Sony Vaio CB Official Owners' Thread

Hey guys i didnt see any bios update in vaio updater... My model is cb15fg.. Also there is nothing about bios on official website for this model..

 

not yet released on asian models... i haven't see too,might be a weeks or so

 

any issues after the install? Like the keyboard backlight issue we first experienced on the hacked BIOS?

Do we need to re-install any libraries/drivers/software after getting our BIOS updated to the 'correct' latest version for our CB's?

 

I am in that situation (no hacked bios), and today I made battery calibration from 100% in Balanced Mode of Win7 with no suspend or LED off....

The accuracy was 3:40h and will compare with the BIOS and ATI Radeon driver upgrade

 

Done and the screenshot of upgrade...

Now I'm afraid about Radeon driver update because of lot of problems many people had in the past with OpenGL games, etc and so I don`t ever had.

Well, until my next calibration (december) i guess I make the graphics update!

 

Nothing had to be reinstalled and everything is working just fine.

My only question is was it normal for the .bat file to update the bios and not require me to reboot the machine? If not, then it went perfectly fine with no problems over the initial hacked bios.

Anyone?

 

nope. it should not be asking you to restart

 

@red
can you completely turn off the backlight of the keyboard?

 

I have a VPCCB17FG . I had updated the Bios with that hacked Bios . Current Bios version of my laptop is R1101V2 .

Can, i now update the Bios using the update provided by Sony ?

 

Sorry but I don't understand why all of you want to update your BIOS again just because its "official" ? Its the same thing basically and you won't notice a difference. Also the "unofficial" BIOS update you guys installed was also by Sony and not by some third party website/modder.

Just curious to know why the excitement

 

true.. i'm curious too

 

It's like choosing between a pirated software and original software. no difference, yes, but it's better to be legal right??

sony "might" void my 2year warranty if they find out my bios is not official, but as per scooby, hacked bios wont void the warranty

i just want to be on the official/legal side, that's all

im thankful to alex by the way

 

Exactly! But the thing is the BIOS you guys have hacked in is not pirated but issued by Sony. If you used a non Sony BIOS then yes warranty may be void. But that is not the case

 

hmm, i could say mostly in asia even when you put a single ram, and break sony "seal" it counts, you're breaking the warranty...

 

@MSSXXI could you see the diff in ur ccc..

 

Just upgrade BIOS, not yet the ATI RADEON in my case is CCC 11.5 ocl drivers actually

4 images speak more than...





Nice weekend

 

Is it the same thing? If so, why did we lose keyboard backlight functionality? Why did someone have to hack drivers for us to install?

I would like to install the 'official' BIOS to know that I have a stable and fully functional system. I have already experienced one BSOD which I never had before installing the hacked BIOS and drivers.

Don't take this as me not being thankful to the fine folks who have done the work for us. I am very grateful. But now that we have an official BIOS which achieves what we were originally seeking, it makes complete sense to try and get our system back to 'stock' so to say.

With the hacked BIOS I assume all other updates from Sony will fail because of the version mismatch, right? Just another reason it would be nice to get an 'official' BIOS.

 

I agree with WWWScoobyDo.

So did anyone upgraded from hacked bios to official bios?

 

@all of you worried about bios

1. Now when Sony released official bios for C1 series you always can reflash your bios back and forward, all you need is extracted bios to avoid model check.
2. Bios in no way hacked, it is just extracted. It is a big difference.
3. Any bios released by Sony for CA/CB series will work on any C series model. So you can ask why Sony does not offer the latest bios from C3 series for C1. The thing is the preloaded software problem. Once you restore to factory defaults pc should be functional straight away. Sony cannot apologize and ask you to reinstall utilities to reenable backlit keyboard. But they can improve functionality in the next series and preload the new software to work with it. So if you are lazy enough to do fresh install and Sony counts on that then you will be restricted to Sony grace. But if you are smart enough and need some new functionalities enabled with new bios release you must make some additional moves to get them.
Let's say C3 series bios reallocates resources to improve sound quality. All could benefit from that but some people can be too lazy and start complaining that after new bios update they must update all notebook utilities and even audio driver each time they restore to factory defaults. Do you copy?
All series have basically the same hardware except wireless and Bluetooth adapters. The difference is on preloaded software level.

So I repeat: if you do not need some new functionalities for backlit keyboard enabled with later series bios releases (like keyboard backlit is always on/off, better sound quality) you can sure reflash your bios to match your pc series. If the case is opposite it is the best to go for the fresh install and use drivers and software released for the next series.

You cannot damage your pc by using Sony released bios in any way. Sony just cares to make as little updates as possible for your convenience in case you need to restore to factory defaults.

Alex

 

@Alex

As I thought... Btw Alex, have you tried the C3 Bios update? well, i tried it and it seems the audio improved but not too much and dolby sourround feature is added.

to anyone who want to test C3 BIOS

http://www.mediafire.com/?rr14oe06cwpm4jk

instruction : extract with 7zip. also download and install the audio driver from C3 Series

 

could you please tell me whats this c3 bios ?
currently i have the one which alex extracted before..

thanks!!

 

C3 is Cseries Batch 3 such as CCA/CCB 390x they has a new bios that improved sound but not too much

 

Yup, all the backlight keyboard options work the same as before.

 

i am using the C3 bios right now... no problems so far, Dolby Home Theater is added on my sound options.. cool...

 

i don't see any bios update option....

 

use the BIOS i extracted above... that is C series 390x BIOS just extracted... it improved sound and adds simple dolby option ( music, movie and gaming )

 

i want the official one...as i still get BSOD sometimes when i change gpu method and power plan consecutively....

when i check for updates i only see 1 amd update and other useless updates

 

the BIOS is an official one, it is just extracted. nothing changed...

if you want the update from sony, then wait for another update... even a simple BIOS update, they took more than 8 months (i bought mine on 8 march) to provide it... i doubt they would make a bios update for this laptop again, as the main concern has been fix ( Manual GPU Switching )

 

hello everyone, i am new here; i have a vpccb190x vaio with c3 bios. I recently dowloaded catalyst control centre 11.11, since then when i try to set an application to high performance via configure switchable graphics and click apply, the assigned app goes back to power saving mode, i tried reinstalling the amd drivers from vaio care, but it didn't work. I'm really worried, plz help!

 

Hi,

I already have the Dolby Home Theater V3 before!

Today update the Realtek Driver to 6.0.1.6461 and I noticed a random "tick" when every sound is started. But I plugged a headphone to checkout and no more ticks. Plugged off and ticks stop in the internal speaker .

I noticed a very little improvement in internal speaker sound quality too.

Does NE1 have experiences like that?

 

It happened the same to me some weeks ago. I unistalled the latest version of realtek drivers and reinstalled the stock ones.

 

@accel and everyone,

Yes, I tried the C3 series bios and it really improves sound quality buy realocating system resources. But not too much, I agree.

Please have in mind that C3 bios realocates resources for better XP compatibility as well and preloaded windows 7 system files on C1 series may not work properly in some scenarios. In rare cases it can be BSOD but most probably one can encounter stuttering and lagging. If one is using C3 bios better go for fresh install and use drivers and software for C3 series. Unless someone likes to work with unstable system...

Best of luck,
Alex

 

true... i always install fresh when i get new bios

 

So now that i installed your extracted version of the bios update if i ever do a fresh install will the bios still be the same thing?

Would be nice to know that doing a fresh install would allow me to just go with the Sony update for peace of mind and stability.

 

Yes, it should be eliminated any OS related issues

 

So are you saying id be able to install the official sony update even though i already installed the extracted version?

 

if you're using alex (bios for C1) yes you can install all sony official update even the newer bios update for C1 ( if it's out )

if you're using mine, (bios for C3), yes you can install all sony official update.. except newer bios update ( need extracting )

that's all...

there's no problem for any official driver update as i know

 

@accel
r u referring to this dolby improvements....i have it when i bought my laptop,,mine is R0240V2 bios....im from India..i didnt get any BIOS update info...
my laptop baattery backup is 3hours...If the new bios have 6hours backup,i want one...have u heard about a R0242V2 bios...?
BTW My audio performance is excellent....

thanks
bipin

 

yes, i have it too in my old driver, but this one is a bit better than the one you have...

it has 3 options music, movie and gaming

audio performance of this laptop is so - so... but by updating bios and audio driver for the C3 series.. it improved a bit.. just a bit.

i don't know about battery life though... because i haven't tried it as i'm busy now... i'll try it when i had time.., but i bet it is not much difference than yours

yes R0242V2 is an update for C1 BIOS that had being released by sony last week

 

Here in india....this update for r0240v2 is still not released....
will this update works on my cb(asian model) if you provide us the link to download it....

 

well, as seen in my signature, i use asian model too... but it is an CA16FG and not CB, but it's basically the same machine.. just different at processor and resolution.. it will definitely works on your machine

the one i uploaded is not R0242V2, CA/CB35 - 36 BIOS.. which is basically contain update for audio fix

sorry but, BIOS update hasn't appear in any website of asian models being sold...

 

Sicne I'm going to do a fresh isntall this week due to an upggrade to a SSD, is it worth to be fully on C3? I don't like the sound of those Dolby enhancements, I prefer small EQ system tweaks.

 

@cheve

It's up to you whether you want to upgrade to C3 or not... As I said, it is not the same as dolby enchancement on C1.. And it improved sounds not by much..

 

Ok. Then I think I'll continue in C1.

BTW, has anyone tried this? Rencently I did some tests with Sony drivers (11.3 and 11.5) and AMD 11.9 and 11.11; and the performace improvements of the later are considerable. So I was wondering if it would be possible to have GPU switching and current version of catalyst drivers. I couldn't test them because at the moment I don't have GPU switch even with Sony updated BIOS + drivers (and I hope to have it solved after the fresh install). So if anyone tries them, just let us know. If not, I expect to have everything reinstalled at some point of this week.

 

AMD Radeon HD 6630M Overclock Benchmark Test on Resident Evil 5 - YouTube
AMD Radeon HD 6630M Overclock Benchmark Test on Devil May Cry 4 - YouTube

Recorded with Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. I'll be wait for your command on there n Thx

 

Yep, I just Restored a point before the installation of new drivers. Back to the stock ones too and no more "ticks".

Later I updated the video switchable drivers and all games working ok!

 

I also have it on my menu.
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. R1101V2, 5/25/2011

 

Could you give the link where you downloaded 11.11 from ?
I installed on mine, but its still showing Catalyst 11.10 on Sapphire TRIXX.
The version in CCC is 2011.1016.2228.38487

I downloaded from here:
http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/pages/radeon_win7-64.aspx#1

Thanks!

 

i am noticing a lot of fan noise lately...
is it bcoz of amd gpu being active??

 

im encountered some tick sounds from the new audio driver. i restore the original driver. tick sounds are gone