Official VAIO E Series Owners Thread

Any ideas what is it like to run state-of-art Linux distributions on the current E series, say Fedora, Ubuntu, or Debian-testing? I just wonder which hardware components are supported out of box and which are not.

 

I'm having serious trouble with my laptop. 9 times out of 10 with my SSD in, I turn it on and get the Vaio logo, followed by "Operating System not found". Pressing any key causes the message to be displayed again. I hold the power button to manually shut it down, and even though the screen goes blank and the fan stops, the power light stays on and I can't restart it without taking the battery out.
I went back to the hard drive the laptop came with (to test out if my SSD was faulty), and with this one, Windows usually goes to start, and then hangs just after the first two balls of light flash up on the screen (the red and the green one). I manually shut it down and get the same problem as before (power light doesn't turn off, have to take out battery). I managed to start it in safe mode, and then restarted normally, and it started fine, but it seems totally random whether it works or not.
I don't know what to do. I have until Friday to file an RMA. Any ideas?

 

Perhaps you should do an RMA. Previous machine had some of the symptoms you mentioned; "OS not found", successfully booting into Windows one moment and failing to the next..
Turned out to be a motherboard problem in my case.

 

What is the best SSD you guys can recommend?

Thanks

 

Yeah, I'm thinking it's the motherboard. I've tested two hard drives, and both fail at different points and seemingly at random, so it's the most likely culprit. It really sucks, because when it's working, this laptop is fantastic. Keyboard is super comfortable, screen is great, and the specs mean it powers through anything I throw at it.
I've never RMAd anything before (lucky me), especially back to a different country. What do I have to do?

 

It depends whether your going to be writing a lot to it, or just using it to dump your OS and programs on.

There are ones that have a balance between write and read speeds, then there are ones like the Crucial C300 which have uber read speeds but not so good write speed unless you have the larger more expensive ones.

 

You could try the local distributor first I guess..

 

Thanks.. I will check the Crucial C300..

 

I don't have any manufacturer's warranty as far as I know... this laptop was one that had actually been RMAd previously and had had its screen changed. The website said "testing was successful", but that there was no manufacturer's warranty. There was 14% off the price, so I took a chance on it (kinda regretting it now...). So I'm thinking RMA is my only option.

 

Okay guys I've just ordered my laptop today & upon finishing the order process, it noted my payment method saying: 'you have chosen to pay by credit card' - er, no? It's a debit card.. Should I be worried? There is a difference between a credit & debit card last time I checked!! =/

 

They mean Plastic money i.e. an alternative way to pay for something other than cash(i know you know), they dont really care if you pay with credit or debit(your bank sorts that out), I've seen that on a lot of order confirmations on several sites. nothing to worry about. Sony UK as usual...

@anyone
Does anyone know whether you can boot from expresscard, I was thinking about getting an ssd express card because I dont want to replace my original HDD.
@Sweep
Have you tried playing around with the BIOS? Set to boot from SSD/HDD first? Then try restoring all defaults on motherboard.If that doesent work then do you remember whether or not you had AHCI(Advanced Host Controller Interface) enabled before you installed win7? Becuase if you had IDE or legacy ATA enabled, I've seen that screw up booting.

 

Ah right, cheers a lot for that! I was getting worried, I don't even have a credit card lol.. Thanks again for your help ravenperch, you've been like, sooo useful to me!

 

I have the 256GB version - note the earlier comment that the lower capacity versions have slower write performance. The 256GB version flies though - I'd definitely recommend it. It is the fourth SSD I've bought for various machines and is the best so far, although too early to give a long term view.

If you do get one then make sure you check which firmware version it has - should be v.002 - if it is v.001 then make sure you upgrade it as there is a huge difference in performance. Checking and updating the firmware is good advice for any new SSD.

Note that for the C300 you have to perform the upgrade before installing your OS, and the update cannot be done using a caddy, it has to be in the machine itself and SATA mode set to IDE compatibility. The latter is a problem as the Vaio BIOS is locked down, so I had to perform the upgrade using another machine. So not a big issue if you have another PC or laptop available, but would be a major headache if you don't.

Hope this helps.

 

roger that

1. SCREEN FINE
2. Ram enough but for example, you can get flawless performance if you switch off pagefiling. Thats why I took 6GB. My 4GB desktop is never used for gaming yet it still has around 70% RAM useage, so? its smooth and snappy all the time. and the performance of my computer wont detoriate over time because there is no defragmented page file to access every time.
3. warrnties are always worth the money, but hunt down insurance for your laptop, thats worth more.
4. never buy 3rd party batteries, never, well unless they are from a very reputed outlet. the battery life will accentuate based on what work you do on it. more intensive applications will run down battery.(tip- turn page filing off, your battery life will improve)

 

Cool... Thanks for the tips.. I will buy the SSD when my laptop arrives.. (hopefully by next week)

 

Ya, I can only get the 5470 HD. For some reason, in Canada, I can only get this graphics card.

Is it possible to upgrade the graphics card later??

 

i checked vaio update and it informs that there is a new bios udate

BIOS Update version R0300Y8
Applicable Models:
VPCEA17FW, VPCEB25FG, VPCEB12EN, VPCEB12EG, VPCEA1BGN, VPCEB13FA, VPCEA16FH, VPCEB21FG, VPCEB22EN, VPCEA21EG, VPCEA17FG, VPCEA21EN, VPCEA26FG, VPCEB16FG, VPCEA1AGG, VPCEB15FA, VPCEB17FG, VPCEA25FG, VPCEB15FW, VPCEA16FW, VPCEA13EN, VPCEB17FA, VPCEA22EH, VPCEA13EH, VPCEA17FH, VPCEB25FH, VPCEB26FA, VPCEA22EN, VPCEA12EN, VPCEA21EH, VPCEC15FG, VPCEB27FG, VPCEA25FA, VPCEB26FF, VPCEB27FA, VPCEA15FN, VPCEB14EN, VPCEA22EG, VPCEE26FG, VPCEB23FG, VPCEA15FG, VPCEB22EG, VPCEA26FF, VPCEA23EN, VPCEB17FW, VPCEB25FW, VPCEB27FW, VPCEA12EH, VPCEB21EG, VPCEA22EA, VPCEA26FA, VPCEA16FG, VPCEA23EH, VPCEA16FA, VPCEE25FG, VPCEB21EN, VPCEB24EN, VPCEB15FG, VPCEA12EG, VPCEB13FG, VPCEB15FH, VPCEB1AGG, VPCEA25FN, VPCEA12EA, VPCEA15FA, VPCEB26FG

This program will update BIOS version R0300Y8 and improve the following:

- Fan control
- Power management

Available Downloads:
BIOS Update version R0300Y8
File name: EP0000228463.exe
File size: 2.31 MB (2,424,832 bytes)

is it important to install this?

thanks

and oh here's the link

Code:

http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/409711/product/vpcea16fg

 

Hey guys im seriously contemplating buying the ea now given that i can get the following config in china:

i7-620m
ati 5650
14" 1600x900
4gb ram
320gb hd 5400

My questions are:
1) is the screen (1600x900) considerably better than the 1366x768 version? I have noticed taht the lower res one is slightly dull in stores
2) what is the battery life like with the ea on a whole? lets say at 50% brightness, wlan on and on integrated graphics
3) there IS switching between graphics right?
4) is weight a major issue with this laptop? Ive been tossing between this and the acer 4820tg which is superbly light.

 

bios update for my eb1z1e
http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/updates/index.aspx?m=VPCEB1Z1E_B&l=en_GB

 

No, you can't upgrade the GPU later. It's an integrated, soldered part of the motherboard.

1) the hi-res screens are generally better quality than the lo-res screens - most people say the lo-res screens are a bit dull. But screens are personal preferece, you've seen them in stores so you can decide for yourself.
2) No idea about integrated graphics, but with a dedicated GPU mine gets around 2.5hrs
3) No switchable graphics
4) Not really. It's not an ultraportable obviously, but it's not exactly bulky. As far as mainstream multimedia laptops go, it's pretty compact.

 

Should be. Maybe. Maybe it fixes battery drain issues. Can't figure out what would be wrong with the fan in its current state though. Hope it doesn't get more active or something.

Ah screw theories. Going to test it out.

EDIT: Laptop still works! Saw one new advanced option in BIOS (bringing us to a total of.. 2!) and that was an option to enable/disable CPU C3/C6 state. It was enabled by default.

 

check out the display section on this review

and compare it to a 1080p on this review

 

How do you update the bios? just run the installer in windows?

 

Yup, run the installer and it will do everything from there just sit back and wait.

 

Well, I returned my laptop today. The random boot-up failures were just too big a thing to take a chance on and hope they went away. If it is a motherboard issue, as I suspect, it would only have got worse. But when it was working, it was great, a really good laptop, so I think when I get my refund I'm going to buy another EB series. I mean, lightning couldn't strike twice...
could it?

 

I think the problem was that you took a chance on a refurb and it didn't work out on this occasion, but getting one brand new from Sony should hopefully get you the laptop you want.

 

My condolences, you seemed to be getting really comfortable with it. Still, you'll have a shiny new one with no problems for a long time. Since you have tried the EB why dont you try something else like a Lenovo or another Vaio series?

 

what do you think?

 

I think thats really good for a 5400rpm drive

 

thanks man
this is after bios update,just to make it clear.

 

thanks but isnt this comparing the 1920x1080 to the 1366x768? I know already that the 1080p screen is awesome; just curious whether the 1600x900 is closer to this or closer to the 1366x768 model? Im asking cos i cant see a working model of it.

 

i know its not the 1600 one but it gives you an idea of what the highest resolution is capable of, compared to the worst screen type possible, so i guess the 1600 screen would be somewhere in between.

 

The high pitch sound the laptop usually makes when on battery is now gone for me. Well.. not completely gone, you can still hear it if you're listening for it but it's fainter. If I plug in an USB device it reappears at full blast. But simply having the lappy run on battery does not make the sound anymore.

Not that it ever bothered me but I just noticed it wasn't there. I don't know if it's because of the new BIOS or if it's the new 5000mAh battery that I bought.

Do check for yourselves after updating bios!

 

Thought for something to do I would try out 3D Mark 06, never bothered running one of these before, so did a run with the laptop at stock settings then overclocked to 585/880 and did another run.

No idea if these scores are good or bad for the laptop and no idea why it kept telling me I had an ATI 5750



Temps never went above 54 degress on the overclock run according to MSI Afterburner.

 

Now that's interesting. Is that 6800 at stock 450/790 clocks? Did you run it at any point before the BIOS update and remember what score you got? (edit: just realised you said no. Anyway, everyone I've seen posting in this thread previously got ~6200 at stock clocks)

The reason I ask is, the 5650 is the E-Series has previously been underperforming beyond just the lower clocks in comparison to other laptops with the 5650 in it. See this thread for details:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...me-gpu-same-clocks-different-performance.html

Maybe the BIOS update fixed it and brought it back in line with the other laptops..

Anyone else with the 5650 and BIOS update able to confirm the higher score? I don't like messing with BIOS updates unless I really have to..

 

I installed the bios update yesterday yeah and as mentioned have never even downloaded a 3D Mark program before so no idea what my pre bios update score would have been.

Also forgot to mention I am running the 10.5 Mobility drivers, tried 10.7 when they were released but Dirt 2 and LFD2 (main two games i still have installed and play regularly) felt like they had taken an fps hit, so reverted to 10.5.

EDIT: Oh and yeah the stock run was 450/790.

 

stock clocks/bios update/6200 3dmarks= same as before bios update+10.7 drivers

 

Huh.. okay so maybe it wasn't the BIOS update. In that case, why does Jonny not have the reduced performance that the rest of us do? Have you done anything that might account for it, Jonny?

 

I did another few runs with stock 450/790 settings and got the following results which were very consistent.



I can't think of anything special at all I might have done, its a clean windows 7 home install, ati mobility 10.5 drivers, latest bios update, windows is fully updated, intel rapid storage, turbo boost and management engine driver installs is all I can think of driver wise which didnt come straight from win7.

My gf has the exact same spec Vaio as me since I ordered both at the same time, she is running it as it was out of the box, even the default ati drivers, I'll throw 3D Mark 06 on hers tonight if she isn't using it and see what results it gets.

 

Hmm.. well that's odd. Was your laptop ordered after the June 1st mini refresh? That's all I can think of, that something was tweaked hardware level in that refresh. Interested to see the results on your gf's laptop!

 

do we have to install seperate?

 

I don't think we need the Turbo Boost driver. It's related to the (disabled) integrated Intel GPU rather than the CPU's Turbo Boost function.. confusing naming. It doesn't make any difference if it's installed or not anyway.

 

If you do a clean windows 7 install yes, if your running your laptop as it was when sent to you then no they are already installed.

Also for Mythdat, nope I ordered my laptop on 19th April and they went into production on the 25th april, arrived 5 - 7th of May cant remember exactly, so pre refresh.

 

yes i did

what drivers exactly we need for H55 chipset
http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intechip.htm

 

 INF Update Utility - Primarily for Intel® 5, 4, 3, 900 Series Chipsets

 

but i already have version 9.1.2.1008???

double

edit:so now i have
1. intel matrix storage console 8.9
2.intel turbo boost techonology drivers
3.and INF Update Utility - Primarily for Intel® 5, 4, 3, 900 Series Chipsets
do i forget something?

 

Use Rapid Storage instead of Matrix - Matrix is an older version

You don't need Turbo Boost

 

many thanks man
someone who really knows must post all drivers we need on the first page off this thread.

 

Hey guys got my sony E series from Futureshop. Its 15 inch and uses an intel i5 450m processor. Its a really fast laptop. I was wondering if I need to buy a gfx card or is the intel HD card be suffice.


This is what I plan to do:

So i know multimedia for this is nothing but I mean will be able to handle CAD? Or scientific computation...or maybe on the unknown (hard to explain, mind consuming).

Also if u guys can update me on issues and such regarding this laptop..cause so far no issues. I used it for 1hr (while its charging) and the computer isn't that hot =D

 

Unfortunately your decision is made for you by the fact that you can't just buy a gfx card and put it in a laptop. Laptop GPUs are generally an integrated part of the mobo, and not just an add-on like desktops.