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    Official Sony VPC-Z2 (VAIO Z 2011) Series Owners' Thread

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony Owners' Lounge Forum' started by SPEEDwithJJ, Jun 29, 2011.

  1. Crystal1988

    Crystal1988 Notebook Evangelist

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    ^ Yeah... that's one of the cause not buying PMD.. anyway, Village Tronic has news.. I think it's likely they'll be able to give us a ViDock for Light Peak
     
    Crystal1988, Aug 31, 2011
    #1251
  2. bjornb

    bjornb Notebook Consultant

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    Just received my Z2 today, i7, 8GB, 256GB, PMD (euro preconfigured model Z21V9E). :)
    I just installed the game World Of Tanks, seems to play ok with the PMD.

    I also installed Sapphire Trixx, GPU-Z and Throttlestop (which I am familiar with from my Alienware M15x). According to GPU-Z the overclocking does take effect, but I havent measured any performance yet.
     
    bjornb, Aug 31, 2011
    #1252
  3. goldentreesang

    goldentreesang Notebook Evangelist

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    AWESOME! any other details?
     
    goldentreesang, Aug 31, 2011
    #1253
  4. Crystal1988

    Crystal1988 Notebook Evangelist

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    Crystal1988, Aug 31, 2011
    #1254
  5. SirRobin

    SirRobin Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes, your right...but in europe, germany in my case, there is no chance to get it without the PMD...
     
    SirRobin, Aug 31, 2011
    #1255
  6. Ung_Kung

    Ung_Kung Notebook Evangelist

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    hey is there anyone here problem with netflix freezing few frame randomly
     
    Ung_Kung, Aug 31, 2011
    #1256
  7. Crystal1988

    Crystal1988 Notebook Evangelist

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    Some benchmarks:

    Lost Planet 1280*720 medium settings - A

    Sony 20.4 fps
    Intel 21.4 fps

    STALKER 1280*720 medium settings - DAY

    Sony 20/26/33
    Intel 20/25/33

    STALKER 1280*720 medium settings - NIGHT

    Sony 16/26/38
    Intel 16/26/38

    STALKER 1280*720 medium settings - RAIN

    Sony 22/28/39
    Intel 22/28/39

    STALKER 1280*720 medium settings - SunShafts

    Sony 13/16/23
    Intel 12/16/24

    So very little difference in game.. I'l try other benchmarks and lower settings/resolutions but it seems that the difference will be maximum about 5%.

    While in OpenGL is seems that difference can reach 10% for Intel drivers.
     
    Crystal1988, Aug 31, 2011
    #1257
  8. sun.ruben

    sun.ruben Notebook Geek

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    uh yeah. opengl 2.0 pls sony... :confused:
     
    sun.ruben, Aug 31, 2011
    #1258
  9. lsr

    lsr Notebook Guru

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    ??? CTO, either from Sony or reseller like notebooksandmore.

    Yes, preconfigured models are only available with PMD.
     
    lsr, Aug 31, 2011
    #1259
  10. Nautis

    Nautis Switchable Graphics Guy

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    Yeah its sad to see Sony come out with such great hardware and then screw up so bad on the driver side. Especially so when driver updates seem to be so few and far between.

    I have a Intel side driver update that I just tested on the SA/SB/SC and thus far it seems to work. In theory it should work for the Z2 also and best of all no driver signing required, just update and go. The only drawback I see thus far is that it uses the Intel installer and therefore seperates out the Intel graphics portion from the combined ATI driver set. Not really sure what impact that has at uninstalling or future sony graphics driver updates at this point. On the plus side the Intel INF modifications to make this happen are pretty simple and it seems like the ATI side should be updatable using the standard Mobility driver installer. Assuming this all works as it should.
     
    Nautis, Aug 31, 2011
    #1260
  11. SirRobin

    SirRobin Notebook Evangelist

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    So the way is to update the intel driver through device manager? I can give it al try...
     
    SirRobin, Aug 31, 2011
    #1261
  12. dariusnaz

    dariusnaz Notebook Consultant

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    Anyone have any feedback on what kind of framerates they get (w PMD and without) with games like Starcraft 2 and Civ 5?
     
    dariusnaz, Aug 31, 2011
    #1262
  13. Crystal1988

    Crystal1988 Notebook Evangelist

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    @1600*900 medium detail without AA in HEAVY scene, you reach a minimum of 10 fps
     
    Crystal1988, Aug 31, 2011
    #1263
  14. Carlisle David

    Carlisle David Notebook Enthusiast

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    Great tip. For me, all I had to do was put the wireless adapter on maximum performance and it increased my browsing speed significantly.

    +1
     
    Carlisle David, Aug 31, 2011
    #1264
  15. goldentreesang

    goldentreesang Notebook Evangelist

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    Does anyone else use the PMD combo plug just as a charger by turning it so the USB part doesnt plug it, by sits like on top of the laptop while the AC thing is in? I do this sometimes when i want to charge at my desk but don't want to do all this graphics switching sh!t. It doesn't look like it strains the cable that much either.
     
    goldentreesang, Aug 31, 2011
    #1265
  16. dalamchops

    dalamchops Notebook Evangelist

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    can u confirm if you can oc the 6650?
     
    dalamchops, Aug 31, 2011
    #1266
  17. bjornb

    bjornb Notebook Consultant

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    I can do some testing later. Screenshots from GPU-Z and Trixx attached below.
     

    Attached Files:

    bjornb, Sep 1, 2011
    #1267
  18. paradyne

    paradyne Notebook Enthusiast

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    There is also the rather large hiberfil.sys file, by default the same size as your RAM, so 8gb, and if you only have a 128gb SSD to start with...

    Obviously everyone has different usage patterns, but for me I'd rather have the drive space back and keep wear to an absolute minimum. It's easy enough to enable any time I do want it.

    If anyone else wants the space back, 'powercfg -H OFF' is the command you need.
     
    paradyne, Sep 1, 2011
    #1268
  19. jpeg

    jpeg Notebook Enthusiast

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    jpeg, Sep 1, 2011
    #1269
  20. jpeg

    jpeg Notebook Enthusiast

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    jpeg, Sep 1, 2011
    #1270
  21. Crystal1988

    Crystal1988 Notebook Evangelist

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    So it's not like a 6630M but it has the same clock of 6730M for GPU and 100 mhz more for ddr.. that's why in some synthetic benchmark it goes too well and in games it doesn't (since some synthetic benchmark are not PCI-E bus intensive..)
     
    Crystal1988, Sep 1, 2011
    #1271
  22. dalamchops

    dalamchops Notebook Evangelist

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    *awaiting UPS delivery* -_____-
     
    dalamchops, Sep 1, 2011
    #1272
  23. dalamchops

    dalamchops Notebook Evangelist

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    dalamchops, Sep 1, 2011
    #1273
  24. goldentreesang

    goldentreesang Notebook Evangelist

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    does anyone lose their mouse sensitivity setting after a reboot? My pointer speed always falls back to 50%
     
    goldentreesang, Sep 1, 2011
    #1274
  25. process

    process \( ಠ_ಠ)/

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    holy farquad, i got through the first sentence and had to stop...english not their first language?

    also, i laugh at everyone ever who buys this laptop for gaming. although i admire those who cross the boundaries and make it a laptop for gaming (i.e. vidock)
     
    process, Sep 1, 2011
    #1275
  26. process

    process \( ಠ_ಠ)/

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    Also any resolution on the waterfield bags? I had them put my order on hold, they said they had someone testing out the bags and they'd get back to me, just curious where that stands.
     
    process, Sep 1, 2011
    #1276
  27. Louche

    Louche Purveyor of Utopias

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    It's a Thai website.
     
    Louche, Sep 1, 2011
    #1277
  28. process

    process \( ಠ_ಠ)/

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    that'll do it
     
    process, Sep 1, 2011
    #1278
  29. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

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    While I always talk about useless unrelated things (read: user title), the Vaio SC's HD6470m is clocked at HD6490m core speeds. Some other things (RAM size) make me think Sony originally intended for the GDDR5 version, but for some reason, decided not to.
     
    jeremyshaw, Sep 1, 2011
    #1279
  30. bjornb

    bjornb Notebook Consultant

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    I've done some testing, windows power plan - balanced, vaio thermal control strategy - performance.

    Test scores (default 725/900):
    3DMark06 - 8558 3DMarks
    3DMark11 - P1259 3DMarks
    3DMarkVantage - P4262 3DMarks

    Test scores (overclocked 775/925):
    3DMark06 - 8748 3DMarks
    3DMark11 - P1310 3DMarks
    3DMarkVantage - P4417 3DMarks

    All three test programs above specifies:
    'Graphics Card - AMD Radeon HD 6770M'
    'Driver name - AMD Radeon(TM) HD 6650M'

    3DMark11 and Vantage also says 'Your Score is Low Compared to Similar Systems. There may be a problem.'
     

    Attached Files:

    bjornb, Sep 1, 2011
    #1280
  31. Crystal1988

    Crystal1988 Notebook Evangelist

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    It seems in line with a 6730M taking into account a 100 mhz more in ddr and the bus cap due to Light Peak..

    But the graphic card it's not for sure a 6770M, it would have a completely different memory speed and bus.
     
    Crystal1988, Sep 1, 2011
    #1281
  32. bjornb

    bjornb Notebook Consultant

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    ^I agree it seem in line with a 6730M, the 6770 has as far as I know GDDR5 memory.

    BTW Sapphire Trixx is also able to control the PMD GPU fan. Its quite noisy at full speed, but it has never been that loud when playing games or doing performance tests..
     
    bjornb, Sep 1, 2011
    #1282
  33. dalamchops

    dalamchops Notebook Evangelist

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    just received my z2. Pretty amazing laptop.

    Is there anyway to make the backlit keyboard on all the time??
     
    dalamchops, Sep 1, 2011
    #1283
  34. ZoinksS2k

    ZoinksS2k Notebook Virtuoso

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    ^ No, but I'm working on it.
     
    ZoinksS2k, Sep 1, 2011
    #1284
  35. dalamchops

    dalamchops Notebook Evangelist

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    that's great news, thanks for your contributions : )
     
    dalamchops, Sep 1, 2011
    #1285
  36. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

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    Is there a version of the Z2 with Win7Pro? In the S 2011 line, we found the SKUs with Win7Pro had a different version of the Vaio Control Center that enabled many different backlit KB options the other SKUs (specifically, all the ones configured with Win7HP) simply didn't have - including an option to keep to keep the backlit KB active at all times.
     
    jeremyshaw, Sep 1, 2011
    #1286
  37. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

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    Since the edit button fails frequently for me, I'll also note it's tied to the Event Control Service.
     
    jeremyshaw, Sep 1, 2011
    #1287
  38. dalamchops

    dalamchops Notebook Evangelist

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    my z2 comes with w7 pro but no always on option for the kb.
     
    dalamchops, Sep 1, 2011
    #1288
  39. Aelavin

    Aelavin Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello

    Could someone upload theme packs (*.themepack) from Z2? I've got all backgrounds, but I don't know windows colors etc.
    And I want to know how it looks like on my Vaio SB :)

    Thanks in advance :)
     
    Aelavin, Sep 1, 2011
    #1289
  40. dalamchops

    dalamchops Notebook Evangelist

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    btw, no kidding about the speakers. The difference is especially huge going from those awesome speakers from the xps15 to the z2
     
    dalamchops, Sep 1, 2011
    #1290
  41. ZoinksS2k

    ZoinksS2k Notebook Virtuoso

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    Turn off Dolby, makes a huge difference.

    On the control center stuff, I'm going to dink around over the long weekend, but I postulate that the Z1 control center bits can be mixed. Sony doesn't change the framework too much between versions. The Z1 has this option.
     
    ZoinksS2k, Sep 1, 2011
    #1291
  42. goldentreesang

    goldentreesang Notebook Evangelist

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    I am the tester they are referring to. They shipped out the sleeves today and I should receive them soon.

    Estimated ship date is the 9th right now
     
    goldentreesang, Sep 1, 2011
    #1292
  43. dalamchops

    dalamchops Notebook Evangelist

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    doing some OC on the PMD. Since it's a replaceable part, im going to push it as hard as i can while staying stable, and not have to worry about killing a $2000 laptop (still a $400 part lol)

    9131 3dmark06 @ 825/1025
    9185 @ 850/1050
    9365 @ 875/1075
    9517 @ 900/1100

    So definitely lots of headroom for OCing the eGPU
     
    dalamchops, Sep 1, 2011
    #1293
  44. Crystal1988

    Crystal1988 Notebook Evangelist

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    I've bought a sleeve/second skin from Tucano, it uses an outer tissue made of microfiber, the main body is in polychloroprene and there's an additional protection around the part with the zip:

    http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7633/img1155wh.jpg

    http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/1401/img1154fy.jpg

    http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/2792/img1153g.jpg

    The maximum thickness (where there's the additional protection) is about 2,5 cm

    The laptop fit perfectly in height and width. Obviously it's a bit shorter than the sleeve but, thanks to the elastic protection around the zip, it remains always in the right location, it doesn't move inside.
     
    Crystal1988, Sep 1, 2011
    #1294
  45. process

    process \( ಠ_ಠ)/

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    Estimated ship date on your laptop? I ordered mine on the 24th supposedly shipping on the 6th....
     
    process, Sep 1, 2011
    #1295
  46. dalamchops

    dalamchops Notebook Evangelist

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    he's referring to sleeve
     
    dalamchops, Sep 1, 2011
    #1296
  47. process

    process \( ಠ_ಠ)/

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    Well that's ridiculous if they were shipped today they aren't going to be shipped on the 9th
     
    process, Sep 1, 2011
    #1297
  48. dalamchops

    dalamchops Notebook Evangelist

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    kinda wish u can disable the gpu but still be able to use the rest of the stuff on the dock.
     
    dalamchops, Sep 1, 2011
    #1298
  49. goldentreesang

    goldentreesang Notebook Evangelist

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    They were shipped today, and the estimated ARRIVAL date is the 9th my bad.

    DONT DO THIS! I now have a faint scratch where the usb connector rests on the top.
     
    goldentreesang, Sep 2, 2011
    #1299
  50. _JT

    _JT Notebook Guru

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    I found the speakers to be a huge disappointment. I know it's a thin laptop, but todays smarthphones are also thin but give way better sound. So I decided to go for a Z11, found one for 420 euro's, only with a foreign keyboard. I'll await to see if the speakers improve and maybe I'll get one later.
     
    _JT, Sep 2, 2011
    #1300
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