Official Vaio Pro 13 Owners Lounge (SVP13 2013)

Ok Sony have replied to my email and asked me to create a video showing them the problem.

Unfortunately, my mobile phone didn't pick up the sound particularly well, but you can certainly hear it if you turn your volume up.

Notice how the buzzing gets louder, when I close the google window.



Are any of you guys getting anything similar?

I have also directed them to this thread, to show that I am not the only one experiencing this problem.

 

Here's my "dot matrix printer"
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22955633/sony.wma
(sorry about the fan, I'll try to record without it when it gets colder)

Without the fan:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22955633/sony2.wma
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22955633/sony3.wma

 

The latest WiFi update 16.1.3.1 performs worse than the previous one which is the 16.0.4.

 

blimey. like mine but louder. has yours happened since the bios update? have you contacted sony about it yet?

I'm thinking if enough of us kick up a fuss, they're more likely to sort it out.

 

I've the same things, i'm crazzzzzy !

 

email sony then (if you haven't already) . They need to be aware this is a widespread problem. I wish I hadn't even don't the BIOS update. the fan noise didn't bother me that much. I just like to be up to date.

 

I want sony to fix this problem. Should I will send it to sony's technicien ? I'm etudiant and I need my laptop in two weeks.

 

yeah. email them anyway. being as it only started after a bios update, they might be able to issue an update for it, or let us roll back to the original bios. just send a message to [email protected] and at least let them know of the problem.

 

I feel I had this problem on my pro before but it seems to have gone away now, not sure if the bios update helped or other updates, but it wasn't that loud as you guys have it, it was more evident when I scrolled in a browser window with my mouse.

So I am guessing this sound appeared after the new bios update?

 

I have this pitch noise before too but not louder like this. It's probably the bios update, i'll call sony's store (french) tomorow.

 

Hi!

Local computer store got Pro 13 with Windows 8. I am going to need Hyper-V for programming Windows Phone stuff. (emulator needs it, and only Windows 8 pro includes it). If I upgrade Windows 8 to Pro with license number from amazon.com, do I lost some Sony Vaio's pre-installed software or control-panels.

Somewhere was text "if Pro Pack is installed you lose access to Pre installed software that can be installed from Windows Store".

One solution is to order Pro 13 with "factory installed" Windows Pro, but this shipping can take couple of days or even week(s).

In other words has anyone upgraded Windows to Pro with product key and what then happened to Vaio specific software. For example if I lost place where to adjust fan speed profile, or is these add-ons still in use.

Thank you,
Harri from Finland.

 

It certainly did for me. No noise at all for me before this bios update.

Lots of noise after

 

Before the latest updates, I could eliminate the high-pitch noise by disabling the Bluetooth device in the device manager. After the updates, the high-pitch noise remains even when I disable the Bluetooth device.

There must be some noisy power-related components in the Pro 13. It's an extremely annoying problem!

 

Exactly the same here. Although mine seems directly related to what's shown on the screen. As is evident in my video.

I am awaiting a response from Sony but I think the more of us that make a complaint to them, the more chance they'll work on a fix for it!

 

I believe it's a hardware problem - they're using some power-related components that buzz under certain power consumption scenarios, and these scenarios may vary from unit to unit. The real fix would be to replace these components with ones that don't make this noise...

 

Well that's what they need to do then. I'm not happy with it as it

 

I called Sony support, but they have no information about this problem. They offered to let me send it in for service, but I don't want to do that. I said I would be ok with an exchange, but they didn't agree to do that. They also said they could send a technician, but only if they already knew what part to replace, and they don't have any information on how to fix this problem.

I'd return it for a refund if I was within the first month after purchase, but it has been two months.

Not sure what you can do unless you want to send the unit to them for "service". I feel that I'm better off living with it at this point, and maybe do something further about it in the future if and when they figure out what's going on and how to deal with it.

 

The high pitch sound is not audible if you for example play a video (applies also when video is in background), sounds muted. It starts immediately when I hit pause and goes away when playing again. Is it be related to higher power consumption -> components work properly?

 

Yes. When unused, components go into power saving mode which changes the power consumption of the device, and this can cause power-related components to start vibrating at an audible frequency.

 

Ok, so today I recived my Vaio Pro 13, one day earlier than they said. At first I was so dissapointed, thought I would give it back. But I took care of it and am very sattisfied

Maybe tommorow I'll tetl you more, maybe some kind of tutorial but I ensure you It's a lot better than it was. Tommorow I'm planning clean install but even now I solved every problem.

For getting rid of fun noise I recommend to uninstall McAfee and to disable Indexing ( my computer, right on drive C, preferences, untick indexing service - this service is used for a regular hdd, ssd doesn't need it) After this it's a lot better. I also unistalled few programs. Effects ? When browsing what I hear is silence, when watching 1080p from 8GB file fun is herable but I can accept this ( it's maybe 40%-55% of speed). It was tested when laptop was in balanced power mode. In vaio app fan was't set to silence but standart.

Everything after Bios update and wifi drivers too.

What about wifi. On new drivers I doubled the range bar. What's strange for me, 5Ghz works a lot better than 2,4 Ghz in every conditions. My download rate is 30Mb/s (my operators maximum) so that's good for me.

Give me more time and will tell you more

PS. I belive than clean install can give you even more satisfaction, our problems are caused by programs delivered for trial usage, you don't need them but you have them running in the background. Get rid of what you don't need or do clean install.

 

Just returned my second vaio pro 13, i7 8gb 128ssd version. The first one was sent back because the F1 key popped off in the first few days. The second one I sent back because it came out of the sealed box with scratches all over the lid, and seemed to have issues with drivers getting corrupted (keyboard and trackpad drivers stopped working and had to utilize windows restore points to restore functionality). Not sure if I am going to try for a third one...

 

I wonder why it only started doing it since the bios update?

 

They must have changed some settings related to power management in the latest update. They probably did it as part of their effort to reduce the need for spinning up the fan.

 

To fix high pitch noise just disable the USB selective suspend setting from the power options.

 

Is there any possible way I can return to the pervious bios software?

 

Or perhaps also (and maybe even better) Sony should take out the fan with too tiny blades and put in a fan that works good enough without having to spin so rapidly (and thus making so much unnecessary loud noise) - and perhaps first of all: changing the thermal setting: making instead a temperature setting that doesn't allow the fan kick in at so low temperature as now is the case. But again: The description and pictures of the fan in use in the Pro does not convince me that it is a good choice of fan, In other words: It should be replaced with a more effective and much less noisy fan.

 

maybe after that pigs will start flying - more likely than Sony doing any of this as much as we wish they would....

 

The problem that mr_mitch85 and I are talking about is electrical noise, not fan noise.

 

Yes. I just downgraded my BIOS to the previous version. With this older version, you can get rid of the electrical noise by disabling Bluetooth.

 

Yes, I am aware of the fact the these are two different problems. There is 1) a problem with electrical noise, AND there is 2) a fan noise.

I am afraid this doesn't make the machine any better... with regard to unacceptable noise.

 

where did you obtain this bios version? do you have a link?

 

I agree. I'm disappointed with Sony on this one. Luckily, I can eliminate the electrical noise by using the older BIOS with Bluetooth disabled. The occasional loud fan noise doesn't bother me as much as the electrical noise did. The electrical noise was driving me nuts.

 

exactly same here. Fan noise I can live with. intermittent buzzing, I can't!

if you could let me know how you rolled back the bios, I would be eternally grateful

 

I still had it saved from the previous BIOS update I did. It was a pain because (stupidly) their BIOS update program doesn't let you downgrade to a previous version, but I found a way around that. Pretty annoyed with all the time I had to waste getting nowhere with their clueless support, and then having to figure out a way to go back to the previous BIOS.

 

sorry to sound cheeky but is there any chance you could send it to me, if I gave you my email or something?

 

I don't really want to start distributing BIOS downgrades... Sony should be doing that. Can you call them and ask for it? Alternatively, if you did a BIOS upgrade on your Pro 13 before, then I can tell you how to go back to that one, but I don't want to distribute the code/images.

 

ok - thanks anyway - I'm not sure whether or not I previously performed a BIOS upgrade.

I'll be in touch with Sony again anyway. It's ridiculous that we have to go through all of this, just to get a useable machine. Totally unacceptable for the cost of the machine.

 

It's easy to check - take a look at the C:\Update directory. Do you have more than one directory starting with "AEBSYS"?

 

Thanks for replying! I didn't know there were presets for sound quality. I stream music via youtube so clearaudio for music sounds terrible but for video sounds great. I don't know if that maybe the clear cause of it but it certainly helped.

Thanks again

 

OHHH thanks I'll stay with my stupid noise who make me crazy untill sony fix it.

 

Posted this already earlier but seems like nobody noticed:

To fix high pitch noise just disable the "USB selective suspend setting" under "USB settings" from the Power options. At least works for me...

 

Does this work for you with the new BIOS that just came out? Do you also disable Bluetooth?

 

Yes, I have the latest BIOS version R1021V7. Bluetooth is usually disabled unless I really need it. I could not hear the noise even when BT enabled and connected to N9.

 

Ok, I just tried this with the latest BIOS, and it stopped the noise. That's excellent - thanks!

It's funny how we need to disable different things for different versions of the BIOS to get around these noisy power components that Sony is using.

 

That's it. Thank you!
At least this explains why the sound comes from the right side of the notebook. I had the idea that the hdmi port could cause it, but not the usb ports. Never heard of something like that.

 

oh wow. thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if I put my ear right u to my laptop, I can still hear it quietly. but its like a million times better!

thank you thank you thank you!

 

I try to disable USB Settings and now it is better, but if I put my ear left to my laptop, next to the Assit button i can still hear it too but millions times better too, so thanks !!

 

Got mine yesterday after w8ting 14 days (ordered black/i7/8gb/256/non-t on 12.08 and it had to be assembled in China).

First of all - thx for the SORRYAUG13 - saved me few hundred euros

As to my brand new Sony Vaio:

I was amazed how smooth and sharp it looks, also lightness is incredible - I was really excited to turn it on.

From beginning I had serious wi-fi issues (like 0,8-2,5mbps instead of 60mbps possible, dropping connection etc.) but after i managed to install all updates (both windows and sony vaio updates + bios) all problems disappeared

I have disabled nfc/bT coz wont be using it anyways so maybe it helped me, maybe not, but now i get stable 55/58mbps which almost tops the scale on my WAN.

Also small info for Gamers: in opposite to what I expected, games I tried worked quite smooth - diablo3 is totally playable, Medal of Honor in 1280x760 + some of details set on high as well, sims 3 for my little girl works fine, even in native 1920x1080 res.

Sony is blazing fast, already tried SPSS 21, works really fast. Also the overall experience after all updates is awesome and really smooth. Win8 requires some time to adjust, but i don't consider it as a con (it was the same when i up'ed XP to Win7).

I was also quite scared abt. the high pitch noise and in my opinion:
Save max battery plan - sony is dead silence, even when streaming HBO GO
Max performance plan + playing MoH - sound is audible, yet most acceptable, no high pitch noise noted, although sony got a big hot at the upper left corner + upper middle when held on knees (not like impossible to deal with, but definitely quite hot).

In the end - i would totaly recommend this beautiful machine to any1

Best regards from Poland!

 

I try to disable USB Settings and now it is better, but if I put my ear left to my laptop, next to the Assit button i can still hear it too but millions times better too, so thanks !!

 

Ahhhh i can hear again this stupid noise when I close a windows or something like that, I call sony, the women will talk with technicien and call me tomorow.