Official VAIO FW Series Owners Thread

I am chatting online with a Sony Sales Rep.

He is telling me that the processor you choose during CTO is soldered on to the board and can not be upgraded later.

Now... this seems utterly retarded and I would love for one of you to confirm the same.

 

Thank you! There is a massive difference between ECO and FullHD, if you get the FullHD you will be happy with your purchase. You only live once, go big or go home!

 

I just got my fw4 today, I've got a stuck pixel, the eco screen is terrible and I'm annoyed by the loud hard drive!!
The display problems aside I want to ask about the HDD.
I have a hitachi 320gig 5,400 rpm drive and can hear it spinning all the time. It's like a whirring sound, very audible and annoying. does anyone have this issue? Has anyone tried running WinAAM on these vaios? I tried but it doesn't find my drive. Sony's jigged this computer so that their hard drives cannot be messed with.
Any advice on sushing this drive!?!

 

Turn back on Sony Notebook Control (or reinstall it)

 

I posted just two posts up. I'm trying to reduce hard drive noise via automatic acoustic management but no programme I use seems to allow me access to that functionality. has anyone sucessfully adjusted the hard drive speed to reduce noise on their FW? what programme did you use? WinAAM, HDDSCAN and HDtune pro have not worked.

When it comes down to it none of the above apps can even identify my hard drive. Sony has done something with their disc drives so they are hard for these apps to configure.
please help.

 

The best thing to do is to call Hitachi's customer service and describe the noises and issues. If they say it is NOT normal for the drive to sound that way, act that way, etc., then get a case number and the ID of the rep because Hitachi will then tell you to contact Sony since the drive is under their warranty. This will help Sony to help you -- because they can then contact Hitachi if they dispute any of the drive manufacturer's claims or if they want to have the drive refunded to them for a replacement to you.

I do not suggest that you even consider for one second opening up that computer or even peeking at the HDD. You could void your warranty. Hit the phones to Hitachi, and then email Sony with the case number from Hitachi.

Alternatively, return the computer if you're within the exchange period and try to get another one from a different batch. But do that after you have spoken to Hitachi.

Good luck!

 

See that is why you don't get the ECO! Im sorry to hear about your problem, and no I haven't tried yet, if its not suppose to be done, don't do it at all! I wouldn't mess with it like that.

 

Hello
I just got FW490 CTO (2.53 MHz - 4GB RAM - FullHD). it's a nice laptop, but its recovery system sucks, it takes three hours to restore disk C: to the factory settings and during recovery there're some error messages appear and disappear, and also it restarts the laptop many times.
Is that normal?
Overall what do you think about FW490 CTO?

Thanks

 

Hello, as a tip, I noticed that if you turn off the Aero interface, the volume bar doesnt show anymore (or just as a transparent "shadow"), event though the actual volume control works fine.

 

Can you replace an XBRITE ECO screen with a full HD one on these newer FW laptops. I'm assuming since both a single and dual lamp option is supported, that even if shipped single lamp it would have both lamp connectors? Or am I wrong?

 

This is so true.

I've taken delivery of a CTO FW-45 witih new 4650.

OS is bloated, but fine and dandy, ran Call of Duty 2 as a test, ran amazing.

But OMG the ECO screen is totally abysmal. Washed out, diabolical viewing angles, NO vibrancy or depth of colour whatsoever.

Watched LA Confidential on DVD, even when you're facing dead on with the screen there are areas in the corners that appear washed out, when you lean back a little there is leakage all over the screen. Even when you are looking at optimum viewing angle it looks rubbish. When you are at a slight angle it just gets worse - unviewable.

Gutted. Gonna insist that Sony Style UK accept it back as a return - it does not match their claims whatsoever.

 

Bosseman keep us informed if sony will take it back. I also just got a custom order fw45 from sony style UK and have the same complaint as you. You know it is going to be difficult to get them to take it back. At least your screen didn't come with a dead pixel like mine!

You can reduce the washed out look(marginally) if you right click on the desktop select the graphics card options (Catalyst Control Center) and under the "Color" option bring the gamma to 0.75, the brightness to -14 and put the contrast to 100.

I was hoping you could give me your opinion on your Hard drive. I presume you also have the 5,400 rpm hitachi hard drive? In a quiet room can you hear it constantly whirring away, even when the computer is idle?

 

the same, it doesnt do so noticeably but from time to time it will rattle with the movement of the mouse pointer. Not really a problem tho.

 

i currently have a fw139e/h with the ati radeon 3650 hd. I want to get a new fw laptop (this series is awesome!) I was wondering if the ati radeon 4650 HD 1GB of ram can play Mass Effect on 1600 x 900 resolution comfortably. Currently the 1024x760 is a lovely lag fest. also, how about left4dead and team fortress 2 at the 1600 x 900 resolution.

 

Does anyone know if one can install DDR3 RAM on the FW490? It has an intel PM45 chipset which supports both DDR2 and DDR3. The Dell XPS1640 uses the same chipset and ships with DDR3. Are the physical slots different?

 

Your HDD is spinning all the time (even when the laptop is idle) due to the Vista Indexing Service (Windows Search) and several VAIO Media / Entertainment Services which are active and busy catalogueing the contents of your drive. You can let these continue and the HDD activity should go to normal levels after a week or two - depending on how long the laptop is on.

Or you can disable these services now (which are absolutely useless) and your HDD will be dead quiet.

 

wow. I logged in to say "i just got this and the HDD seems to be running wild and is the only thing that seems to be heating up." Lo and behold, my answer is right here.
About the eco screen... i'm not that picky. looks fine to me. bout to try out a game to see what this 4650 can do. And then i'm going to install windows 7 and install the rest of my stuff from there.
(yes, i do need to make restore CD"s dont i?)

 

What is the basis for your claim that "it is going to be difficult to get them to take it back"? If "them" is Sony itself, that is absolutely not true; in the first 30 days, no questions asked. If you're talking about another Sony retailer's policies, that might be different. But it is just plain wrong that Sony will hassle you during the first month of ownership should you wish to return the unit. No re-stocking fees, either, unlike many of their competitors.

If the UK is different, please post a link to the Sony UK site proving the difference. Thanks....

 

hey does anyone know if any companies make a 16.4 inch laptop slip case/sleeve? i want something nice and tight, so not a seventeen... but something that will fit it... thanks!

 

Jingibi: can you list the programmes I should remove. I have already unticked the indexing feature from vista. I'll try your suggestions but I don't know if that will solve it completely as I could hear the HDD noise when I was in the bios setup, the same volume as when in windows.

Derrida: The difficulty lies in returning custom ordered laptops. I ordered mine through sony style over the phone and before processing payment the saleswoman made it very clear that unless my custom order computer was damaged it was not refundable. Having said that, I called them today and because of a single dead pixel on my 1600X900 screen I can get the whole thing rebuilt or refunded...very excesive, I just want a new screen. I haven't yet decided if one dead pixel is worth acting on. Probably should?

 

Did you have yours engraved? If so, then that is correct: Sony will not take it back unless it is defective. Otherwise, Sony is very clear that it will take back ANY computer within thirty days of purchase (the Sony Style site has the exact RMA instructions). The representative, if you have her name, needs some more training....

As for the screen, yes, get the whole computer rebuilt/exchanged NOT repaired. And if you have a noisy hard drive, then call Hitachi and describe the advice received on this forum. If they agree with it, then your new computer's HDD, if it has the same noisiness, will hopefully later settle down.

However, if Hitachi does NOT say that is true (a friend of mine had a noisy 200GB 7200rpm Hitachi HDD and Hitachi said it should be "quiet as a baby sleeping" but that was a different model from yours), then you can ask Sony about whether the same lot of the HDD will be on your newly-built computer and ask them to use a different lot in the hopes of avoiding the problem.

Good luck!

 

DDR2 and DDR3 are shaped differently; it is my understanding one cannot install DDR3 on FWs because they ship with DDR2.

 

Uhhh.... Sony does .

 

Not sure if this has been asked already, since I didn't want to go through 400+ pages. I was wondering what other resolutions are supported on the Full-HD screen.

I'm wondering if its possible to switch to a lower resolution for when I'm working on word processing, since the tiny text may kill my eyes.

 

Rather than alter the native resolution, just use the zoom feature (or Ctrl Fn =). And, believe it or not, some people have posted that they actually got used to the smaller type in the FullHD resolution....

 

ya but from my understanding the zoom feature usually makes things unclear right?

 

Yes, but tight ... it is not.

Does come with a separate AC Adapter case tho.

Most people had trouble getting anything other than the native res 1920x1080 and 1024x768 & 800x600. Most annoying. Perhaps the FW4 series has corrected that.

Cheers,

 

Dup ... delete

 

In my experience, it depends on how much is running in the background. If you're downloading a movie while typing email in a zoomed window, yeah, there will be some distortions. But if not, the zoom can be pretty clear -- and in the native resolution.

To get the same size type as on a 1600x900 resolution, you zoom to 125% on a 1920x1080. I tried this side-by-side with two screens and was pleasantly surprised that there was less distortion than doing the same thing on the 1600x900 screen. The 1920x1080 had the better video card, so that plays a role as well.

 

Search the NBR site for cases for the FW -- I do remember now that someone posted an image of one on a separate thread that was very tight but padded enough to be safe. I cannot remember the name of the manufacturer, though. Sorry.

 

Bad news; after a long discussion with Sony vaio UK's customer service and then the warranty department they told me that 1 dead pixel does not constitute a fault with my computer and therefore they will not refund/replace my computer. Apparently their warranty will only recognise the screen as defective with 7 or more dead pixels. The person I spoke to yeserday was wrong when he told me I could exchange it. I asked and they clearified that if I had ordered an off the shelf laptop (versus a custom order one) I would have been able to return this computer no questions asked. But since mine was custom made this restriction, which must be unique to Sony UK, applies.

My housemate is a lawyer and he told me this 7 pixel policy is totally debatable. I don't know if I have the steam to debate this. How can I kill 6 more pixels...just kidding.

 

Unless more than 14 days have passed since you RECEIVED the computer, your lawyer housemate should consult this no-questions-asked on anything (unless it's engraved) 14-day return policy from the UK Sony Website: https://www.sonystyle.co.uk/catalog/47/47EBCD9F706B009FE10080002BC29B86.html#14

I would argue that the exceptions clause is clearly for a product that is personalized in a manner whereby it would be individualized according to YOUR specifications, like an engraving. A configure to order computer is not "individualized" according to YOUR specifications but rather selections are made from specifications chosen by the manufacturer, SONY. An "individualization" like an engraving would occur if, for example, an HDD or DVD/Bluray model that is NOT on their choices list were added to the computer by you for an additional payment to Sony. Then the computer would be "individualized" and not in accordance with the advertized specifications options determined by SONY, making resale through outlets, etc. difficult.

The American policy appears to be more liberal but actually it's only more liberal by at most a week since the 30-days for the U.S. starts on the date of shipment of the unit: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...erms_cond&hideHeaderFooter=true&storeId=10151 Notice the correlate clause to the UK clause: "Games, game hardware, Gift Cards, and Engraved Products are non-returnable items." More examples of "individualisation".

If you're within the 14 days since documented receipt of the computer and you are denied the terms of the warranty as described by Sony itself in the UK online link, then ask to escalate the issue to management.

It's always the fine print that gets us or saves us in the end....

 

P.S. to "joaomario":

You still don't appear to have tried calling Hitachi about the hard drive. If you are armed with an Hitachi official "it's supposed to be quiet" verdict, your lawyer housemate might pull off an exchange because they already seem to have been willing to exchange the computer for you IF you had a defect, right?

Get Hitachi to weigh in on whether their HDD in your notebook is performing properly. Get the verdict documented officially (case number at Hitachi and rep ID) and present that to Sony if it's negative.

And if you want to pay Sony more for an upgraded screen in a new computer if exchanged, let them know that as well -- more money is always an incentive. Escalate to management and tell them you want to exchange for a more expensive computer -- an offer that's hard to refuse!

Every day counts; fiddle them away no longer....

 

Thanks Derrida for your research. I've contacted them once again stating terms and conditions article:14 but they insist that customising the computer has made it personalised and therefore they will not be able to sell it and therefore will not take it back. Every represantative is trained in this rhetoric so it seems to be a point they are very strong on. I did not have it engraved by the way.

https://www.sonystyle.co.uk/catalog/47/47EBCD9F706B009FE10080002BC29B86.html#15

I've attempted to phone hitachi but their phone lines are closed for the weekend so shall try on monday.

I was thinking a formal email quoting the laws might get their attention, perhaps one drafted by my friend.

I'm quite deflated by this whole matter. This is my second laptop in 3 weeks. I originally bought a dell xps 1640 but had to return it (with no resistance from dell) because it was way to hot and therefore to noisy. Now this. I feel like this is the lesser of two evils, so I might just have to accept it.

 

I don't know UK laws but I seem to remember that many European countries guarantee consumers the right to return something within a specific time frame -- especially if it's defective, and that hard drive of yours might just as easily die as "settle in" in a few weeks. (Research noisy drives and you'll see that the prognosis isn't always good.)

And Sony's Outlet in the States sells returned "configure to order" computers all the time. Do the retail stores in the UK have clearance items like that? (I didn't see an "outlet" on the UK Sony site.) There's just no way that an unengraved computer has been "personalized".

Why not mosey around the 'Net to find out whom you might email in the UK in upper Sony management? Here's a press release with all the names of the new Sony reorganization: http://presscentre.sony.eu/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=336&NewsAreaID=2

Call or email the communications director (cf. the bottom of the press release) and ask to whom you can escalate a customer service return matter which appears to violate the posted policy, e.g. which customer care VP's office for the UK.

If that person's office won't look this up for you in their directory then, what the heck, email Kazuo Hirai or Sir Howard Stringer himself. Their staff will likely shoot your communication to an executive level customer care team that will speak with you.

Mention that you are considering buying a better model (FullHD screen), that you have a stuck pixel and a noisy, possibly defective hard drive...AND THAT DELL DIDN'T GIVE YOU A HASSLE WHEN YOU RETURNED THEIR COMPUTER TO BUY A SONY ONE AND YOU KNOW THAT SONY PRIDES ITSELF ON BETTER CUSTOMER CARE THAN DELL. You want to stay with Sony but you want to be a happy Sony customer with the right Sony computer.

Give it a whirl. From everything I have read on these blogs (and from a friend's experience), escalating to a higher level at Sony generally increases the chances of getting better customer care dramatically.

It isn't over till it's over. Give this strategy a whirl....

 

More for "joaomario":

Check this out:
The quote from "SSDVaio" in posting 67, mentioning using the 14-day return policy: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=312405&page=7 and posting 5693 here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4401966#post4401966 and posting 5810 here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4426705#post4426705 And see postings 59 and 60 here (which prove this is a UK configurable order): http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4335588#post4335588

So, it appears that "SSDVaio" has had occasion to either return or have a new replacement for one or more configurable Vaios (a Z in this case) IN THE UK.

Remember the earlier mantra: configurable does not equal individualized!

I suggest you send a private message to SSDVaio and ask for more information (names of the reps he worked with, etc.).

As the Jesuits say, "What man has done, man can do."

 

I had the exact same experience with the XPS 1640. I also thought the standard display on the Dell was much worse than the Sony. reading about the HD display, I may try to return it and get the HD. However, one big problem is that battery life will drop.

 

I ordered an FW 490 CTO with the following specifications:

* 16.4" widescreen with XBRITE-FullHD™ LCD technology (1920x1080)
* 320GB SATA Hard Disk Drive [7200 rpm]
* Large Capacity Battery
* WLAN (802.11a/b/g/n) with integrated Bluetooth® technology
* ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD4650 graphics card with 1GB vRAM
* Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9900 (3.06GHz)
* Blu-ray Disc™ playback
* Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium 64-bit
* 8GB DDR2-SDRAM (DDR2-800, 4GBx2)

I'm wondering two things:

1) Is there a car adapter that any one of you guys use that I can get for pretty cheap? I'm going on a road trip in a few weeks and want to take this guy with me (when ever I get it. I ordered it last Thursday, and it still hasn't shipped).

2) What laptop bags/messenger bags do you guys have that fit this guy? Could you give me any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

The Sony sleeve offers some protection (not great and it's not real tight, but does come with a nice bag for the power adapter).
Targus makes a nice one, reasonably priced, that I use and travel with.
May not be the most stylish in the world, but has performed well on several train trips and two cross-pacific flights.
http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=TCG200

 

Be sure to buy it on sale. It goes down to $30 or so at best buy alot and i'm sure its at other fine online retailers as well.

 

question: i just got my FW, and i have the 7200 RPM 320gb hard drive inside... i can hear the drive spinning... that's fine, its quiet as can be.
but what about the grinding it makes (like almost all hard drives) that it makes when looking for data or loading something? is there any way to reduce that sound?
i'm running a barebones windows 7 install (using whatever default drivers windows 7 found and the ATI video card drivers. nothing sony on here at all)
thanks.

 

"Grinding" is just NOT a word that should be found in descriptions of the functioning of "almost all hard drives". All my research on hard drive "sounds" on the Internet indicate that "grind" sounds are problematic and require expert evaluation. Usually, they indicate drive malfunctioning and ultimately result in crashes. I believe Hitachi used to offer a sound file site to help identify issues but the last time I tried the link it was no longer available on their server.

I repeat my advice from an earlier post: Identify the drive's manufacturer in the device manager and contact them concerning the normal sounds of the drive. Document the contact if the advice is "contact Sony" so that Sony may follow up with the manufacturer on your complaint, if need be.

 

funny. I went back and put vista on it.... and the drive decided to be quiet... i'm sure it was some sort of driver...

 

Anyone know if the 4650 in the FW4 series has been underclocked? I saw on another thread that it wasn't the standard setting and it lowered performance by 20%.

 

GPU-Z shows my GPU Clock at 450mhz and my Memory at 600mhz. Not sure what the specs are supposed to be, but thats where mine is. Model FW-468/J.

 

^
http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-4650.13883.0.html

Depending on the core clock (450-550MHz possible) and the used memory (DDR2, DDR3, GDDR3 with 600-800 MHz possible) the mobile 4650 can show a different performance. The current consumption of the chip alone ranges from 15-25W.


VGN-FW490 CTO

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8700 (2.53GHz)
Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium 64-bit
Black
4GB DDR2-SDRAM (DDR2-800, 2GBx2)
320GB SATA Hard Disk Drive [7200 rpm]
CD/DVD playback/burning
ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD4650 graphics card with 512MB
16.4" widescreen with XBRITE-ECO™ LCD technology (1600x900)
'
It's out the door at $952.

 

Wow, it looks like the standard specs are GPU 550mhz and memory at 800. That kind of stinks but I suppose I can bump it up myself. Thanks for looking.

 

Typically, noisy hard drives are BAD news. (especially clicking) I wouldn't assume that it's fine. My FW450 is completely quiet. Not even a hum.

 

I was messing around with the FW Series configuration on the Sony site and was wondering if the ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD4650 graphics card was DDR2, DDR3, or GDDR3. Thanks.

 

I'm wondering the same thing. Just ordered the FW490 CTO yesterday with teh ATI Radeon HD 4650 1GB RAM. Can anyone confirm that it comes with GDDR3/ DDR3 and not DDR2?

Also, what software do you guys recommend to test the 1080p screen for dead pixels?