Official VAIO E Series Owners Thread

Depending on what you're doing battery life is in the 1.5 to 3 hour range - you're looking at around 2 hours on regular use. It's not horrible but definitely not an ultraportable either.

Nope, no switchable graphics unfortunately. Apparently The E series is being refreshed on June 1st though, so.. who knows, but it's unlikely. I wouldn't bet on anything major since its only a small 3 month update, but it might be worth waiting til then to make your mind up.

 

Any insider news on the refresh?

 

Nope, not a thing, I haven't seen any information on it.

 

A refresh already? I've only just got mine. I hope I dont feel hard done by when details are released.

 

guys 10.5 is out. any idea on how to install 10.5 on vaio as it is not available on their site but i downloaded the same from http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-5_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc.exe ?

 

That link should work - it's what I used, installed no problem.

 

Do i have to uninstall 10.4 first ?
Please tell me if you are getting CCC, Install manager and Display driver option while doing custom installation after uninstalling 10.4.
Thanks

 

I uninstalled everything via the Catalyst Install Manager, then uninstalled the driver via windows Device Manager, making sure to check the 'delete driver' checkbox, then rebooted and installed 10.5.

 

Guys - just got my eb1 from Sony Style UK, and its making a horrible whining and buzzing sound from underneath. It's like a mobo capacitor static type sound, and not anything related to the fan/speakers/mic.

I did a quick bit of googling and found a few people with similar experiences but no suggested solutions - just some who pointed out the noise is worst running off battery.

Orthos CPU tester eradicates the sound only when running at max output.

Anyone with ideas/similar experiences?

 

The noise is from the processor, it's been an Intel issue for years now, back to the Core Duo processors. It's an electronic resonance that happens when the CPU is idle and switches down into its lower voltage power saving states - hence why it stops when running Orthos, and why it's worse on battery. Nothing you can do personally to fix it unfortunately, bar seeing if Sony are willing to replace the mobo. I've had mine for a few months now and I don't really notice it anymore. I don't know if it's because I got used to it or if the capacitors 'burned in' over time, but yeah, it's improved.

 

What size is an EB1? How long ago did you order it? I ordered my 15" over 2 weeks ago but haven't been told that it's started production. Last update was estimated ship time of 1-8th of June...

 

I think I may have figured it out
Go
Vaio Control Center -> Display -> Color Mode Setting
and select
Do not apply color mode

that way whatever changes you make in ati CCC remains, at least this is what is now happening for me.

 

Seriously, where do i find the LAN drivers for my Sony vaio EB?
I am using 32 bit windows 7 atm and there is only Marvell Yukon Ethernet Controller drivers for 64 bit on Sonys site

 

i've got an eb1z, which is the factory spec top mid e series, 15.5 inch - just got it yesterday - delivered next day. i5 and brd, 1080p.

If i was you, i;d seriously consider cancelling (assuming yours is also the i5), i'm planning to try for a refund tomorrow, the high pitched whining/whizzing is REALLY annoying me from the mobo/idling processor - and from my frantic research today, seems to be considered one of the known negatives of this laptop

anyone know of any plans for a bios fix / workaround? my laptops not much use if its only usable whilst plugged into the mains!

 

I wonder why it only occurs on some machines ?

I have an EB1Z and it makes no noise whatsoever on mains or battery,the only "noise" is the fan,apart from that-silence.

If it was the processor I would have thought it would occur on all machines.

Ian

 

Luck

Not all machines are built the same, some will have issues that others won't

 

Just ordered one direct from SonyStyle UK:

Intel Core i5-520m
4G DDR3 RAM
500GB Hard disk
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650
1920x1080 Full HD screen
In glossy white

Hope it's worth it.

 

hey.. i have been watching this thread for quite a while now since ive ordered mine as well. its a 15 inch. that makes it an EB.

any ways i have got the same ship date as yours. but have not received any mail or something for started production or something.

Any thoughts on the matter?

cheers. I thought it was about time i joined the thread.

 

hi, i'm from indonesia

just bought this laptop (VPC-EA16FG/L i5 520, 4GB, W7HP 64bit, ATi5650, 14", 500GB) the day before yesterday on Sony Center.
everything works well, and i love this laptop (unfortunately i'm not really into the glossy resting pad, i know that someday there will be a lot f scratches the same that happened to my former laptop, The vaio CR seriess)

i think the worst part of this laptop is the speaker, it have a very bad sound quality, worse than my old CR series

but then i found this new problem. yes, the same thing that everybody talks about. the high pitched noise somehow a bit annoying. not really sure why is this happening,

anyone have solution to this porblem?
oh one more thing, the first time using my ea16, the windows 7 "welcome" screen (first screen appeared) colored turquoise blue (same color as the laptop) but after i installed some windows updates, it reverts to the original sky blue windows7, how do i revert its change into vaio default? (turquoise blue)
thanks

 

need10chars

 

Hi guys I'm interested in buying the EA 14" but i've a few Q's im hoping you EA can help me with

1. The battery is 4 cell right, is there an option to upgrade to a battery with a bigger capacity or are there any 3rd party alternatives?

2. Battery drain - I've heard it mentioned from some owners on the E series. Have any EA owners experienced it? If so are there any fixes?

3. How many EA owners have got the high pitched noise whilst running on battery?

Thanks!

 

1.. Yeah the battery is four cell and I think you will get an option to buy another battery in accessories.

2.. about some pages ago.. there was a user who reported no battery drain while hibernating the laptop overnight. I'd suggest you to search the thread. it might help you.

3.. about the hight pitched noise, as mentioned before, it is a processor specific issue and there are yet no fixes for it unless there is an update from the manufacturers.. that is intel. And some users have reported no noise at all. i guess it is just a matter of luck.

N.B i havent got my EB yet. it should be delivered in the next week

 

I have an EC series and do not suffer from the high pitched noise. Well at least I dont think I do. Sure if I hold my ear to the base of the laptop I can hear something but if you are referring to hearing the noise whilst using the laptop normally i.e at a desk or on your lap then I dont hear anything.

Am looking to buy a 2nd mains adaptor so I can use the laptop around the house more freely since the battery life of 2 hours is a bit of a joke in this day and age. Where is the best place to buy this? Ebay? Should I stick to an official version? Dont want to spend more than £15 on one.

 

Actually I'm impressed by the Sony Vaio's battery. Why does everyone say that it is rubbish? The reason I'm saying this is because my current HP laptop has max 2 hours battery life. It has intel integrated graphics and a weaker processor (so consumption should be lower) and a higher capacity battery even! So the Vaio I just ordered has the same battery life but with much more powerful components and a lower capacity battery!

Actually thinking about it, it makes no sense! What's going on?

 

in electronics, the more advanced a processor, the less power it is supposed to consume. the weaker processor in old laptops does not mean that it should consume lesser energy. it is supposed to consume more energy.

same goes with the graphics.

i hope u get the answer! (Y)

 

My Vaio hasn't actually gone into production yet (I ordered it a few days ago) so would I be able to cancel the order and get an updated one if the 1st June refresh adds something major to the line up. I'd hate to miss out on anything new by just a few days!

Saying that but does the June refresh thing only count for the USA. Will it be the same date for the UK?

 

Hi guys,
I've received my Vaio E this week, but I've got an annoying whistling sound (sorry if it's not the right world, I don't speak english) that happens almost every time.
This sound is so loud...

I'm really considering to return the laptop to sony, but I'm afraid of receive a new one with the same problem.

Maybe with few days of utilization the sound will disappear (I know I'm dreaming).

What do you recommend ?

 

it's a common sound with the Intel i series processors. The buzz will still be there.

 

That's really annoying, I can hear the sound in all the room !

 

I got the production mail. they say ill receive it between 4th and 9th of june.
what I think of the refresh is that it cant be anything amazing. from business point of view, sony wont backstab other of their products just for the sake of a budjet laptop.
At least this is what i think.
And plus i cant wait for another month before i get the refreshed version. im already fed up of the time they have taken. i mean it does not take this much time to properly Design a laptop

 

Mine's taking until mid July! 6 whole weeks I have to wait!

 

When did you order? I ordered on 11th May so I'm expecting a production email soon!

 

I'm hoping for a battery refresh come June 1st. Backwards-compatible with current Vaio E-s.

 

where did u get this news from? I am starting college this september and am planning to get myself a laptop, well, after much browsing, I'm still confused between choosing either a 14" E series or the CW, both has their own positives...

and if its getting refreshed in june, than I'm going to wait a little bit to buy them
thx

PS: almost forgot the specs.
both have intel i5 proccesors, the CW has 330GT nvidia 512MB, E series 5650 ATI radeon 1GB, both 1600x900 resolution

 

So what are peoples views on updating the ATI driver to 10.5?

Anyone know how to do it?

 

i ordered like around the start of may.. i think it was first.. the day they started giving free blurays.. and i just got the production mail..

 

Bloody hell, looks like I might be waiting a while then... It better be worth it!

 

I bought my Vaio VPCEB1X5E in march. I had a weird issue last week , all videos were freezing for a couple of seconds(both sound and video). I tried almost everything like reinstalling ATI graphics driver, k-lite codecs. Finally decided to a system restore. But the issue is still there. My system configuration is bellow:-

Laptop VPC-EB1X - Configurable
Intel® CoreTM i5 Processor
320 GB Serial ATA (5400 rpm)
39.4 cm LCD, 1920x1080, webcam
ATI MobilityRadeon HD5650 1GB
6 GB 1066MHz DDR3-SDRAM
Windows® 7 Home Premium

Anyone know how to fix this.

Thanks

 

lmao.. have u seen the new prices on the thingy after the refresh? i am so pleased of myself
lol

 

What do you mean about the new prices and what have they refreshed?

 

I just configured a new laptop, the same as I ordered 3 weeks ago, and it came in at £699, compared to £616 when I first ordered it. However, I got a free upgrade to a 500Gb HD when I ordered mine so that accounts for £30 of the price increase. I picked the same CPU (the cheapest i5) but that may be an upgrade on before. I'm not sure of the exact model I ordered so can't be sure.

In terms of what the refresh has brought, it seems that there's more choice in the non-configurable laptops - very little, if anything, has changed for the configurable laptops. e.g. you can get an AMD instead of an Intel if you want in the pre-made laptops.

 

Oh nothing much. Thanks.
Also

 

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-5_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc.exe

 

Waited for the new update of series to roll out, and horribly disappointed. The same spec EB series is now costing me £90 more than it did yesterday. Thanks Sony

 

I have already downloaded this.

However do I just click the exe. file or should i be doing other stuff like renaming certain files?

Have you updated yourself?

Thanks

 

Yeah I've done it. You don't need to do anything - just run the file. I always uninstall everything via the ATI uninstaller first, then uninstall the driver via the device manager (making sure to click the 'delete driver' box), then restart before installing a new driver, though - just to keep things clean.

 

Has anyone tried the 6-cell battery (VPG-BPS22A) for the EA series? It's a bit pricey as with all things sony but it's 5000mah instead of the standard 4-cell 3500mah.

 

Is anyones mousepad wearing down? Have only had mine 2 months and the lumpy dots have already worn off on the part thats most used. Its shiny in that area now.

 

My lumpy dots are as lumpy as when it was new and my lappy is about as old as yours.

 

I'm glad I didn't cancel my order and wait for the refresh. It would have cost me an extra £10 for the same configuration

How does the new AMD triple core processor perform against the Intel Core cpus?