Official Vaio Pro 13 Owners Lounge (SVP13 2013)

I recently purchased the i3-4010 version of this laptop. In the beginning I was shocked because the fan was almost constantly on maximum level. After installing all updates and upgraded Windows to 8.1 the fan almost never comes on.
A quick wifi test showed that the signal strength comparable with an external wifi-usb-adapter on both 5 ghz and 2,4 ghz but it's very unstable. Signals with less than -75dB keep breaking off sometimes. Can't say yet how this will influence real life performance.


1) Build quality is very good. I prefer it to those thin alu unibodies (macbook air, samsung series 9,..). The flex is very minimal. If you type lightly there is none, if you press hard in the middle of the keyboard it will flex about 1mm but thats less than my 6 year old Dell Laptop!
2) I don't think the performance is much less than the i5 version (frequenzy is the same anyways), but I haven't done much testing yet. It certainly feels much faster than my 6 year old Laptop which had a 1,8Ghz core2duo cpu (also with ssd). I can run some tests if you have any requests. 3D Gaming is probably a no go with any version.

 

How is WiFi reception with Win7 (SVP1321HGXBI)?

 

Well there isn't "much" to refresh except for the faulty WiFi and the mediocre fan system. Unless they want to do a whole exterior design rework, which seems unlikely.

Announcing a refresh to the series, with the only changes being; fixes to the above mentioned problems, might get them in trouble. The move might be seen as a public statement, acknowledging that the current Sony Vaio Pro series is faulty. Then consumers might flood back with their faulty laptops (regardless if the issues are bothering them or not), demanding a hardware fix (which is the likely solution to the problems) or demanding the newly released laptop. Either option is way to expensive for Sony. Also releasing a new laptops during the last weak of December or in the beginning of the year isn't a very smart move.

But hey, who knows, I am just speculating. I would guess that we can expect a refresh around late Q1 2014, if any. Personally, I hope that they will just make the proper hardware adjustments to the WiFi, fan system and keep the price as it is. After all, with the current free SSD and RAM upgrades, who wouldn't want it for that price?

 

This is getting pretty annoying...I have definitely turned off Intel Smart Connect Technology. This morning when I went to open my laptop, having closed the lid last night and therefore put it to sleep, the green power button was on suggesting that it had been woken up at some stage! Anyone any more suggestions?!

 

I'd appreciate any help here. I've been unable to find out which version of the Intel Management Engine Interface (MEI) I need for my Pro 13. There are so many: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Se..., 64-bit*&DownloadType= Drivers

Could anyone point me in the right direction please?

Thanks!

 

Does anyone know if it is advisable to buy the official vaio pro vga-hdmi adaptor for connecting to a monitor? There are plenty of cheaper versions which aren't sony official - will they be inferior? Thanks!

 

I assume you meant you saw the green button before opening the Lid?

Check your task window and see if there is an Intel Smart Connect Technology running. If so, right click to Exit the program. Then go to Task Manager, 'Startup’ Tab, highlight 'ISCT SysTray' and click Disable.

If you don't have it running in task window, go to Device Manager, Right click Wireless Adapter, Properties, Power Management and disable "allow this device to wake up the computer!!". That should solve the mystery.

You may also check from your event viewer, Windows Logs, under Application and System to find out what programs are running during that time frame.

 

Does anyone else have a beeping noise? The sound resembles a processing noise and I suspect it might be the hard drive. Any fixes or diagnostics would be helpful.

Thanks

 

disable usb selective suspend in power management will fix this !

 

Yeah I noticed it also....is it realy a crack?

EDIT: I checked again and i dont think its a crack!

 

The problem is still here

 

It's the cpu switching energy states or frequency. It's a known "problem" that existed already on older mobile cpus. The SSD can't make any sound.

 

Cannot agree. Every SSD i tested was making some sounds - mostly when data was written.

 

Which case do you guys use?

 

I've been getting issues with an update, I think. Seems like after updating the pointing driver I keep on getting ghost right clicks every 5 seconds or so. Killing the synaptics pointer helper fixes the issue. Anyone else having this issue?

 

Are there more people having this issue? (see pictures)

In my case it cause problems with the touchpad. Because the plastic and metal are not properly attached, my trackpad feels loose and has dead zones.

 

HALP!!

I upgraded to windows 8.1 but after upgrading to 8.1, got a BIOS update that says it need to be installed before upgrading to windows 8.1.

I have no idea what to do or how to "rollback to windows 8", as the Sony rep suggested. After launching the computer using the assist button, I can recover my computer, to windows 8.1, no option to windows 8. Any ideas?

Also, i can't seem to be able to install Wifi driver 16.6.0.8 because I'm on windows 8.1 rather than 8. Because of that, my WiFi is terrible right now, it crashes a lot, forcing me to restart my computer so that the adapter works (the charms bar won't react if clicking or tapping on the WiFi icon when this happens).

Before I upgraded, I installed all updates from VAIO Update and VAIO Care, yet afterwards, got the BIOS update, which I'm afraid to do now.

Also, whenever I start the PC,the start tiles are big, but if I wake her up, the tiles are smaller, and the resolution or scaling has changed. This is really odd, and fairly annoying that my tiles move around.

Please help.

 

Do the bios update, I did it after since Sony recommended if after I did the update. Worked for me.

 

I have the same issue. It just randomly starts every few days and the laptop keeps right-clicking. First I thought it was by Logitech mouse, but it also happens with no mouse attached.

 

Worked for me, too.

 

Earlier there was a post mentioning a fix to the sound issue and my guess is that the sound I was trying to describe was actually within the USB. I say that because the person who mentioned the fix actually solved the problem I had.

It worked for me, sorry to hear.

 

Questions for those who downgraded to Win7 (my pro13 is mate so win7 is best for it).
- Brightness is still adjusting itself even that auto is turned off from Vaio Control Center . Is only me or it is happening to other persons too ?

- WiFi works sometime perfect and sometime it crap .. I get close to router and start being good but I need it to be constant so .... any fix for win7 ?

For downgrade drivers I'm using these from 01 Oct 2013 listed here at download section Support for SVP13213CG : VAIO® Pro 11/13 : VAIO&reg Notebook & Computer : Sony Asia Pacific

 

Hi guys,
what do you think about a Vaio Pro 13 with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD at about 900€? (i3 CPU)
I'm taking advantage of free RAM and SSD upgrade.

I'm worried about wifi issues and throttling.

Thanks.

 

Since you are already getting free upgrade for ram as well as SSD , may be you should consider an i5 (shouldnt cost you too much i think). Just my 2 cents

 

Wifi issue still exists. 15 meters from AP, RSSI -70dBm and download is 20x slower than SVP13 with external Belkin N300 dongle, provided by Sony as a free temporary solution.

 

True, Wifi is not optimal - but I honestly have not had a situation where it dropped, nor where it was unworkable in 6 hotels, 5 airports, several coffee shops and around my 3 level house with a router in the basement. Again, not as speedy as my other laptops - but it "works".

 

Did you just contact the sony service and they sent you one? What did you have to do?

 

I called my local Sony support and after a standard procedure (updating drivers, patches, other software "solutions) they sent me the dongle. They confirmed that wifi problem is still not solved. BTW - I have read that they offer exactly the same dongles for VAIO Duo and Fit owners which suggests that the whole VAIO line is affected.

I have read enough testimonies that wifi in SVP13 is OK. Good for you, but not for me and for everyone, who used to work in mobile conditions with some older equipment and suddenly the new hiper top ultrabook from Sony just cannot provide reliable and fast wifi connection.

The dongle sticks out and is ugly. It is meant to be "temporary solution" as Sony keeps saying.

One thought more - there is no "dropping connection" issue in SVP13 since 16.x Intel drivers. That has been solved. The problem is wifi range - reliable near a router with a strong signal, but painfully slow otherwise.

SVP13 with internal wifi card:


SVP13 with external dongle:

 

Guys,
thank you all for the replies. I'll make my mind about this ultrabook and then decide.

@calzone123: with my actual configuration (Sony Vaio SZ4 with Intel 3945 wifi card) I am in this situation:

iwlist wlan0 scanning
wlan0 Scan completed : Cell 01 Channel:6 Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6) Quality=59/70 Signal level=-51 dBm

and, of course, I have no troubles whatsoever with my connection.

Do you think you can make a comparison with your Vaio Pro between the two wifi cards and then post some results, having those values of signal level?
Thanks

 

I bought mine about 2 month ago , and really I don't have any problem with my wifi comparing to other laptops or smart phones that I have , I'm traveling a lot and tested it with different network and never face any problem ?? may this related to selected models ??

 

@caurusapulus, -51 dBm signal is VERY good and a SVP13 will behave just as good as any other laptop in those conditions. Real problems start at about -65 dBm and lower signal levels. I made myself many tests and have seen many other reliable tests with quantitative data (from Sony Community).

Quantitative data is all that matters for a reliable and proper judgement. "Never facing any problem" is just an opinion, as well as "wifi is completely useless". I bought the SVP13 because I trusted opinions and never saw actual data. But thankfully I have a written confirmation from Sony that I can return the laptop if they do not fix wifi issue pemanently. That was my condition to accept wifi dongle, not to return it earlier (my 30-days period just ended) and wait a little longer for a permanent fix.

 

At what signal strength where these?

Did some more Wifi testing myself. Signal strength was in average -60dBm (changing between -55 and -68) on both the vaio and a different notebook (3-5 year old Lenovo T60, signal strength was more stable at -60dBm here) as "reference".
The vaio got about 13MBit/s the reference notebook 21MBit/s. Using 5 GHz on the vaio instead (same signal strength) resulted in 23MBit/s.

I guess it's not as bad as some people described here. Maybe it's just a faulty batch? I got mine a week ago.

 

My tests were done at -70 dBm (averaged).
5 GHz seems a lot better in SVP13 than 2.4 GHz. as many other tests demonstrated.

And, the data is neither good or bad. Just as it is. Faulty batch is not likely the case - Sony would recomended exchange for newer models. Actually, they used to do it some 2 months ago, but all the owners who received replacements proved no change.

Now Sony sends external USB wifi cards. I think this is costly and kind of embarassing to them. Why would they do that, if everything is all right or the problem concerns just some faulty batch?

 

Thanks for your answer calzone123

 

I've had this issue from time to time, I thought it was possibly a hardware issue as mine seems to go after I give the trackpad a little massage. I will look into the drivers thing though.

 

Been lurking for a couple of months since buying now because I was too lazt to sign up. Finally bit the bullet because thought I had to share.

The annoying switch Metro app when coming from the left hand side of the touchpad can be disabled in the trackpad settings in the VAIO Control Center.
The right click in the bottom right hand corner of the trackpad can be disabled like this so that it's like the trackpad on my MacBook.
With these small changes I'm in love with it, and Windows 8.1 is without a doubt the favourite OS I've used, just a shame that Microsoft haven't even updated their own apps for Metro compatibility.

I'm also gonna try calling Sony tomorrow and see if I can get one of the dongles. I do notice some slowness at times when upstairs.

 

I took the plunge a couple of days ago and love the machine and am learning 8.1. My biggest concern is of course the wifi. I have a 6 year old Dell Latitude D830 that still works fine but at Core Duo and 7 lbs it needed a replacement. I tested the wifi with ookla for both wireless at 1 room away +/- 30 feet and 1 wall and had for Dell a ping of 32, dl of 5mbs and ul of .89mbs. The Sony was Ping 33,dl of 1.1mbs and ul of .88mbs. When I tested 2 feet from the router the Sony came up to the Dell numbers and the Dell stayed the same. Is the 1.1 vs 5 difference what everyone is upset about. I don't know how to find out my signal strength. I am going to check with my provider tomorrow to see what I should be getting. How do you check signal strength.
I bought at a Future Shop (owned by Best Buy) in Canada so don't know if I can get the temporary dongle but I don't have an outlet where I sit 30 feet away anyway.

I downloaded a movie at 700 meg in 25 minutes at +/- 500 kbs which seems to be about what the Dell was doing even though the speed test showed a 500% difference. ???

 

Windows only gives you a 1 to 5 rating of the signal strength, you'd need to download an app for it. I just use one on my Android phone because it's easier.
And yes, that's exactly what everyone's getting upset about.
If you speak to Sony support, I don't think it should make a difference where you bought it from.

 

I've just noticed, silver version is not available anymore in configurator in Poland or UK.

 

Sony have just posted an updated Collaborative Processor Performance Control (CPPC) driver version 1.0.0.1015 to their UK update site.

I am guessing that this is to help fix the reported situation where the i5 and i7 models end up performing the same due a lack of turbo on the i7?

 

HELP!

I have tried doing both of the above and I still have this problem. I closed over my laptop before I went to work and it went into sleep mode. I come back tonight at 8pm and the green light is on suggesting it has been woken from sleep! How do I go about working out what is doing this?!

 

I had it happen as well even after turning off smart connect technology. I tuned off the wake timers in power settings and disabled the ability of keyboard and mouse to wake up the system. Now it no long appears to happen.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

Thanks RW . I talked to Sony Canada (In Phillipines) today and after they check my Pro have agreed to send me a dongle as the "Temporary" fix. Once they fix the poor Wifi I'm sure we will be sent anew Wifi card and local reinstall. I am sure it isn't motherboard related but I also don't think software upgrades or BIOS upgrades are going to fix it.

 

Just bought laptop. Updated drivers, bios and windows 8.1. But there is a problem with touchpad 'click on touch' some times does not work (may be 1 out of 10 clicks work). Are any solutions for this?

 

Clicking by touch only works in the middle area. Clicking by pressing only works on the bottom area. Check the synaptics touchpad driver, you can change it there.

 

So without having to go through all 250 pages, has anyone installed an AC wifi module in the Pro?

Also, I read the last few pages and noticed a lot of people having issues with wifi. For those of you experiencing issues, you may want to buy a USB to Ethernet adapter from a local electronics store. It's Plug N Play. The speed of USB 2.0 is rated at 80Mbps, so using a USB 2.0 port will not cause any kind of bottleneck in the bandwidth. This way there is a backup way to connect, and it can be effective while trying to fix the wifi issue.

 

Yes, there have been some people who installed an AC card and have been happy with that.
Also, no need to buy an adaptor (unless you specifically want a ethernet connection), Sony are offering USB WiFi adapters to complainers as a 'temporary fix'.

 

I ordered AC adapter.. My flip is in production.. Anybody ordered AC adapter ?? Experience ?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

This is not a flip thread.

 

You Could upgrade your wifi card from N to AC like I did. : http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony-owners-lounge-forum/720737-official-vaio-pro-13-owners-lounge-svp13-2013-a-221.html#post9423945

Guide to FIX wifi issues