Official VAIO Z Core 2 Duo Series Owners Thread

has anyone tested any modern games? what settings and fps? this looks like the most powerful 13'' I have seen.

But I wanna know what the 9300m really can do...

 

Don't expect too much out of the 9300m. It isn't a video card for gamers.

 

You can do it via Windows Update; with Vista Ultimate, there are a bunch of language "Extras" available for download.

 

That all depends on what you mean by "modern." Games like FEAR and Crysis? No. Games like Bioshock, Serious Sam, Doom 3? Yes, it plays them just fine. Of course, almost no games will play in the native resolution, so (at least on my Z690 with Vista Ultimate) the nVidia graphics centers the 1024 x 768 resolution on the display.

Oh, and if you'rethinking of gaming at all, make sure to get the fastest Hard Drive/storage solution you can; I got the 7200 RPM drive and it works fine, but I wouldn't suggest gaming with a 5400 RPM drive unless you've already read a reputable review stating that that specific model of drive has sufficient performance to support gaming.

 

i wouldn't encourage people to gaming on Z since the heat generates (using speed mode) is abnormal and its at red sign (90c and above temperature). but if gaming once in a awhile and not long hours gaming (e.g: few rounds in cs:s etc), it shouldn't harm the Z...

 

I listen to your advice. The T9900 is 35W while the P9700 is only 25W.

There is one thing I am still confused: I am going to buy a case for this laptop:
http://www1.jp.sonystyle.com/Qnavi/Product/VGP-CKZ2/

However, I was wondering where would I store the adapter, mouse... with that case. Do we need to have another case or bag? Or from your own experience, which case, bag is the best option for this vaio.

Thanks

 

Hi.

I really want to get one of these laptops but i would need it to be compatible with an external 30" dell3008 monitor with 2560x1600 pix. Ive been looking around and in most forums it says it wount work with the Vaio Z docking station, but then i found this:

http://www.magma.com/products/pciexpress/expressbox1/index.html

Will this box work with Vaio Z? Does it have the correct ports to connect to the magma express box?

 

Actually, the P9700 is 28W. That difference becomes significant in a laptop whose cooling can barely handle 25W. Anything above is too much, and will cause heat to accumulate, and the CPU to throttle.

P9500: 2.53 GHz, 2.67 in IDS (turbo) mode, 25 W TDP
P9600: 2.67 GHz, no IDS mode, 25 W TDP
P9700: 2.80 GHz, 2.93 in IDS mode, 28 W TDP

In bang-for-the-buck, go with the P9500. If running multi-threaded apps, the P9600 is slightly faster. The P9700 will likely overheat and throttle back to 6x speed, or 1.6 GHz, whenever you try to run it flat out for any length of time exceeding a few seconds.

 

Cool! I did not know this was available!!!! Thanks for passing on the information

 

The case is for the lappy only and it is a tight fit.

 

Running Guild Wars, Half-Life 2, and Portal in native resolution (1600x900), no overheating thus far. Titans Quest needs shadows and reflections reduced or else it's lagging. But I simply tried all those out of curiosity - no time for gaming lately and I'm not missing gaming at all.

 

From the japan sonystyle webpage, there are 4 types:

P8700 (+$0): 2.53Ghz
P8800 (+ $50) 2.66Ghz
P9700 (+ $50 + $150): 2.80Ghz
T9900 (+ $50 + $150 + $100): 3.06Ghz

I think I am going to get the P9700 cause it is 6Mb cache? Is this a good reason?

I am very excited about my new laptop. My friend who is working for Sony (Camera section though) can get one for me with 10% discount. So With that configuration, it would cost me about $2500. I think it's a good deal

 

does anyone know, when the new z's will be available in uk or us?
thanks

 

You should try the SR, its next refresh will include the hd4570 card, which score around >4000 in 3d marks 06. I'm not sure about the Z though, it would be the old 9300m gs imo

 

2 more weeks i think

 

The Z4 has the 9300m video card guys.

 

Ah. Japanese models are different. The Japanese Z has a stronger HSF assembly that can handle 10W more heat.

Of the above, yeah, I would go with the P9700 too.
But for American/European models, I look for a P9500/P9600 instead, due to the heat.

 

I have been playing X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I'm not sure what FPS though. My settings are, low detail mode, 1600x900 res. It runs pretty smoothly even on fight scenes.

 

It's definately not built/intended to be a gaming laptop, but it would be untrue to say that it won't play certain games - that aren't top-tier in graphics requirements - just fine, if not seemlessly. I don't know what processor you are referring to having heat issues, but my P8600 plays limited games just fine without anything even close to overheating. When I play, I usually play for 1-2 hours at a time, which would be plenty of time for it to overheat if it was going to. The left side of the keyboard gets only subtly warm, though the fan does go into high-speed mode and blow some pretty toasty air - but that's a sign that it's doing its job and keeping the inside cool. Care should be taken (especially when gaming) to ensure that the laptop is on a hard, smooth surface to ensure that no air vents are blocked.

Granted, it's just my experience - and you should note my configuration in my signature - it is important to note that heat issues vary quite a bit by processor.

 

available in uk
the extra battery is only larger capacity or also biger and weighter?
the tv tuner is true, because on uk's site there is anythink about analog or digital tv tuner and gps

 

It weighs a bit more due to the extra cells and it also sticks out a bit at the bottom.

 

mine is same cpu as yours, but really, when i switch to speed mode, the temp stay around 66 ~ 69c (using defauilt driver) in room temperature 24 ~ 25c. when im gaming (nfs prostreet) the temp is like the following (highest at 97c):


580.0 = GPU Core Clock [MHz]
702.0 = GPU Memory Clock [MHz]

2009-06-09 22:06:51 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:06:52 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:06:53 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:06:54 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:06:55 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:06:56 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:06:57 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:06:58 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:06:59 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:07:00 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:07:01 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:07:02 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:07:03 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:07:04 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:07:05 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 97.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:07:06 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:07:07 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

2009-06-09 22:07:08 , 580.0 , 702.0 , 96.0 ,

 

Yep, as was answered before, you can switch between languages easily...just need to log out. I'm switching languages quite often.

As for the games...I'm playing every evening without any overheating...the best looking games which run smoothly at native resolution (1600x900) with nice details for me are Gears of War, Mirrors Edge a FlatOut 2...very nice surprice I also enjoyed CoD 4 on lower resolution...

 

still nothink in usa

 

Of course, that's one of the things (besides longer life) that I like about the extended battery. It tilts the keyboard like my desktop keyboard and makes for more comfortable typing for me.

FYI, the amount it sticks out past the bottom of the laptop is 1/2 an inch.

 

some update. after installing Dox NVIDIA Hybrid driver, somehow the gpu clock is flexible. instead of using lvl 4 gpu clock which at 580mhz all the time (default driverr), now it varies depending on the environment im working with. now the idle/normal activities (e.g: documenting, mp3, movie etc) it will be at 55 ~ 57c. gaming, highest at 92c.

 

I believe that is the powermizer kickin in. Default drivers didnt have powermizer options/settings.

 

Thanks for the processor / heat data.

So, is the Z refresh this summer going to offer a faster processor that will run hotter (and therefore frequently slow down to slower than the P9600). If so, is there any reason in your opinion to wait for the refresh?

 

If they don't upgrade the HSF assembly, avoid the P9700. It'll almost certainly overheat and throttle unless you undervolt it, and as it is uses a half multiplier, you can't undervolt it with RMclock without dropping the speed to P9600 speeds. So what's the point?

However, if the new model comes with VT-x enabled (or enablable in the BIOS), it would be a Very Good Thing worth waiting for.

IMO, YMMV, and all that.

 

So, has anyone been able to get the 1600x900 resolution model to display any lower 16:9 resolutions yet? At least, without removing the Sony custom video driver (that allows switching between the video cards). This is important to run some of the more recent games smoothly. I posted this question months ago (way back at the beginning of this insanely long thread), but nobody had done it yet.

 

Hi All, I need your help on my question below:

I have just bought one Sony vaio Z - Model VGN-Z540 NCB( Series Nr: 3109242; PC Nr 28399382)- in Vietnam but it . My question is How can I know it is a real one or refurbished one? what site I can get information for this products?.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

I think sony should also add backlight keybord to new vaio z

 

Hey everyone,

I went to a sonystyle store today (USA) and talked to what seemed to me to be a fairly knowledgable representative. I asked him about a summer refresh for the Z in the US and he said that it would happen in 1 and a half months. What do you think? When do you think it will happen. Phil said in 1 or two weeks.

Thanks,
Thomas

 

i'm also waiting z to be available in usa. I think that one month is too late, in uk is since 2-3 days

 

is the analog and digital tv tuner true or not?

 

I'm confused... I thought the U.S. Z610, 620, 670 were the new refreshed models. These models have been out for a while. What's coming out after these new models?

 

thats the answer from sony usa

Thank you for contacting Sony Style, in regards to your inquiry, unfortunately we are unable to disclose upcoming product releases or related information upon request. As soon as announcements regarding new product introductions are made available to the public, they can be found at http://sony.com/news.

You may also visit www.sonystyle.com where the latest product information is often featured on the homepage.

 

Cautionary tale:

I have a VGN-Z590U, purchased new in February 2009 - in May the backlight started going out intermittently, not often, but when it went out, it would tend to go out again and again for hours. So, on May 25 or thereabouts, Sony Customer Care and I resolved to have an on-site technician perform a repair (this, after the third call to Sony, during the first two the customer support agents stubbornly maintained that I had a software issue....)

On Tuesday, May 25, the technician arrives at 2pm to repair my backlight, he leaves at 5pm with my notebook in pieces. On Wednesday a box arrives for me to ship the pieces back to Sony in, and I receive a call from the on-site company that they want to send another technician, I opt for the on-site repair and on Friday morning both techs arrive and spend the next 3 hours re-assembling my computer - which appears to work well when they leave.

On Thursday June 4, the keyboard stops working, reboot doesn't solve it, external (USB connected) keyboard works, internal touchpad and fingerprint reader work, just no keyboard. Friday morning, keyboard works again, but Monday June 8th the keyboard is not working all day, Sony customer support offers another on-site repair.....

On Wednesday June 10th, the same (first) on-site tech arrives again and works on replacing the keyboard from 8:45 until after noon - gives up and leaves with the keyboard and fingerprint reader working, but touchpad not working. So, now, that return to Sony box is going to come in handy after all... they promise 7 to 10 days turn-around time....

 

I wanted to restore my Sony Z only to find out that the first of my recovery DVDs hangs after about 3/4 of the installation.
Would anyone be kind enough burn a set for me? I'm happy to pay something for it (though not the outrageous 40 pounds Sony wants to charge me).
Location: UK
Thanks!

 

Hi,
Here is a Z71JB japanese version P9600, 4Go and vista64 sp2.
Sometimes when on stamina mode and battery i have the famous nvlddmkm.sys stopped working and my screen lost brightness setting after 1 second flash. Seems to be a part of nvidia driver but i am using the stamina mode.
Someone experience this? afraid of hardware issue.

 

Hey everyone! So I visited my sony store again and stared down every model. I never quite looked at the SR's before but they are catching my attention. Regardless though, My question remains with the Z.

I always thought the Z690 was the newest/best model, then i saw a 590 on display that for some reason had a FULL 1080P sticker on it. I inquired about it to the representative and he said the 590 was in fact the better model and had a 1920 x 1080 screen. I went to check on the laptop, and max resolution was 1600 x 900.... So what gives? Anyone please shed some light here?

 

The rep is lying and doesnt know what he is talking about.

 

Ouch. Sony support is horrible horrible. It reflects their company. They are quite arrogant. They make a good solid product with good engineering, but the marketing, branding, support, and overall tone is horrible. I get Sony products expecting to be my own customer support and I never deal with them. When there is an issue, they don't believe me.

In a perfect world you could get a Sony level product, with the support of Dell.

 

this morning i expected the nvlddmkm.sys driver stopped again... but seems that happen on battery and stamina mode. is this a driver issue?

 

I have a 32bit Z26 (2nd gen Oceania model) and I have had this problem. Though it happens most often (though only once every 20 times or so) when I use dynamic zooming in Adobe reader (CTRL and scroll on mouse pad). I have asked about this problem in the past, but that is the driver name that I couldn't remember...

I have experienced this problem on the SPEED mode, not yet on STAMINA. Not too sure whether I had the batt. on my lappie when this happened though. My screen starts flashing on and off, and I have to start task manager while the Z is lagging horribly. I end the adobe reader process, and the flashing stops and Vista says that the driver (above) stopped responding and has recovered. After that, Vista works normally, that is until I start using dynamic zoom with scanned pdf files again (note, happens with pdf files that have scanned images, less often on full digital pdf files).

Hopefully someone can comment on this. It seems to me to be a driver issue though. May I ask how and when you come across your graphics crash?


Also, I was wondering if it is possible if you could create a dual boot Z with the preinstalled Vista and the XP downgrade disc that it comes with? Has anyone tried it...?

Cheers in advance

 

Thanks for message,

Can you try to do this on Stamina and Battery mode. If it happen on the intel graphic card like mine it seems difficult to admit that the nvidia card is faulty. I read lot of post with the nvlddmkm.sys and so many were hardware issue related.
Since we can update to new drivers, stuck with old Sony one (even new z shipped with 74.49 version).
Mine happen only on stamina but randomly happen can experience the error like the one you explained. i will try to zoom on pdf file to see if occur.
Maybe driver update can resolve, hardware issue i think...

 

Just tried with both speed and stamina mode..and heavy scanned pdf file but nothing happened.
Strange that the nvidia driver stopped when using the intel graphic, try on stamina mode to see if the nvlddmkm issue happen?

 

Hi, can you tell me where you read these posts regarding this problem? I would like to check these reports out myself.

I have just tried it on the intel card (I only use the intel card these days, nvidia when I am doing CAD), and no problem. Likewise on the nvidia, I just tried the pdf method and it is not reoccuring. Maybe a random driver issue after all? I have had this problem occur completely randomly in the past (once, when I was using a MatLab calculation software. Come to think of it, my Z was running on battery (with the intel card I think)). I have contacted Sony support in the past regarding this, and as expected, they didn't give a helpful answer (said that I could try installing the XP version of the hybrid driver onto my Vista loaded system!!!?)

 

Hi,
It seems you experienced the same issue, on battery mode. Just worked for 2 hours on stamina and nothing happened...sometimes in librairie or office reading a mail and brightness go to full setting and driver stop.

I recently made all vaio update, include bios ( my z resumed from sleep), and i had this issue before all update.

U can find so many people with the same issue, and it s a old common problem like
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=35312
http://blog.stevex.net/index.php/2007/03/01/display-driver-stopped-responding-and-has-recovered/

And on Dell forum, this issue is often related to a faulty Nvidia card.

 

Thanks. Yes I tried all that. The TV (LG LCD) has 4 HDMI inputs and I have several HDMI cables, tried all of them. Even tried it in a plasma I have with one HDMI input. Spoke to Sony FINALLY they said they'd send someone to pick it up and take it to their workshop!!!

I said, hang on this is 3 weeks old and you're taking it away??? I can take it back the store and get a full refund. So, I am afraid guys I have to let it go. It has been pretty poor and Sony's reponse even worse. At least the storehas been fine about it all. (Want your money back mate?)