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

Trying to provide as much info as possible. If I press my finger on the laptop right under the spacebar, I could literally burn my skin. I basically have nothing running: Firefox and a few background programs. Its on a cold desk propped up by my wallet. Just restarted. My gpu usage has had an average of probably 3% though it randomly jumps to like 60% from time to time.


F**k.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7286/ss20110121154257.jpg

 

@dappolo
so have you called Sony?

 

I thought there was a high pitched noise coming from the laptop, but its like a buzzy type of noise, different than the high pitch noise.

 

No. I purchased from Bestbuy and I believe it's still under warranty. I haven't called because I am hoping to diagnose this first.

What exactly do you think the problem is?

Also, I feel like bestbuy or sony is going to take 3-4 weeks to resolve this, which I simply cannot do. I use my computer daily for homework.

 

Apparently this is the same as in the summer, I was a bit to fast.
The e-support site stated that this was a new update of 19-01-2011.
Sorry for the notification.

 

Well, like I said before, the first thing I would want to do is thoroughly clean out any dust/debris inside. That is one likely cause. Otherwise, you likely have a hardware problem. I don't think you've posted any CPU temps unless I've missed them, so I don't know if your heat problem is only with the GPU. You could try software things but not as likely. You can re-install the GPU drivers or upgrade to newer supported ones - don't know what your running. You could do a factory restore but that would probably just be a waste of your time re-installing/restoring everything. You could try re-flashing the BIOS. Even so, you need to get your computer's insides cleaned out so I personally would do that first.

 

The only way to do so is to take apart the computer as joeblue instructs? I feel like I'm going to break it if I attempt this.

 

There are ways to do a lesser cleaner without taking it apart but it's not likely going to be enough for a problem at the extent yours seems to be. You can used compressed air, which you can get at best buy, an office store, even many drug stores, etc and blow it in the vents with the computer turned off and battery out. You can also use a battery operated vacuum at the vents. You should be aware that these both can pose two problems. It can damage the fan by spinning it too fast and it could move dust and debris into an even worse spot. Since you're having such extreme heating issues, I'm not sure either of these would remove enough of the dust/dirt but you could try it first if you want.

Edit: I've never used Sony service and don't know what circumstances this is offered under, but many people have had repair techs sent to their homes. If you want to get your computer fixed and are not comfortable opening it yourself, I would call Sony and find out what it would entail. You can always turn down service if they tell you you have to send it it away for weeks.

 

Ok. Thanks for the reply.

Not sure if this confirms any problems or adds anything to the table but

 

Since I read T510-26’s message, the thought of not seeing the CPU frequency maxed out is spinning in my brain. I run multiple benchmarks on my system to see if the temperature is kept under control and also to see how loud the fan is, but I never saw the CPU frequency maxed out either. And this, started to puzzle me.

Contrary to T510-26, I was not looking to see this max frequency for one core (my tests pushed all cores to the max load). I know that maxing out only one or two or three cores is not so easy with so many applications running on the system. But maxing out all four cores can be done with most CPU benchmarking tools (prime95, Aida64, …). So quickly I did a new test.

Test condition:
- Power plan set to 'High performance' ( verified that CPU max is 100% )
- CPU frequency monitoring/display tools used: CPU-Z, Core Temp, Open Hardware Monitor, the Intel Turbo Boost Technology Monitor.
- Tool used for CPU stress test: prime95.
- CPU: i7-740QM, base clock speed 1.73 GHz with Turbo Boost multipliers: 1/1/6/9 for 4/3/2/1 active cores. Which results in the expected 1.86 GHz when all four cores are at 100% load.

The result:


1.73 GHz instead of 1.86 GHz !!!! That’s almost 7.2% CPU power loss !

Note: Temperature is in range, power consumptions should be in range (GPU not used, Blu-Ray not used, HDD not used, LCD at less than half brightness, …).

Does anybody else experiencing the same behavior ?

How about with the other CPUs ?
i7-720QM: Base clock 1.6 GHz -> Turbo for four cores at 100%: 1.73 GHz
i7-820QM: Base clock 1.73 GHz -> Turbo for four cores at 100%: 2.0 GHz
i7-840QM: Base clock 1.87 GHz -> Turbo for four cores at 100%: 2.13 GHz
Has anybody reached those frequencies ?

 

Yeah, those are high. Only time my CPU got into the 80s was when I was running benchmarking tests when I first got it. The highest my CPU gets in normal use is 69C and it usually is in the 50s. Not the same CPU or GPU as yours but your temps are too high for normal.

 

When Sony start to sell new F series with 2nd generation of i7? Any ideas?

 

In the US, pre-orders are Feb 6.

Edit: Also, here is a thread with a bit of info about some of the specs, including a UK model: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/545653-new-sony-vaio-f-series-3d-laptop.html

 

No. The support already give so stupid comments, I don't expect anything great to be happen. But I can happily send my computer to them, just because I have paid so much of it. So they will know my disapointment. But for me I will be very surprised if I get my machine back and with perfect display. Just dreaming of it.

 

Actually it does. This confirms that it is not a GPU related problem. Based on this both GPU and CPU are hot when almost idle, your fan is at max, air is moved out from the notebook, but still the fan is unable to cool the CPU and GPU down. This is definitively a hardware (cooling) problem (thermal paste?, heat pipes not mounted well?, …).

You can try to clean the dust inside as jpride recommended, but I think is time to call Sony !

 

Preordering started in the beginning of January in Europe.
Example in France: VPCF21Z1E/BI (VPCF21Z1E/BI) : Spécifications techniques : VAIO & Informatique : Sony
Shipment starts in the beginning of March.
On the French site the CPU is not mentioned (unknown).

 

Hi everyone, I found this thread a few weeks ago and decided to buy a VPCF1390X! I've been loving it very much, especially the keyboard and the screen. Here's the thing: I used to use OS X, and I would remap the Caps Lock key to act as Control. This was necessary for Emacs, and I use it for web browsing through tabs as well (so Ctrl-Tab and Ctrl-Shift-Tab are nice and compact). I've been using the Registry fix (a la ScancodeMap) to remap the Caps Lock to Control, and that works fine.

The issue is that when I hold down the Caps Lock and the Left Shift, the Tab key doesn't work at all. This is quite annoying! Could anyone else verify that all VAIO Fs do this? I'd like to know if mine is a dud or if this was a design flaw. Here's how I do it:

1- Install the registry entry
2- Reboot
3- If you want to uninstall, there should be a registry entry on that website (but why would you? )

Let me know! And in case you were wondering, I booted to Ubuntu and the problem is exactly the same. And curiously enough, LeftShift+Caps = no tab, RightShift+Caps = Tab works! I'm aware this might be a design flaw in how the keyboard circuit/controller was designed (by the nature of how keyboards work), but I really hope there is a solution.

 

Thanks!
So win 7 comes with ghost image type a feature. Thats great! I would certainly create this image file on my external hard drive.

now as far as 3 recovery discs i created, would this be a way to use them:
Lets say my computer won't boot windows for some crazy reason, and its all bad. Could I delete all partitions, and format entire C drive. Will i be able to boot from the disc#1 and install Windows and all the rest with these 3 discs.

Then recover that computer image i saved on external hard drive, and have everything back just the way it is now?

thanks

 

You would be able to do that. Also you can make a system repair disk (I'm not at home to confirm that's the exact name) that you can use to boot and then do a system image restore. That should be a shorter process than what you described but I haven't had a reason to use it to tell you for sure. You make the system repair disk in Backup and Restore as well and will be prompted to do so when you make your system image.

 

ahh, makes sense. Thats great help.
Thank you very much !!!

 

Looking for some help here.

I just bought a F13 from best buy today, a step up from my older F11, but I really wanted a 1920x1080 res screen on it. What I decided to do was swap it's screen with my older F11, which had the 1080p screen. Now after I swapped the screens basically sealed up both laptops, turns out the F13 doesn't like the 1080p screen, all that shows up during boot is the dreaded white screen....

I'm really confused here as the F13 works with it's original 1600x900 screen, but when I swapped in the 1080p screen, it displays white.

Any help is appreciated


P.S. I confirmed that the 1080p screen works on it's original F11 still, just not with the F13.

 

Do you have the 310 or the 425 GPU? If you do have the 425 then my next thought would be it could be one of the BIOS settings we don't have access to. Then next would be maybe they did change screens between the F versions (even though they look the same to me) and there could be only support for specific screens. I'm sure there are other things it could be - just thinking out loud here really.

 

My F11 was equipped with the 330m and the F13 has the newer 425m. It's just really frustrating.... You would assume that since both laptops are Vaio F's, meaning the same connections and chassis, the screens would be plug and play for each other. However I didn't take into account of the different GPU.

Thanks for the reply, it could just be the 425m. I wish I knew how to remedy this, I really do like the specs, just not the screen resolution.

 

There's nothing wrong with your F. That's normal. The left and right shift/ctrl keys send different keycodes. When it comes to shortcuts, they are not always interchangeable. A workaround for you would be to re-map your left shift and ctrl to the values for the right shift/ctrl keys, as long as you don't use any of the shortcuts that require you to use only the left keys of course. I didn't try it to verify it would work because I can't reboot my laptop right now but you can try it. You can use a program like KeyTweak to do this: Download KeyTweak - Freeware Software - Tucows

 

Did you make a clean windows install (using usual win disk) after you changed displays? Maybe thats a problem. Maybe you can't change on higher resolution because it thinks that you can't. Try to install another windows to drive E or D, check display and then easily delete 2-nd windows by formatting drive with it.

What is with F11 model with another display?

 

Did you swap the inverters as well?

 

LCD panel works with dedicated inverter. Swaping just lcd matrix is not enough.

 

I didn't make a clean install yet, figured I'd do it after I swapped the screens...But I see your point.
I did connect the f13's screen into my F11, instead of a white screen, I was greeted by the VAIO background image that appears before the post. But it was just the actual background, it didn't say VAIO yet, meaning it was either froze, or was just really slow with that screen installed. It still wasn't the full on white screen though.

I swapped the screens at the hinges, it was the quickest and safest way to do it in my opinion. So each screen is still equipped with it's original inverter.

 

I thought the inverter was mounted on the lower half. Okay?

 

I know almost nothing about lcd invertors but here YouTube - Sony VAIO VGN-FW340J with Fried burnt LCD inverter! on different model of VAIO it is in the upper part

 

Just to clear up any confusion, I took some pictures. This is what I meant when I said I removed the panels at the lower hinges. As you can see, the panels themselves were never taken apart. The inverters in the F series are behind the SONY logo on the bezel. This image shows the 3 connectors coming from the panels. These wires are then connected here on the motherboard.

 

I hope someone can give me some advice, I am getting a very annoying buzzy type fo sound whenever my laptop is turned on, I thought it was the high pitched noise, I even followed the steps on the youtube video linked in this thread, but it does not help. Can anyone please help, as I can take any more flaws with the laptop, I think I might break it in ager the way things have been going.

 

Please read the 3rd (last) review on this page:
Sony VAIO F13S0E 16.4 inch notebook (Intel Core i7 740QM 1.73GHz, 6Gb, 500Gb, Blu-ray/DVDSM, WLAN, BT, Webcam, Win 7 Home Premium): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Is this fan noise really so loud and annoying? I'm in the process of buying a F13S0E/B laptop which I will be using for audio recording. It seems a wonderful laptop otherwise, but I'm worried about the noise. So, is it really so loud, if yes, can it be tweaked to silence (or at least to be more silend any less annoying)?

Thank you!

 

I wouldn't be surprised if this forum has faced a hundred questions and answers on this subject. Go back through the past five threads and you will find every possible answer to improve noise levels.

The fact is that the I7 line of processors are high performance processors that generate a significant amount of heat. No matter the manufacturer, all I7 quad equipped laptops suffer from this issue. The Sony F Series has one of the best heat dissipation designs of any laptop on the market. This is achieved through a very active and powerful fan in combination with excellent thermal design.

You could have purchased a slower computer and be faced with a less active fan, i.e. a quieter computer. The F Series with the current (pre Sandy Bridge) line of quad cores will never be quiet. In fact, before we see the new processors in real world action we still don't know how much cooler they really run.

Your only options are to fine tune your system's behavior. Run fewer processes, generally achieved via a "clean install". Install a laptop cooler and tune down your power options in order to slow your laptop down.

All of these approached have been discussed in this forum ad nauseam. Simply start this thread or the prior one from the beginning and then attack this issue to the degree possible.

Laptop design is always a compromise between function, performance and portability. You decided to purchase a well priced, high powered, reasonably portable system and now you have to live with the consequences that this compromise represents.

 

has anyone used ready boost (specifically the SD card slot), and was it worth it?

 

No, see, that doesn't solve the problem.

With Caps Lock mapped Right Control, it still doesn't work. I'm saying that if the physical Left Shift and physical Caps Lock are held down, the VAIO F keyboard does not send a Tab key signal when I press down the Tab key. Here's the difference:

1- Hold physical Right Ctrl, Left Shift, Tab. Now Ctrl-Shift-Tab gets sent to program.

2- Hold physical Caps Lock mapped to Right Ctrl, Left Shift, Tab. Nothing gets sent to program.

You don't even have to remap anything. Open Notepad. Hit Shift-Tab, and notepad will insert a tab stop. Hold Shift-CapsLock-Tab, and nothing happens. Why is this?

EDIT: This may seem like some crazy use case, but I did this all the time on my 2007 Macbook and it worked perfectly, so I really don't see an excuse.

 

hello I have a vaio f11 (vpcf11s1e) and a new bios is available. it says "Improvement of thermal management."

* BIOS - R0280Y6 64 bits 2.82 MB 19/01/2011

but when I try to update it says my system bios is already current. ???

 

regli, to be honest I am uni most of the time and at work, so I really dont have alot of time looking at the previous threads, but I have looked at the various solutions stated by users on the forum. But I am not too concerned with the fan noise, this noise is more of a very loud buzz type of noise, not coming from the fan, I am just wondering if anyone knows what I am talking about.

 

Check what your current BIOS is. It probably matches that. Someone else from Europe said they saw that "new BIOS" listed with that date too and it turned out to be a mistake. It was the same as the update from many months ago and Sony changed the date on the website by mistake. You can check your BIOS version many places. One way is to hit ASSIST for Vaio Care and look under System information.

 

you're right they made a mistake and I did not confirm before posting -_-' thanks

 

Well, sorry it didn't work for you and I don't know why it is designed that way, but there really doesn't have to be an "excuse" for something not working a way it was not supposed to work. I understand you wish it did and I personally have re-mapped keys on my keyboard to do things they were not intended to do. Fortunately for me, they all worked. But if they had not, I would not say there was no excuse for it since it was not ever intended to work that way in the first place. Maybe you will find a solution, which would be great, but if not, still nothing is wrong with your laptop.

You could look into re-mapping other keys. I just confirmed this would work for example. I re-mapped my numpad to do what you want. 7=Tab 4=Right Ctrl 1=Right Shift. Switches tabs back and forth no problem. So if you don't find a way to use the Caps key, get creative and use something else. Or just use the original keys, which are really not that hard to reach and I have small hands. Anyway, hope you find a solution you're happy with.

 

Alright, well thanks for trying to help. I can accept a minor inconvenience to save a bunch of money over certain other laptops. I'll just have to readjust or figure out a clever remapping. I will say that creating remaps is much easier than on certain other laptops. Anyhow, I'll let you all know if I come up with an interesting solution.

 

any news on nvidia drivers?

 

You can get the latest drivers at nvidia.com

 

What's up everyone. I just ordered the VPCF1390X. I was looking at the similar one they had at Best Buy but was really wanting the HD screen, 8 gb of ram and didn't have any need for the blu-ray drive. I customized one on sonystyle.com (which by the way, ram and HDD upgrades have are on sale right now - saved me $280 or so) and I have a few questions I'm hoping people here can answer.

For people that have customized and ordered on sonystyle.com - what was your experience? Did it ship when they said it would and how long did it take to ship?

Is anyone here running Ubuntu on their F-series? From the research I did, it seemed like mostly everything is working fine. Anyone have any personal experience they could share?

Thanks in advance!

 

Mine shipped a couple days late from China and I received it one day after it was supposed to have arrived. This was when the F13 first came out so there may be less delay now - don't know. A few people have mentioned running Ubuntu. I'm not one of them, but maybe someone will chime in.

Edit: Forgot the how long to ship - I think it took 3 business days from China to California.

 

They've created a dedicated site now:
GeForce.com - Get the Most Out of Your GPU

 

mangosango runs Ubuntu.

May also want to try the Linux Forum and post to see if anyone there is using the VAIO F

 

Just an fyi - that site crashes my browser. It's still in beta so I'm assuming it will be fixed. I'm sure it's some compatibility issue with all the many firefox add-ons and hundreds of tabs I'm running. But until it's out of beta I'll only go there for beta releases since I have to use a browser I don't like using to access it. The final releases can be found on the Nvidia site, for anyone else who has problems using the GeForce site.

Edit: When I say it's still in beta, I'm referring to the GeForce site, not my browser.

 

Thanks!

I feel better about things now - some reviews about the process aren't so good, but usually the people giving their opinions are the ones with bad experiences.

I'm in the midwest so it will probably take a bit longer for over-all shipping.