Sony CW i3/i5/i7 Official Owners Thread

To all those that did a clean install on your CW27, did you partition your system C:\ drive apart from other partitions?
How many GBs did your system partition end up being?

 

I just kept one partition, seeing as how my SSD doesn't have too much space anyway. On my 500GB HDD on my previous CW, I had an 80GB C: partition and the rest was my data on the D: partition.

 

Thanks.

I was thinking of just shrinking the current C drive after I uninstalled the bloat, but even then it would be ~200 GBs.

 

Hi guys,

I just ordered the CW27 Jet Black Sony Vaio from Best Buy w/ the blu-ray player. Can somebody tell me which programs already installed on the laptop need uninstalled in order to speed it up?

Thanks,
Matt

 

Has anyone seen any BIOS updates? I don't even see any options for BIOS downloads on the Sony support page. Is there just none out yet?

That's kinda weird, there should have been at least 1 BIOS update since the CWs initial launch.

 

yeah there is no bios update since the release
i wonder if we can activate the switchable graphics supports

 

Just spotted the 21FX at buy.com
http://www.buy.com/prod/sony-vaio-v...4gb-500gb/q/loc/101/213753268.html?adid=17070

FYI

 

So my wife has seen the CW limited edition in pink, and its her new "must have" laptop. So, for our anniversary, I'm probably going to have to spring for one of these. She's not a power user by any means (currently she uses a Dell Inspiron 1521, 1.9Ghz AMD processor) so I'm thinking of just getting the base model i3-330M 2.13GHz.

 

what's up diggy/jason? This is darwin316 from 1000rr.net!

yeah, you're wife will love this laptop... my wife sure does and I even bought one for me!

 

What up dood!!! Been a while - you still got your RR? You know I'm on a cruiser now, but I have been looking around for a 2005 RC51 or another '04 1000RR. Yeah, from reading thru this thread, I think she's gonna like it (hell, she just likes that its pink and will have little flowers on it!)

 

Hello guys I'm serious considering getting Sony vaio cw26 in 2 weeks time

can you guys share how this Sony vaio perform on games like
gta4, cod 6, crysis, left4dead2 and fear 2?


Specs
i5core
4gb ddr3 ram
gt330m 512mb

Thanks

 

Hello,
I've got the cw27, same specs as yours.

GTA IV runs at 1366x768 resolution, medium and high settings, at 35+ fps.

I tested the bioshock demo, at high settings, and was getting 40+ fps. Left4dead2 is on my list to test tonight.

NFS:Undercover runs at everything max flawlessly, no lag, I didnt run fraps when I tested that last night.

I'll try crysis this week as well.

 

Received my cw27 Friday and have to say I absolutely love it. Thank you all for posting some great info on this forum, you guys are great! I'm new to gaming and was curious if anyone could recommend which program to go with for benchmarking my graphics card? Thanks.

 

3dmark06 is free and most people start with that one. Some games have benchmark programs as well, such as Crysis.

Then there is FRAPS, an app you download and run in the background that shows FPS during games and lets you record and do other things as well.

 

Just got my VPCCW2S1E. This thing comes full of crap!!
I'm copying my backups, and after that i'll switch HDD (have a Gskill Falcon) and clean install Windows 7.
Mine is i3 and GT330. Must do some benchmarks

 

Yeah man... I still got the RR. Didn't ride her much last year though... I've been more pre-occupied with the new M3 lately, lol.

I know you moved on to a cruiser...I'm not there yet, maybe when I'm a little bit older The RC51 would be nice though.

Funny, my wife wanted the pink one with flowers too, but I showed how much more she gets from the i5 CW at BB so she went ahead with a black one!

 

Can anyone tell me how to easily overclock the GPU? I know it's been mentioned that the GPU comes from the factory underclocked. I have the i5 330. Thanks!

 

EVGA precision is very simple to use but is proprietary to EVGA. You need an account with them to download it, which in turn means you need to have bought a product. You can download it....elsewhere... though, if your so inclined. Its the easiest software of the bunch.

Other than that I would recommend Rivatuner, the program that precision is based off of. Its very complicated though, careful when playing with settings in there, its very powerful in what it allows you to do to your gpu.

Then there is Nvidia System tools. You can download it from Nvidia.com for free right now. It integrates a overclocking profile into your basic Nvidia control panel.

 

I was using the sony nvidia drivers as they gave me the best 3dmark06 score from the ones that I tested and the nvidia tools does not integrate into the control panel. It installs an almost second control panel. Maybe I did it wrong though.

 

So I think my two favorite things about my CW27 is that it runs cool and quiet and the Synaptic TRACKPAD. Its so nice just to be able to two finger flick back and forward when surfing the web or looking at pictures. I went out and bought a Razer Orochi blue-tooth mouse before I got the laptop because I normally hate laptop pads. I used the Orochi on and off for 2 days and now just always use the built in trackpad.

 

Anyone ever hear of SGP? I was googling and found their site, they sell a screen protector for the cw here: http://www.sgpstore.com/product_info.php/cPath/23_37/products_id/1182

its kinda expensive but I'm pretty anal about the screen so I figured I'd give it a shot. Anyone know anything about these products?

 

wow! Thanks for the infor! Is that performance bases on a factory default clocked or a overclocked one?

This form is loaded with nice people

 

The 35 fps in GTA was with the GPU OC'd using nvidias tools, set to the values from notebookcheck. At default clock settings for everything, it got 29.x FPS at the same settings.

The other tests I did with default speeds.

I'm also using the stock drivers, going to try the dox drivers tonight and see if they make a difference.

 

Another thing... I play gta4 too. And I notice 512mb graphic card Cant set the graphic setting of the game to high because they say I didn't have enough gpu memory? Based on my desktop using ati 4870 512mb it's the case. How do you set to high since Sony vaio cw26 is using a 512mb version of gt330m?

Can you elaborate more on the "medium and high" settings you said earlier on gta4?

Thank you!

 

Here are two benchmarks, one with shadows on and one with shadows off, shadows made less than 1 fps difference, both are above 34 fps.

Statistics
Average FPS: 35.65
Duration: 37.45 sec
CPU Usage: 86%
System memory usage: 72%
Video memory usage: 93%

Graphics Settings
Video Mode: 1360 x 768 (59 Hz)
Texture Quality: Medium
Texture Filter Quality: High
View Distance: 25
Detail Distance: 37

Hardware
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M
Video Driver version: 195.62
Audio Adapter: Speaker/HP (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU M 520 @ 2.40GHz


----

Statistics
Average FPS: 34.58
Duration: 37.36 sec
CPU Usage: 87%
System memory usage: 67%
Video memory usage: 94%

Graphics Settings
Video Mode: 1360 x 768 (59 Hz)
Texture Quality: Medium
Texture Filter Quality: High
Shadow Quality: Medium
View Distance: 25
Detail Distance: 37

Hardware
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M
Video Driver version: 195.62
Audio Adapter: Speaker/HP (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU M 520 @ 2.40GHz

File ID: Benchmark.cli

 

Wow that's awesome
of you charger71! Thanks a lot!

so can it run gta4 texture quality at high instead of med? If possible what's the frame rates? Sorry to trouble you

 

I recently bought a CW27FX from BB and would like to confirm the "palm rest getting hot issue" confirmed. My palm rest on the right side gets a little hot, actually its more than a little hot, only on the right side. Is that normal and do you guys have the same issue and this is with the computer in my lap.
thoughts??

 

I just got my Jet Black CW27FX today from Best Buy. Is there any way at all to increase the volume for the blu-ray player? I can hardly hear it when it's completely on the max level. Is there anyway you could go in and change the settings around to get a louder volume? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

if u consider stock, u wud end up with 200 gb of c: drive.....

this is what i did:
1.do not install any softwares that you want to start with.
2.open the sony vaio recovery when you are booting...i.e instead of powering up with the power button, use the assist button.
3.Then, get the vaio to restore your c: drive
4.now again start and login to windows
5.You should be able to shrink your c: drive to 40gb onwards.
6. Now go ahead and create as many partitions you want of the remaining free space......

Chhers

 

I dont think there is a way to increase the vol up any more, volume was a known issue with this computer. It seems that you and I have the same machine type, whats your take on the palm rest getting hot, does yours do the same. I also noticed that my bluetooth automatically disappears from the system try with in about 10 min from start up.... it makes the same sound when you plug or unplug a usb device and disappears. I dont know whats the deal with that, I hope I dont have to get mine replaced as they are completely sold out.

 

As my post history clearly shows, I'm extremely nit-picky with my laptop. With that said, I can say without a doubt my CW27FX is cool as a cucumber.

In fact, it's cooler gaming than my Dell XPS 1340 while surfing the web.

This is overclocked to stock 330M numbers.

 

its not an issue with your comp alone but is an issue with most of us...........thers no solution available as yet but will post if anything comes up....

 

I hate to say, but mine doesnt get hot, even with OC'd GPU.

My last laptop cooked my lap and was uncomfortable after 20-30 minutes. Last night I played GTA IV for a little over 2 hours until i got the low battery warning, and I felt all around the laptop, it was warm, but not hot or uncomfortable at all. Nothing like my sager np8662 or studio xps 13 was.

I havent modified the fan settings at all, GPU temps show to be 40-55 degrees, averaging around 50.

 

Same here, I had the xps 1340 and it was uncomfortable after gaming, and my cw after hours of gaming is fine like yours.

I wonder if the OC tools modify fan settings?

 

No, high texture settings isnt available, I think like you said due to video ram.

 

The sound was also an issue with me when I got my CW. Unfortunately, you can't make it any louder.
I even changed it to the stock microsoft drivers and still not loud enough.
I couldn't stand it so I bought laptop speakers.
I grabbed these while they're still on sale ($10 off until March 13) from best buy.
http://tiny.cc/D2wyd
from BB's site: http://tiny.cc/w4WJl
My CW sounds awesome and I'm enjoying it more!

 

I haven't encountered any problems with the palm rest. Only problems I've noticed are that it didn't come with Sony Creative Suite and that the blu-ray volume is much lower than the normal volume while playing music in iTunes. Also, my laptop did freeze up yesterday and I had to turn it off and turn it back on, I'm still not quite sure what that was about.

Other than that, it has been great. The screen is very nice, google chrome is sweet, and it seems to be a very fast little laptop.

 

That's one factor why I am still considering other brand model. 1gb ram of gpu is kinda impt to me

of only cw provides that 1gb.... I would have had the decision made long ago

 

Which other model are you looking at? What benefits would the 1GB give you, other than possibly higher settings in GTA as an option? Everything else I've seen runs in high on the 512mb 330M.

 

acer aspire 5942g

i5core 430m
4gb ddr3ram
ati 5650 1gb
15.6"
native resolution 1366x768

in Singapore this model cost a dollar lesser than the sony vaio cw26 =x


Btw you are tested left4dead and crysis today alrdy? Let me know me results

 

Hello Guys,

I just bought my wife a new Indigo CW from Bestbuy.com last week. It's running pretty good. I did a clean install and installed Windows 7 Professional on it afterwards. I ended up not putting the Realtek drivers on it because to me the Microsoft ones do seem to be louder. Only issue that Im having though is that after I installed the synaptics touch drivers it seems to take the CW a little longer to start up. The windows screen splashes up then the screen goes to black for about 7 seconds and then the cursor shows up and windows logs on. But when I uninstall the Synaptic touch driver's pretty much right after the windows splash screen after boot up the cursor shows up and logs in. It's no major issue I just wish it was a bit quicker booting up. Im using the supplied sony synaptic drivers because believe it or not those were more up to date then the synaptic drivers on their website. Other than that everything is good.

 

I recently got my cw27fx from bb. Absolutely love it. Fast, cool, and quiet. However, the one problem i'm having is that a little while after startup the BTTray.exe (i think) pops up and says something about being unable to start stack service. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

Did you try Loudness Equalization?

Right click on the speaker on the system tray
Click "Sounds"
Click "Playback" Tab
Click "Speaker/HP" and then Properties
Click "Enhancements" tab
Scroll down the list and put a check mark on "Loudness Equalization"

The speakers should be louder now.

 

Got my laptop today, overall quite happy with it but two things that are bugging me

The screen has a mark on it (underneath the top layer of glass?) in the lower left corner. Now its only a slight mark but its still there. Wonder if they would replace it?

Also the wireless card dosent support 5ghz!

Everything else is perfect!

 

I have done a clean install, and installed nvidia drivers from sony site. But coolbits does nothing, and nvtweak also doesn't show tabs to overclock the gpu...
How do you guys OC your laptops?
Thanks

 

I did a clean install and I noticed the same issue with the loading screen goes black. Mine actually will flicker showing the Welcome screen to black a few times with it staying black at the longest about 12 seconds or so.

I uninstalled the Sony synaptics driver and installed the driver from the Synaptics website. It didn't fix the longish boot and screen blanking at the Welcome screen. But it did fix an unresponsive mouse after starting that the Sony synaptics driver had.

I really have no idea what the longish boot times are from. At some point during my clean install and driver installations I noticed this. I just cant remember which one now.

I too also removed the realtek driver. Is the Microsoft sound driver you talk about already installed? As in removing the realtek leaves it with the MS driver?

Thanks

 

Got the full version of BC2 up and running today.

It runs absolutely GREAT. 1600x900 Medium settings @ 60fps

 

I haven't tried any games on this yet...I'm loving the laptop so far. So much better than the first gen CW.

 

Hey thanks for the input.
Its checked already. I even installed the SRS Audio Sandbox.
The microsoft drivers are better than the Realtek but its still not loud for me though.
Just look at the speakers beneath the screen... very tiny, just two little rectangle speakers.
I guess that's the reason why the sound is unacceptable.
I even compared it to the NS series which had the longer rectangular speakers....
the CW sounded like an am transistor radio and super soft.
I hate plugging it to some desktop speakers but I needed to.

 

Thinking about getting this on the weekend. Can't wait. hope it runs well with cs4 and sony vegas


how is the noise on this laptop. my laptop now is 2 years old and gets noisy whenever im on skype or youtube or anything else lol.