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

By the way in case not everyone knows the new ATI driver is finally out!

version 8.15.10.2476 supporting OpenGL 3.1

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/625418-new-z2-gpu-driver-released.html

 

ok just tested and when Z is running I plugged in the dock and took about 14 sec before it fully connected and scree turned on on the external monitor.

 

Sounds nice and fast to me. I make sure my non-docked boots and wake ups are fast. The connection time when docking doesn't bother me at all. Certainly 30 seconds is a lot faster than my desktop used to boot up.

 

I just got my Vaio Z2, and I can't seem to plug the charger into the power media dock. There are two pieces of solid plastic on the dock around the DC In port, and my plug is too fat to fit in-between.

Is there some trick behind this, or did I receive a wrong adapter?

 

My plug is like an L banded and plugs in sideways to fit between the two pieces of plastic. Also I had two power bricks and for some reason one of them has a much ticker plug that would not fit in the doc. Maybe thats the one you are trying? You should have two power bricks.

 

Never mind me. I just realised that I'm an idiot and that there was a second larger adapter in the package that's compatible with the PMD.

 

No worry, its just Sony massing with you by making two versions of the same plug

 

It's made like that just for these cases, because if the smaller one would fit you would be complaining about unstable use, crashes, etc (which are caused by not having enough power for the Z + PMD).

 

Is there any drawbacks to make a clean install of Windows 7 on the Z2 ?

I know I'll loose fastboot, but this can be re-enabled, if I save few files.

For the Z1, a clean install means loosing the assist button functionality, and an very useful organizing windows button.

Is there anything like this with the Z2 ? Or can I re install my Windows 7 ?

 

According to few users, clean install is not as fast booting as Sony setup - fast boot not a culprit in this

 

nice, my Z went to sleep yesterday while docked, only couple tabs running on two FF instances and couple Windows Explorer windows. This morning I press the power button and it starts windows back up on the notebook screen, then the screen goes blank and never sends the signal to the external monitor. Looks like its running, power LED is on, WiFi on, HD LED blinking from time to time, dock plug LED on, yet external keyboard/trackball has no power and both Z's and external monitor no signal.... keyboard backlight is working, assist buttons working but no video anywhere... I was able to press and looks like undock as the blue LED is now off on the plug but still no video on the Z's LCD.

Now I closed the screen on the undocked Z, the cpu fans started running like crazy, like its going to take off. Its like this now for a few min. No other activity, power led/wifi still on. Open the screen, still turned off. Plugged in external monitor via VGA port, nothing. Switching the display via the function key, nothing. So I lost display and fans are continuing to go crazy. Only thing I was able to do was to force the shutdown via holding the power button....

So I have a brand new Z with original factory OS install, only a few programs installed, that craps itself out while going to and from sleep mode... this is completely unacceptable... I hope its something with the ATI video drivers, will try to update to the new ones.

 

Was able to power on and boot up fine now. I can see there was a BSD and minidump. I need to get the tools to analyze the dump....

Anyone else has these types of BSD issues with a freaking brand new fresh Z?

I'm so pissed now, this is a $3000 machine

 

On Wed 11/23/2011 1:11:50 PM your computer crashed
This was likely caused by the following module: atikmpag.sys
Bugcheck code: 0x3B (0xC0000005, 0xFFFFF880046DE8CE, 0xFFFFF88002F31AF0, 0x0)
Error: SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
Dump file: C:\windows\Minidump\112311-6879-01.dmp
file path: C:\windows\system32\drivers\atikmpag.sys
product: AMD driver
company: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
description: AMD multi-vendor Miniport Driver

 

ah... that's annoying, any ideas why is slower ?

 

Getting a BSD when waking up from sleep while being docked is not uncommon. I've seen it myself. I don't let the machine go to sleep while plugged in and I always undock before going into sleep mode.

 

It may be somewhere in this thread, but I think conclusion was.. It just is.



On the BSOD with unsleeping docked, I turn my Z to sleep and from sleep several times a day while docked and never had a BSOS or any problem whatsoever

 

just upgraded to 8.15.10.2476 drivers

looks like the atikmpag.sys version is the same but the igdkmd64.sys changed from 8.15.10.2353 to 8.15.10.2476

hopefully that will fix the BSD

 

That is the Not digitally signed driver, probably that is a driver failure,
corruption is one of the issues that can cause this problem. in your case the Atikmpag.sys is an ATI init failure when both the onboard and PMD are used simultaneousness >> booom init error. ATI makes substandard software and drivers compared to nVidia.

 

RE: NEW GPU driver:
Well persisted Sir Robin! Thank you! I've yet to try as my PMD is about 200km away, but will try at the weekend.

Does anyone know if it has resolved the Flash video issues when the PMD is plugged in ???
Eg the slow framerate and glitching that occurs when running a video particularly in fullscreen.
IGN.com videos in HD are usually a good test!
All this is fine with the HD3000.

 

I tested some videos at IGN now with both intel and PMD using the new driver, cant say I noticed any problems on my computer..

 

I tested one of the HD videos in full screen while connected to the PMD and using 24' dell and do not see any issues. I did not test before the driver update so do not have a clear compare but looked fine to me with the new drivers.

Dark Souls Class Trailer Video - PS3 - IGN

 

Unfortunately the AMD Graphics Driver set provided currently on $ony site is based on ATI Stream SDK v2.3 which is dated back to 12-2010! the proposed new drivers set - thanks to SirRobin anyhow- still based on that set of drivers, no particular issues has been addressed for the PMD, only Intel updates.

 

screen inquiries

What is your preferred color profile or do you use the color calibration and set it manually?

also

What LED Monitor brand do you recommend the extended monitor use in work (doing office stuff and graphics designing)

TIA

 

Do you all have this issue as well? Or is it only me and rrm998?

 

Yes, the speakers are horrible. I don't hear anything under about the 25% level either. I consider these speakers as usable for alerts only...you know, dings and other alert tones. They absolutely cannot be used to listen to anything.

Docked at home, I hook-up some desktop speakers to it (with the PMD had speaker outputs). And on the road, either I use the Sony headphones that came with the Z2 (in the U.S.) or use my bluetooth stereo headphones.

 

Anyone found a place that ships to the US that carries a VGP-CKZ3 leather sleeve at a reasonable price?

It's incredibly expensive!

 

This is in the thread, go to the control panel / sound, select the Speaker/HP and then click Properties, select Dolby tab and turn off this crap. Your sound should be much better now.

 

Also for audio playback I use Winamp for years and it has an OK, software based amplifier. But honestly you want external speakers or good set of headphones. There are a number of portable amps available as well, some have build in USB DAC's and that will greatly improve the sound bypassing the internal audio components in the Z. Here is a very good one that I use personally and highly recommend:

Emmeline "The Predator" Portable USB DAC/Amp - Ray Samuels Audio

 

On November 15-1971, Intel advertise the release of a processor in Electronic News magazine.
Intel has begun to develop its first microprocessor in 1969 as a commission from the Japanese calculators manufacturer Busicom.
The original project was to create dozens of specialized chips, but Intel engineer Ted Hoff proposed a different solution, a family of four universal chips, one of which was the microprocessor 4004.
The microprocessor can be programmed for different tasks, so as to be usable in several devices.
The Japanese were not much enthusiast about the idea, Intel bought the rights of the technical design from Busicom, and released the chip to the market on 1971.
Intel 4004 was modest by today's standards, it was 108 kHz processor with a core of 2.3 thousand transistors, the thickness of each was 10 microns, which is about ten times thinner than a human hair, the current Intel processors have more than one billion transistors and clock speeds greater than 3 GHz.
Intel 4004 was $ 200 and can handle 4 bits per clock cycle, obviously not subtable for computer use.
A direct descendant of 4004, Intel 8088 however, was used in IBM PC 5150, which appeared in 1981 and was a cornerstone of the revolution that made the PC an integral part of modern life.
Intel 8088, as well as its sister model 8086, 286, 386 and 486 processors remains the most popular computer architecture till today, the x86 architecture.

 

My first PC was using the 8086 processor which was a nice improvement over 8088 with its 16bit memory bus. It was paired with 512kb of memory, two 5.25" floppy disk drives and a CGA 4 color graphics card/monitor. Later I upgraded to VGA. I still have this box sitting there in the basement.

</off topic>

 

I just received my new z series. And have not open it yet (sealed).
Then it turns out that if I order today. I will save almost $250 at exactly same configuration.
So, Can I ask sony offer me something? or return and reorder it again?

Thanks,

 

Thanks. I missed that in the thread. Although the speakers still sound awful, there is definitely an improvement with Dolby turned off.

 

"We offer a Price Guarantee policy. If the price of your product drops on our website within 30 days of your receipt date, we will refund you the difference. Please email us or call us toll free to request your refund. Sony also offers price matching on select offerings. Please call us toll free at 1-877-865-7669 and speak with a Sales Specialist for more information."

You could have found this on their web site just as easily as I did.

 

I found this too. But I think its for Sony Canada not US.
Anyway Thanks again,

 

It's posted on the US web site.

 

Wow, That's great. I referred this to sony support team. And they just give me refund.
Thanks a lot rrm998,

 

I've finally ordered a Z2 from an outlet store. It comes with Win7 Ultimate.

Is it necessary to do a clean install? I mean is there some bloatware installed which isn't needed? Or do I have to install all the tool/software which is already installed again anyway when doing a clean install? Because that would make a clean install unnecessary.

If you would still recommend a clean install, where can I find a guide? Couldn't find one for the Z2 using the search function.

 

I'm glad it worked out. Welcome to the happy family of Z2 owners!

 

Try here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...view-useful-guides-resources.html#post7921009

I've seen new owners in this thread comment "hey, very little bloatware" and "wow, I have to remove all this bloatware" so it's a matter of opinion. For myself, clearly there are a number of Sony programs loading. But given how fast the Z2 boots, I didn't see any reason to do anything. I do check MSCONFIG every now and again to make sure someone hasn't adding something new to the start up sequence (I'm looking at you Adobe).

 

I don't know about Window 7 Ultimate, but for my Z2 with Windows 7 Pro it really has very few bloatware when compared to previous VAIOs that I owned. I think the Sony stuff that are somewhat optional only include VAIO Gate (Sony's own "top bar" instead of Windows' "sidebar" gadgets), VAIO Update, VAIO Care & Picture Motion Browser.

There are also the anti-virus, Office 2010 Starter, and the entire suite of Windows Live. These are not exactly Sony bloatware, but definitely could be useless if you use other software for the same functionality.

I did a clean-install just because I want to make sure there is not any hidden Office 2010 that will hinder my installation of Office 2003 and also freeing up the hidden partition space so I can store more in my drive. But in general the case for a clean install is pretty weak for a Win 7 Pro Z2.

 

Meant to say, fullscreen on the 1080P laptop display. It is fine on the PMD for external. It happens when the PMD is boasting (or meant to be) the laptop display only. And only happens on fullscreen mode. Please can you try this with that same trailer?

 

Is there a way for Intel driver to remember my brightness settings after restart??? It keeps reverting to default settings after restart and I have to select custom profile or adjust brightness on the default one. If not, is there a hack to adjust default settings? Thanks!

 

You have to adjust brightness in Power Profile/Option for it to stick after reboot. Also have to make sure you don't have to automatic brightness adjustment on.

Also, for some unknown reason, if you are on battery and set a different brightness for plugged-in, after reboot the Power Plan will say your plugged-in brightness is the same as battery even though it's not. Confused the hell out of me in the beginning.

 

wait... what... how and where did you get these drivers?

 

I reached my 30 day limit, and I've decided to return this Z22. I just can't handle the horrible speakers.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/625418-new-z2-gpu-driver-released.html

 

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
now I gotta wait till i get home to run the install with my PMD.

 

Why not use external speakers or headphones instead? The only notebook computer I've ever used the integrated speakers on was my old Dell e1705 (had a big subwoofer+two good speakers).

 

Thanks, but I want to leave the hardware controlled brightness on max and decrease brightness within the intel software as results are not the same