Official Sony Vaio Fit multi-flip PC Owners' Thread

This means that the Bluetooth driver is newer than the one in the unified package.
You could download and install it to see if the device manager will tell you this exact version number then.

Let me be clear: I don't think that you are a fool - I just think that you have been brainwashed by the computer industry to blindly accept each and every because they always promise more performance, better compatibility and a fuzzy warm feeling in your pants.

However, the fact is most driver updates are only helping a fraction of the users in only a fraction of situations. Think a new Geforce driver to support a single new game that itself is so new and buggy that only a new graphics driver can workaround the low framerates (sometimes by optimizing shaders, sometimes by using "dirty tricks" like reducing render resolution, anti-alias, LOD and other stuff for that particular game).

With other drivers it much the same: Intel often updates its drivers to simply support newer chips. An older chip like the N7260 has no single advantage in this case.
With graphics drivers it is *known* that older chips sometimes get slower with newer drivers because they are optimized for newer chips - no manufacturer will admit that but it's a fact and nobody can guarantee you that Intel doesn't do the same with their old hardware.

In other words: The original drivers often already have 95% of the theoretical performance maximum one can achieve (and a manufacturer like Intel of Nvidia *knows* its stuff!). Nearly all other performance increases are really only compatibility adjustments which sometimes can backfire.

So what do I think? Sorry to be brutally honest but as long as you continue to be reckless *ahem* "adventurous" and collect viruses from shady places in the net the version numbers of your various drivers you never had problems with in the first place are the least of your worries!

 

Hi cal. Yeah I hear you. But just to correct you, I'm not reckless. When it comes to downloading stuff like drivers I dont do it blindly. i research before I let anything enter into my system. But I still understand your advisory. Thank you.

-- EDIT --
But Cal, since I got the old generic bluetooth driver, why doesnt the Vaio Update program "sense" that I need an update and show an update driver in the list of updates?

 

This was with a UD32D970Q, but I think this is pretty straight forward and within specs (no matter what Sony might write) - no hoops and loops like it was to get it to work at 2560x1440 at 60hz (or was it 50-something we ended up with?).

Should be plenty powerful - just at 30hz the refresh rate is too low for it to be smooth. Used the built in video player in Windows 8.

Pretty sure it's the low-power Bluetooth that takes a little while to reconnect. AutoHotKey is instant on anything else. Keeping that in mind I think it's probably most useful for slightly complex macros - as a launcher I can swipe in the start screen and have the application launched just as fast.

Really nice to see this thread still alive and healthy : )

 

Just to clarify:
I meant the reckless-bit not regarding updating drivers and I'm pretty sure you understood that...

Only Intel can tell for sure but I think that their utility only checks if an Intel driver is installed and which version it is. Remember that Intel just supports its chips - only Sony supports the specific computer (with the VAIO update utilitiy or thru their website).

 

I read different opinions - some claimed 59 Hz, others claimed 60 Hz. This is why I asked about the monitor - I think some have compatibility issues (or the Flip's driver has them).

I have prepared a 2000+ word article on the "resolution mystery of the Flips" but here is the conclusion from it:

The Intel HD 4400 units in the Haswell CPUs max out on HDMI at 3200x2000 with 60 Hz so from a hardware perspective they *should* be capable, given the right configuration. I'm not so sure about the 11A Flips with their Silvermont CPUs (Pentium N3520 and Celeron N2920), though.

4K or UltraHD (3840x2160) will never be possible with 60 Hz on a Flip, though - no matter what.
The Intel HD graphics units (either gen 7 or gen 7.5) just doesn't support this - at least according to the Intel data sheets and there is no reason to not believe them. If we exclude typos and ommitting things in a 1200+ pages document, that is...

Both Haswell and Silvermont have HDMI 1.4a and its bandwith should be just sufficient for the 3200x2000 resolution at 60 Hz. This is also very likely why Sony hasn't included a DisplayPort connector on the Flips: It's simply not needed from a bandwidth perspective - we couldn't have gotten 4K with it either.

This however didn't stop the "expert reviewers" from criticizing Sony for not including one, even though HDMI is much more accepted at the moment (especially in 2013 when the Flips were launched), on every video-related entertainment device and compatible to DVI (which maxes out at 1920x1200 at 60 Hz, though, as it's a single link connection).

Probably because the Flips have many features to discuss and their share of problems, too... ;-)

 

Hello everyone.I have a question about tablet mode(screen facing up).

I use Vaio Flip 13( SVF13N13CXB) and everything is fine but but when I convert my vaio into tablet mode(screen facing up) the performance of my laptop decreases dramatically.

This can be easily seen when I run AmiDuos, android software. Everything is smooth and sound when I use my laptop at a regular mode, but when I change into tablet mode for easy access to touch

screen, it becomes very laggy. I was wondering if any other vaio flip users are having this problem, and if there is a way to fix this.

Thanks.

 

Hey Matthew. I tried installing AmDuos also. One of the requirements for it is to turn on Hardware Virtualization. I turned it on in the BIOS. But when I launch AmDuos I get an error saying that Hardware Virtualization is disabled. This is strange since I turned it on.

I got the Home edition of Windows 8.1. And I read that in order to enable Hardware Virtualization (Hyper-V) that you need Windows 8.1 Pro. But this is weird since I've found Hyper-V services in my Home edition version on my Flip.. If I cant run Hyper-V then why are its services listed in Windows 8.1 Home edition?

Hope Cal can answer this question. I need to know badly.

What version of Windows do you have, btw?

 

I use Windows 8.1 Pro.

 

Ahhh... thats why youre able to run it, and in full screen I assume. I did find a workaround to run it in full screen though, even given my Thread-V limitation on my edition of Windows.

For your issue, try to run this in Nvidia in the Nvidia settings. On one of the tabs you'll see a drop down list of programs that you can choose to enable the Nvidia GPU to run the program instead of the integrated graphics. Choose AmDuos. This will make the program run faster.

You can also give greater preference for performance over battery conservation in the power settings.

Let me know if this works out for you.

 

Sadly Vaio Flip 13 doesn't have additional card other than Intel Graphics.

And about the power settings, sadly I've tried that to no success.

Thanks for your interest though.

 

FWIW, I use the SP3 pen with my Flip 13A and one press of the top button brings up One Note on the Flip 13A just as quickly and smoothly as it does on an SP3. Of course, you have to pair the BT in the pen, but that's a 30 sec. operation. Very slick.

 

10 chars duplicate post

 

Thanks for the info!

Pairing was no issue but the problem is that you need to have an application listening to the key code. Apparently One Note itself does the trick as I suspected.

Did you try to wake the Flip from standby mode, too?

 

Thats right, I forgot that you mentioned that you have the Flip 13 and not the 15A with the Nvidia graphics chip.

But guess what? Good news for us. Windows 10 will include the feature to install android apps according to Microsoft. The advantage is that you'll be able to run them natively instead of indirectly through an enulator like AmDuos. Just make sure when Windows 10 becomes available on July 29th that you NOT download it just yet. Sony still has to update its drivers and other software for it for the Flips. Look for the link I posted about this on this forum which was I think 3 or 4 weeks ago. Sony will let us know when to finally download it for Flip owners. Most likely through the Vaio Update program.

Don't worry you'll be ok.

 

I got a question for Cal and anyone here who installed Windows 8.1 Professiional and plays games. I read that the constant throttling of the CPU and GPU when plsying graphic demanding games can be stopped with the installation oif the Pro edition of 8.1. Has anyone noticed smooth gameplay for long periods on the Pro edition?

 

How long is the delay from the moment you click til something happens? I've remapped the button to TAB so I can toggle the interface elements on/off in Mange/Clip Studio (very useful), but from the moment I press til it reacts about 2 seconds pass (making it not very useful). Pressing TAB on the hard or soft keyboard is instant. If I load up Notepad though, the delay is minimal (if a little erratic). Perhaps there's something going on between AHK and Clip Studio?

My understanding is that it will allow developers to port Android apps to Windows with minimal effort and publish them in the store, but you as a user won't be able to load up an Android app of your own choosing.

Same throttling issues with Pro. Main problem is the aggressive temperature targets Sony chose, and as far as I know the only way to get around it is to make sure you don't reach those temperatures. Seem to remember there was someone way back in this thread who had some success tweaking the Geforce (turning off turbo, clocking it down?).

 

Someone in the Sony forums came up with a workaround to reduce throttling which involved installing 2 programs. Is this the same person youre referring to?

Anyway, this same person now says that the only way to eliminate throttling is to do a complete format of your hard disk and do a clean install of Windows 8.1 Professional edition.

Can you tell me who was the person on this thread who turned off the turbo in the GPU? Can you direct me to that part of this thread? I'd greatly appreviate it.

 

I don't know about this but we had a long discussion about throttling on the Flip (both CPU and GPU) in this thread. "Use the search function, Luke!"

I don't have the Pro version of Win8.1 but as long as I don't hear a plausible explanation why there is no throttling in a clean Pro environment (compared to a clean Home environment) I can't really believe this.
The differences between the various Windows versions should not affect GPU throttling. The pricier Windows variants instead have *more* features, not less...

Plus: *If* a Pro version would work wonders we would have known already as there are users with Flip-Models with the Pro-Windows instead of the regular Home-flavour.

 

I'm currently going through the entire thread, one page at a time. Presently I'm on page 28 and I started the search today. I think I'll find the info within the week, hopefully, so long as time permits.. I got a life too ya know!

Yeah, I'm talking to this guy who came up with this "workaround". Honestly, I do agree that this sounds a too far fetched given the fact that the difference in o/s variants shouldn't exceed the performance already inherent in Win 8 Home. After all, we're talking about extra features to enhance user productivity, not necessarily graphics performance. I'll prod him a bit further to see if there are other tools involved in addition to this "virgin" process.


--- EDIT & UPDATE ---
Ok, last minute changes. I got a message from this person who says he's fixed the throttling with Win 8.1 Pro. Here's his entire message in full:

 

I have only wired it to open One Note, and it seems to do that as fast as any other means - which is to say the command from push of pen to response of program has virtually zero latency. Only the time it takes normally to load O.N. - a second, maybe, is an observed delay. I don't see a BT command to a different operation should be different in response time, but programming in a keypress as the end in itself may show a latency that happens in parallel to when you invoke a command, say, to launch a program, it may be that the slight delay in the pen key press to the execution is, again, not noticeable when it adds 0.25 seconds to the command to launch One Note, which has a brief but noticeable delay in execution. Sounds to me like a BT based delay. Interesting to see if it would be different if you altered the distance to to the device or used a different BT communication device to invoke the tab key press, just to see if BT differences are involved in the delay.

 

Yes, it launches ON as quickly from standby as when the computer is on.

 

What I didn't meant was that you search the thread yourself by flicking through every page! It's also nonsense to start from the beginning unless you are bored as the thread starts long before the Flips are available in 2013 (I know because I in fact read the whole shebang! ).
The throttling topic will happen in the second half, I think, so you will spend a lot of time before you actually get to it.

What I therefore of course meant was using the "search the thread function" in the upper left corner...

You fold out the search field by clicking into it. Then put a checkpark into the option "Search this thread only" and finally put "throttling" into the search field and start the search.

This will give you results like these:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/search/1468511/?q=throttling&t=post&o=relevance&c[thread]=734539

Thanks for the update!

It's not that I don't believe that he has no throttling so far (could be the case) - it's that there is no explanation given why this is the case. I would very like to see that but I rather remain sceptic for the moment.

Also:
While having no throttling would be a problem solved and very very nice for us it won't resolve the fan noise problem when the Flip really gets to work and reaches higher temperatures.

 

Hey Cal. Yeah I know what you mean, don’t worry. Thanks for looking out for me. What I meant to do was skim through the pages, not read each and every post. I actually found the person on this thread who posted the fix in question. His name is MrKazoo. Coincidentally, hes the same person from the Sony Forum (with the same name) who posted the same fix which involves installing NvidiaInspector and ThrottleStop.

Of course, his new fix is quite different from installing these 2 programs. He says to delete all partitions and then do a clean install of the Pro edition. I know it sounds weird. But if he says hes fixed it given his credibility and dedication on both forums, I wouldn’t doubt him. This is something I might try. The only thing stopping me is the upcoming Win 10 upgrade. I don’t want to install 8.1 Pro for only a month until Win 10 becomes available then switch to that. Its too much of a hassle. But who knows. I’ll see. But if its indeed a genuine fix, it will mean smooth game play on many games, including COD, Arkham CIty, GTA V, etc.

 

I could give that a go - been wanting to do a reinstall for a while anyhow, and have no intention of installing Windows 10 in it's current form. Just need to find a quick test for the throttling so I can replicate and see if or how much of a difference it makes.

 

That would be very cool. When will you be installing it?

 

Up and running with a clean install since yesterday. I've left everything at the default settings, apart from installing the official NVidia drivers (they weren't recognized). Any ideas about how to verify this? Before I reinstalled I had ThrottleStop and GPU-Z running alongside Civ 5 in windowed mode to keep track of things, but that probably wasn't the best way.

 

How are you trying to install the Nvidia drivers?

BTW, if you want to communicate with the guy who came up with the fix, just comment on his youtube video. I posted his youtube link below. His name is Steven Code. I'm in discussion with him also on his youtube video in the youtube comments.

https://plus.google.com/102323666847237093658/posts/aWgaqDF8NCc

 

Loaded up Dirt 3 and played for a while - works like a charm!
Had HWinfo running in the background this time.

Speed
- Average speed of CPU 2100MHz (max 2594)
- Average GPU clock 910MHz (max 940)
- Average GPU Vid clock 513MHz (max 540) (unsure what the difference between these two are)

Temperature
- CPU max 80 (average 71)
- GPU max 82 (average 70)

Will try installing Intel XTU again and undervolting the CPU. Right now the fans run constantly even with no load (although RPM is low). Minimum CPU temp is 47 degrees.

Update: undervolted the CPU (-80 for the CPU, -70 for the iGPU) and it runs completely silent again. Minimum temperature is 43 degrees (... and after a quick cleaning of the vents I'm down to 39 degrees on idle without the fans running).

 

Fry's has a Samsung SSD 850 EVO m.2 500 gb, 80 mm form factor hard drive on sale for $179. For all you more tech knowledgeable people, is this the right hard drive replacement for a Vaio Flip 13A?

 

Nope. 13A is 60mm.

 

Wow!!! Thats amazing! So that confirms it. The fix is real and it works. Appreciate that. So looks like I'll be installing Win 8.1 Pro soon.

 

Did you test the throttling using Dirt 3 on the old config, too?

Do you notice the higher temps on the case? Do they make a difference to the user?
How noisy is the max temp?

Higher frequencies mean higher temps mean higher fan speeds. This can't be solved by doing a clean install of Win 8.1 (Pro). Personally, the throttling is bothering me less than the fan speeds but it seems that we may have solved at least one problem.

When looking at this new situation a few questions pop up, though:

- What about the drivers? Is everything installed or are there "known losses"?

- Apparently, something is actively controlling the throttling in a non-clean environment (factory preset). What is it? This is the hardest question, of course, and I only write it here to show where we need to heed...

- Or the other way round: Which Sony software (the Control Center, which I would want to use, or the necessary drivers for everything to work properly) can be installed without the throttling getting reactivated? This is something one can test, though.

- Why do we need Win 8.1 Pro for this to work? Does the regular flavor work, too? Has anybody with a clean install of regular Win 8.1 actually tested for throttling or do we bark at the wrong tree right now?
Do home versions throttle because regular consumers are more bothered by noise than "pros" so that the Pro versions don't throttle?
Also: Does the pre-installed Pro version from Sony found on some Flips in fact throttle?

- If the difference between the two Windows versions is in fact the reason why the throttling can be avoided - what causes this? Is it a feature of Pro that doesn't exist in the other version? A driver? A registry setting? Or is the throttling a "feature" of one of the Intel/Nvidia/(Sony?) drivers that gets active when using a regular Windows but it's disabled in the Pro Windows as that gets used by "pro users" that need more power, regardless of the noise?

- And a final question we probably can't answer at all: Does this work on other notebooks, too?

 

I think the main finding is that throttling was done via software and not via
firmware. Without any of the Sony stuff installed we're running at the defaults
from Intel and nVidia.

Under low CPU/GPU load there seems to be no difference. Temperatures and fan
speeds are all the same - no better and no worse.

Under heavy CPU/GPU load the fan speeds seem to be the same (I presume they've
always been running at max RPM so it can't increase it any further). The internal
temperatures are considerably higher (I think around 60 degrees was the highest I
got before), but entirely reasonable. The case temperature I presume is higher, but I never considered putting it on my lap under max load. It's not scorching hot like some other laptops though.

I should have found some direct comparison before/after, but unfortunately I got impatient : ) My experience with games previously though was that it ran great for a short while before performance completely tanked due to heavy throttling.

There are 4 devices with missing drivers: PCI Device, SM Bus Controller and two
unknown devices. The Action Center asks me to find a driver for Sony Firmware Extension Parser (presume that must be one of the four, and probably one of those things that might re-enable the throttling). I have not figured out anything essential that's missing though. NFC works, Bluetooth works, rotation works, brightness adjustment via software and keyboard works. The pen and pressure works. Battery life seems reasonable at first glance. Only things so far I've found that doesn't work is the keyboard shortcut for turning off the trackpad and cut. Can you think of anything else I should look for?

The SP3 pens OneNote button now react instantly like Lovelaptops reported. I was previously running the AptX enabled Bluetooth drivers, so perhaps that was the culprit? Have not tried AHK/Clip Studio yet.

I don't think Home vs. Pro makes any difference. Just happened to be Steven Code who came up with the solution went from the Sony installed Home version to a clean install of Windows 7 and then 8.1 Pro. I've had the Pro version both before and after though. I would think the key is the clean install, and possibly the wiping of the recovery partition so the OS can't go there looking for the missing drivers (last part is just speculation from my side).

If this works on other laptops? Possibly, but I would presume most manufacturers implement this directly in firmware and not via software.

 

That would be my assumption, too. My bet would still be a service, or alternatively a driver - but which?

Exactly. So it's VERY likely something that gets installed by Sony software.

As was to be expected.

Thanks! I also assumed this (fan on 100%) but your report confirms that the Flip would be too loud for me. ;-)

This is a good, educated guess. Sadly, I'm not knowledgeable enough in these "nether regions" but if something is throttling a GPU it needs to get a temperature value (which one???) and then AFAIK needs to call the graphics driver to set the timings.
This could be done by a driver or - more likely IMHO - by a service.

Assist-button, TPM 2.0 (do they still use chips for that?), camera, card reader?

The description of the VAIO Event Service says that if it isn't running that some functions are disabled like "special keys", hotkeys and "original VAIO energy saving functions" (without detailing them).
My best guess would be this service and nothing is easier than disabling it for a test (if I weren't on the road right now my next question would be which free utility would be perfect for such a test).

Quite possible! And indeed a nice bonus!

I think this is very likely.

The regular OS-setup program (when run from a disk or USB stick) shouldn't be able to look there if you do a clean install but I'm not 100% sure on this. In other words: Unless you do a recovery installation from that special, hidden partition it should have no influence.
People should be careful, though, not to format the whole drive or they would delete the recovery partition...

I'm not so sure about that, too. Why should the Flip be the exception from the rule?
Also, how would the BIOS access the graphics driver to manipulate the timings?

 

So Windows Home was likely the culprit of the throttling, not Sony’s firmware or its update?

These missing drivers don’t impact the laptop at all?

When you say “cut,” do you mean the keyboard shortcut as in “cut and paste”?

Do the Assist button, card reader and camera work too?

I don’t understand. I thought you said before that Pro made a difference in playing games.

Have you played GTA V on Pro? Is it as smooth as Dirt 3?

I think Steven Code’s fix involved partitioning the whole drive including the recovery partition.

 

Assist button works - lets me enter the BIOS (I presume the Sony recovery stuff will fail or ask for a disk). TPM 2.0 is listed as working under Security Devices. Camera and mic works fine, but the card reader did not.

I have installed 3 drivers off the Sony site today. The Realtek PCIE Card Reader (so now it works), Intel Chipset Driver and Intel Collaborative Processor Performance Control Driver. Was a bit skeptical at the Intel CPPC driver, but after a few rounds of Dirt 3 it seems to run just as well. Might improve on the battery life though (supposed to deal with sleep states).

That only leaves one unknown device which is caused by the Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device - and as you said, this is probably the one to disable. It is possible that could solve the throttling without having to do a reinstall.

Not sure at all. I wiped all partitions this time around to be on the safe side. The US Sony support site seems to have all drivers and software one might need though - and with pretty good descriptions. The European sites seem a lot more spartan (they were thankfully down today which made me jump over to the US site : ).

Perhaps I have a bit more faith in the other manufacturers when it comes to software? That might be entirely undeserved though. : ) It just seems like the kind of thing one would want to keep on the firmware level since software and drivers can be crashed more easily. On desktop computers the graphic card usually has it's own BIOS, but I'm not sure how that works on a laptop when it's just a slave of the Intel iGPU.

 

True, the FN shortcut on the 1 key (at least that's where it is on my Nordic ISO layout).

I had the Pro version (installed by Sony) both before (with throttling) and after (without throttling). After the clean install I was running without the Sony software/drivers, and that is probably what made the difference. I don't think Home vs. Pro matters (although I've never tried the Home version).

You should try finding the Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device in device manager and disable it. I'm not sure if that's enough, but it seems the most likely candidate so far. More details in the answers to Calibrator above.

Don't have GTA 5 I'm afraid, but I would presume it should be (within the capabilities of the 735M at least) as it now allows it to run at much higher temperatures than before - and the cooling solution seems to be efficient enough that it doesn't reach dangerous levels.

If anyone as any suggestions for some kind of test I can leave running for an hour I can do that (not Furmark or some such designed to scorch your GPU - but something going for a realistic gaming scenario).

Yeah, that's what I did too, wiped all partitions including the recovery partition before I installed from a DVD. That certainly took care of things, but if we're able to identify which Sony driver, service or software is causing the throttling - you might not have to do something fully so drastic.

 

Hi KjetilV. I found the Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device Driver in device manager. But the disable button is greyed out. Is there another way to disable it?

 

Hi, I haven't posted here since 2013 when I first got my flip, yesterday I was having wifi issues so was searching for any updated drivers and came across this regarding Windows 10 on the UK support pages, looks like potentially good news for those wanting to upgrade depending on how long their 'release schedule' takes.

http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/content/cnt-hn/prd-comp/windows_10_information/SVF15N1C5E

 

Thanks for the heed up, Alistair!

We already read the recommendation from Sony that Flip-owners should better wait until Sony has determined if there are problems with drivers etc. but this new info confirms my long-standing opinion to *never* get a new OS on the first day it becomes available.

Call me pessimistic but I rather have a working system with an old OS than a non-working system with a brand-new OS... ;-)

 

Unsure, you could try uninstalling it, but I have the feeling it might just be reinstalled again as soon as you restart.

At least they acknowledge they still have customers using their computers - that's more than I expected : )

 

Hi, Cal.. Maybe you can help. As I've told KjetilV, I found the Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device Driver in device manager. But the disable button is greyed out. Do you know a way to disable it? I want to test if this is the culprit to the throttling.

 

The Extension Parser isn't causing the throttling, IMHO.

Why I think that? Because I deinstalled a lot of Sony software a year ago and apparently the Parser got deinstalled, too. I don't know which software deinstalled it -- but my Flip still throttles!

---

I just repeated my old test procedure to be 100% sure:

FurMark (I use version 1.12.00 from 2013 for this) is able to stress the GPU efficiently and it can monitor the GPU frequencies, while it runs. Very handy!

Today it took more than 12 minutes to reach the trigger temperature, even though I have a room temperature of about 26 degrees right now.

When the Geforce GT 735M chip reached about 77 degrees it throttled down to mobile usage core frequencies (from around 900 MHz to 400 MHz). This results in half the frames (from 11 to 5, default settings), which is very similar to the results posted here concerning popular 3D games.
I tried to remove the power connector and plug it back in again to trigger a change in GPU frequencies but that didn't help either. I then stopped the test because the Flip already sounded like a jet engine...

---

Believe me, if I would suspect the Extension Parser to be responsible for the throttling, I would have posted it a long time ago.

No cigar for us today!

 

Hi all,

I have a question regarding the SSD in 13" model. I already know it is a M.2 SATA SSD, in my case it's a 128 GB Toshiba THNSNJ128G8NU. Has anybody tried to replace this with a PCIe SSD? Is it even possible with this mainboard? I contacted Sony Support but their answer was not really helpful...

Additionally, I read claims that the SSD has 60mm length. However, research suggests that the Toshiba I have in my Vaio has indeed 80 mm. What's true now?

 

I'm not sure if FurMark is a good indication of anything - even well ventilated desktop cards throttle with that one. It's a torture test meant to push things way beyond what you would experience in any real-world use.

I'm testing out the Final Fantasy XIV Heavensward benchmark, perhaps that could be more indicative of real-world performance? It can be run in a loop and windowed mode so you can monitor the sensors at the same time. Just been running it at its default settings (high laptop) with DX11, display scaling turned off and in a loop. GPU temperature has been maximum of 75 degrees and GPU clock stays steady at 940MHz (running for 32 minutes). Outside temperature is about 25 today, and probably a bit more inside so not very forgiving conditions.

All that being said, we're not immune to throttling at high temperatures - it's just that it doesn't throttle at low temperatures any more.

 

Damn. So that means that the drivers and software by Sony don't appear to cause throttling. That means its caused by either the firmware (Windows) or the BIOS modified by Sony.

In addition to a clean ibstall of Pro, I was wondering if NvidiaInspector and throttleStop can further limit the throttling.

 

No, it means that I believe that the Extension parser isn't the culprit.
We haven't checked all Sony services, have we? With a clean install they are also gone...

Also: What do you mean with "firmware (Windows)"? Windows isn't the firmware - the BIOS is.

The BIOS by the way is likely not just modified by Sony but a program they ordered tailor-made to their specifications from either a daughter company or a third party. What that means is that the BIOS does - in its limits - what Sony says.

I'm still not convinced the BIOS is guilty of the throttling, though, and I doubt that Windows itself is causing the throttling. Otherwise the "fix" (clean Win Pro install) wouldn't work and there would be *way* more info on this as many machines would use that! There would also very likely known ways to circumvent (hack) it.

I'm still thinking it's either a Sony service or driver or something that is able to access the chips on a high level (= accessing Windows drivers). I don't believe the BIOS is able to do that, but eventually we will see how it works.

You can try that but I bet Mr. Kazoo (?) already had the same idea...

 

Thats what I meant. I was typing too fast.

What do you recommend that i do to test out each and every Sony driver or service? I know this issue is a mystery. But I'm willing to be a guinea pig.

 

If you want to experiment I'd recommend to disable all Sony services first (not the Microsoft ones!).

Most of them begin either with Sony or VAIO. We listed most of them a while ago in this thread but it wasn't in the context of preventing throttling so you don't need to look them up right now.

*** I don't expect problems with that but take the usual precautions: Create a system restore point & have a recent backup available.

You can disable the services in the respective system control utility.
Disable them all at once but write down the status of each one!
*Reboot* the Flip.
Then try to see if it still throttles.
If it does the services are very likely innocent and you should enable them according to your notes.
If it doesn't - do some more tests! I've read way too many optimistic posts in my life where people claim their problem has been solved but it came back after a day or so.

If your Flip does indeed not throttle anymore the next step would be finding out which service is the one actually causing the throttling. This is very time consuming as you need to reactivate each service separately and do testing after each one to see if the throttling comes back.

That's also the reason I can't experiment on this right now - I simply have no time for the exhaustive testing this needs...

 

Hey Cal.. So I brought up services through the Services Console (services.msc). So far I found only 9 Vaio services listed:

- Vaio current folder watcher
- Vaio current importer
- Vaio device searcher
- Vaio digital media server
- Vaio entertainment common service
- Vaio event service
- Vaio Power Management
- VCService
- VUAgent

In the task manager, I found 19 Sony/Vaio background processes. In Autoruns, I found about 28 Sony/Vaio background processes, which I'm sure are expanded background processes of those listed in the task manager and the Services Console.

I will download a game (Batman Arkham City) and then do an image backup of my whole system through Macrium Reflect before I disable Sony/Vaio services and background processes. I will disable these in the task maanger, services console, and Autoruns program. I'll let you know my results.