a while, hopefully I'll get used to it. It seems to me that the ambient light sensor for the backlit keyboard is quite sensitive, the light from the screen is enough to turn off the lights in an otherwise dark room and I have not been able to find an option to turn it on constantly. Am I missing something?

 

You are correct, the light from the display is enough to turn off the backlights. This cannot be changed. What a few of us do is cover the sensor. A little piece of electrical tape does the trick. I just set a piece of folded tape over mine, so it's removeable.

 

Generally speaking dead pixels do not warrant a replacement, but you may be getting close. Are they all in one area and/or in the middle of the screen? If you are within 30 days of purchase you can replace.

 

Right, will look into it, thanks.

I'm really enjoying the keyboard too, theres no flex and the key strokes are just perfect for me. I've creating recovery discs (DVD DL) but the second disc is causing trouble. Before completion, I get a "Disc failure" error and have to insert a new disc. This has happened three times in a row, making three discs trash. Have anyone else experienced this?

 

Either Hayte or jpride had this problem while making recovery discs. Somewhere around 11 discs or 11 tries it finally worked.

Be vigilant! LOL

 

Wasn't me but I remember someone had quite a hard time of it. I didn't use DL though. Maybe try single layer if you have some. You'll need 3 of them.

 

Ah. It was definitely Hayte then.

 

yeah, I'm having trouble linking on my phone but the person with the problem can look at post 1023 in part 4 of this owners thread for that discussion.

 

As one more note on the fan noise, my TV is now running with a movie in the same room, and it completely drowns the noise of the fan.

 

Here's the page of that thread containing post 1023 that marks the start of Hayte's problem. I don't think there was an actual solution other than doing it until it worked.

 

Hey guys,

I have performance videos for Civ 5, Shattered Horizons, Borderlands, and Gothic 4 Arcania on my Youtube Channel now.

TestYourVaio also has a lot of videos up for the core i5 version of the laptop (he has quite a few games - especially strategy games - that I haven't run yet, so be sure to check out his channel!!).

 

Where DO you find the time?

 

I have little gnomes do my work for me

 

I have been away for quite a while and was catching up this morning, so I installed Boot Racer and tried it. Here you go...my machine has not been "cleaned" since the SSD (Crucial M225 256GB) was installed in very early May, 6-1/2 months ago.

 

guys the screen is great and one of the best out, but like anything has got problems. The brightness in areas doesnt bother me but when i watch a 720p tv show, quality is still very good, but it seems pixelated, not sure if it is dead pixels not sure.

 

What is the file size of this 720p video and how many minutes is it?

I just don't think it's possible for a good quality 720p to appear pixelated.

 

The pixelation is probably due to the quality of the video itself. Youtube 720p compression, for instance, is very lossy and will show artifacts that can look like pixelation.

 

Hey guys 2 weeks ago I bought the Vaio F13 from Bestbuy, it has the Nvidia GeForce GT 425M graphics card but I CAN'T install the newest drivers! Anyone having this problem?

 

Yes, they're mostly around the centre of the screen, they show up when the screen is black as lighter/subtractive? Except for the one which is at the edge which is the pixel I think is dead because it always looks black/dark. I'm outside of the 30 days now so I guess I can't replace.

 

That's because it's not supported on Vaios. Some of us have done it anyway, thanks to anseio, but I would recommend waiting because it produces some annoying problems.

Edit: Just in case you want to ignore my recommendation here is where you can find the info: GT425 upgrade hack
Don't just do what's in that first post though, read the whole series of responses first.

 

Oh I see... why aren't these updated drivers supported on VAIO laptops?

 

I'm not sure, but there must be some special compatibility issues that Sony has to check first on their machines since this driver works fine on other 425M laptops but has isssues on this one. Sony did finally issue support for the 310 and 330 F series laptops but I'm expecting to have to wait for a new version of the driver before it can be supported on the 425 because these problems would have to be resolved.

 

You come across as a reasonable person here so ask yourself if it really bothers you. If you say yes to this, then contact Sony and make a statement to that effect and see what they say. You should not have to make due with something that is lessening your laptop experience. On the other hand, there are millions of pixels on your screen and ask yourself if it's a real annoyance.

 

Anybody knows a clever way to prevent external hdds from unwanted standby mode during idle phases?

 

I would stick with jpride's advice to wait for a formal driver. Unless there's a marked improvement in the hacked driver, it's just not worth the effort. I modded it for the sake of the challenge it presented (I like puzzles), but the problems jpride and the other user were having were definitely not what I consider "worth it".

 

Hey guys, it has been awhile!

Anyway, my color calibration has never really bothered me before, but I recently set up a dual monitor display and the washed out F profile is beginning to annoy me.

I tried the link in the unification post for Joe's profile, but the file doesn't seem to exist any more (possible from the aftermath of the banhammer).

Does anyone have the profile and if so, would you kindly post it?

 

Here you go: Vaio_F Series Monitor Calibration and Users Created Profiles Roundup

Edit: I would suggest you try all the profiles because there can be big differences based on your individual screen. Joe's favorite profile looked absolutely awful on my screen. Count schemula's profile looked best for me and then I further calibrated it myself with the Windows calibration

 

As an internal drive go to power settings advanced and you can choose a time duration but with an external I do not know. Maybe post this in 'hardware components' and someone can help there. Post the answer in the F tread if you find a solution. Good luck.

 

Well, I managed to create the second and last recovery disc, it worked on the 5th try.

 

I agree, when I use my F12 in the living room with the TV on I don't notice the fan noise at all. But when I use it in the back room on a desk, even though I am listening to music on headphones I can still hear it.

I'm looking to get a laptop cooler as it will nice to have it at an angle at the desk, and hopefully the cooler's fans with either prevent the laptop from using it's own fan or drown out it's noise.

It's not the volume of the F12's fan that bothers me - I have had louder PCs - it's the terrible variable droning noise. It doesn't start as soon as the laptop is turned on, but seems to come on after you start doing a couple of things.

A few pages back the Zalman NC2000 was recommended - there is also the more recent NC3000 which has more features. Has anybody had good experiences with these or other coolers?

 

NZXT :: Unique. Unprecendented. Inspired - Cryo LX Product Detail

Amazon.com: NZXT ACC-NT-CRYO LX Aluminum Notebook Cooler 120MM Adjustable Fans (Black): Electronics: Reviews, Prices & more

USB or plug in. Adjustable fans (3) speed. Provides four extra USB ports in the back. Folds in two. Fits perfectly with the F. I'm seeing it for $59.00

 

Mangosango and I are fans of the CoolerMaster Notepal U2 as linked in my sig.

Light, super quiet, moveable fans, portable, and doubles as a lappy protector when travelling.

 

Time to switch to MacBook Pro

 

Thanks much!

 

I don't think the Cryo Lx coolers are available in the UK. I have ordered a Zalman NC300U. I'm getting very frustrated about how needlessly loud the fans on the F12 are, and also the occasional high-pitched squeal. I only have a couple of browser sessions, the laptop is stone cold, yet the fan is on - crazy!

 

Yup, the notepal u2 is awesome (moving around the fans is a BIG plus), although the nzxt looks really, really cool (my desktop lives in an nzxt case and the price/quality ratio is great). Cooler Master and NZXT are both awesome companies.

EDIT:

Not really on-topic, but amazon has some really great deals on game downloads right now (get bad company 2 or Mass Effect 2 for only $13.39 and come play with me!!!!).

 

If only I liked FPS games.

I'm waiting for Fable III to come out for PC. Not until the end of next month.

 

gr-fan Noticed one of your Vaios has jogdial. Any comments on this feature? Is this it?

Sony USB Jog Dial - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

 

It is a free country / world. Go for it.

I however love my F12 (clean install).

Problem with Sony : new F laptops every 4-6 months (do you wait - mid range tech)

Problem with Apple: new laptops every 6-10 months (can you wait? - older range tech nowadays)

 

I'm pleased with the Zalman NC2000 I'm using. It really calms things down. When I'm browsing I use the lowest setting, for games I use the highest.

 

I've been using process explorer as an alternative to task manager for quite some time. When there is a new update, program update checkers will not detect new versions. So for those who use it, there is a new version and for those who do not, definitely try out Process Explorer, Process Monitor, and Autoruns. Now if I can just learn to use them to their fullest capabilities...

http://www.ghacks.net/2010/11/17/process-explorer-14-released/ what's new

Process Explorer download

It's a great way to check under the hood of your Vaio.

 

Beautifuul screen. I'm not sure it was worth getting the 1080p screen and sacrificing my gaming for it.. Can you link me to the sidebar you have at the right? Thanks.

 

I have it on my laptop.. Its actually pretty great once you get into the game. But the first 15-25 mins took a lot of tweaking with the settings to get it working. The game starst up in pretty low graphics and a 768 screen so when I raised the resolution, the entire screen turned yellow and it lagged to like the next level to the point where I couldnt move t he mouse for about 15 seconds and then the yellow would start flashing and it would go away and everything would be fine.idk if I just have a lemon but I googled it and it seems a few other people had my problem. That was really the only major bug I had. Overall though it definitely playable.

 

Thanks!

The sidebar on the right is a customized rainmeter skin. I'm not sure how to actually make it a "skin" that can be emailed/downloaded, but can tell you what ones I used and what ones I modded.

edit: I'm sure I can figure out how to send it to you, but you won't want a few of the ones I have. Anyway, I can at least help you get rainmeter going and can send you my individual customizations.