Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 (VPCZ1) Official Owners Thread Part 2

Hello again everyone:

Modeus Caddy installed (Yay!) with some feedback to share.

Caddy Installed, along with a WD Scorbio Blue as you all suggested.

Please see screenshots.

I installed all my game collection on the WD, COD2/4/6 Modernwarfare II, etc.

I have this Lag when I'm playing the cod2 which is the lightest among the cod series, it happens every 10-15 seconds, the screen just hangs for 2 seconds while the audio plays smoothly, then the game flows naturally and fluidly until another lag hits within 10 seconds or so.

I'm thinking (HDD Power Save), maybe its set by default to Spind down and up again, but I'm not sure that this is the case though.

Cooling policy set to High Performance, Win7 Power profile set to Performance too.

The only thing that I'm doing, which I guess won't affect me is that, I completely disabled the SWAPFILE, since I have 6GB RAM.

I can't think of anything that might help, and if the case of lag, is due to HDD Internal Power Management, then I'm totally lost, Don't know how can I change these parameters

Any Ideas?

Actually, whenever I try to EXPLORE the contents of the WD HDD, I have this 1 to 2 seconds lag as well, I remember that somebody talked about this issue before on this long thread, and ended up Recovering the lappy to make things back to normal again, but its such a hassle that I prefer NOT to do.

I remember correctly that when I used to install the games on the SSD, I never had such a lag.

Its literally a LAG, a Pause, were the screen just stops moving (in-game) and sometimes while Exploring the contents.

I'm starting to suspect the WD Scorbio BLUE (5400 rpm), was the Black better option?

Will

 

Wow, that's pretty harsh. Plus I have not noticed that Sony takes better care of Vaio Z owners than Y, or F, or W, or X...

Seems to be about the same across the board.

 

It all depends on your technical skill, I suppose. All the bits and pieces can be transferred on your new lid, tape strips included (although you'd have to be very careful when taking them off, so that you don't leave any 'tampering' marks. On the other hand you may always order the tapes as well. You have to take off the keyboard, which actually, comes off very easily when you remove the bottom screws of your Z, plus you have to take the hinges off and the round hinge plastics which cover the hinges. It's not too difficult, but as I said you'll have to be technically skilled (a bit ).

BTW I have a premium carbon lid with two minor scratches (difficult to see them) for sale. Anyone interested, please PM me.

 

I was wondering what people use to clean their vaio z screen. Is the cleaning kit from sony worth it? my lcd seems to have some streaks and just weird i guess marks that don't come off easily. I am in dire need of something to clean the lcd before it gets ruined because I used a laptop cleaning cloth once and it was horrible and now I am afraid to try anything. So, do other vaio z owners have recommendations of what to use to clean their screen. I know of some but I want what most others use I am willing to pay a decent amount

 

I use a mild solution of dish soap and a microfiber cloth.
The trick is to never wipe your screen with a dry cloth, that just grinds the dirt into the screen.

1. The soapy cloth (well wrung out) removes the oils.
2. A separate microfiber cloth is damp, it wipes off the soap (again well wrung out before using).
3. A third microfiber cloth, dries it off and leaves it beautiful

Notes:
-Be sure to wring out the soapy and wet cloths completely, you don't need any dribbles.
-You can buy a whole pack of microfiber cloths at the grocery store, for cheap.
-If you just have dust and no oils on the screen you can just do the wet and then dry, skipping the soapy one.

Once I have my 3 cloths in hand, I go after all the monitors in the immediate vicinity... (no one is safe)

 

Just go to Control Panel -> Program and Features

then find Vaio Personalization Manager and double click (which usually starts the uninstall, if not, right click, etc.)

It's just a regular uninstall

Hmm, could it be a problem with compatibility with Win 7? The game came out... like 5 years ago so, it could be a problem. Have you tried googling COD2 lag/stutter? I don't think you HDD is the problem in this case.

When i first read this, i thought it was a problem I experienced playing Bad Company 2 in that the game would artifact A LOT but the solution was to manually set the game to play on DX9... but i dont think that's a problem with COD2...

 

They have always taken care of me, I've never purchased a low end model. The first thing I do when I get support on the phone is have them look up my purchase history. They seem to get the point after that.

I didn't mean it to be harsh.

 

hi.. does anyone knows the part# of the lower frame of the VPC-Z117GG? and where can i get it? mine is an asian version of the new Z. i suppose everything would be the same in the US version?

thanks in advance.

 

What do you mean by lower frame? Check out the Vaio Z Manual here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/114814-sony-models-specs-support-dissassembly-links.html

download it, then go to the page with the part reference # then on the top right hand corner of the pdf, there's a paperclip and click on it to open the parts list, then find the reference # and the corresponding part # to your model color. Then go here:

https://www.servicesplus.sel.sony.com/sony-parts.aspx

and enter the part # w/o the hyphens

 

Hi all,
I have 2 sony Vaio Zs (one 384Gb and another 128Gb). Both laptops, once in while, will just reboot for no reason. I think this might be a Vaio Z problem because both my Vaio Z laptops exhibit this behavior. Even if I leave it alone, and come back in a few hours, I will see that it has rebooted. This doesn't happen often, but it happens often enough to be annoying. Anyone else experience this issue? Anyone find out how to fix it?
Thanks
Will

 

Hello everyone,

I'll probably ask already answered questions, but please accept my apologies since I've read about 40 pages of the part 1, and all I want is just some confirmations:

I plan to buy the HDD version to replace it with an SSD, and I've got clear questions:

• I plan to replace the HDD with a Crucial C300 SSD 2,5", is there any incompatibility?
• Do I need any extra cable to connect the SSD or can I just use the SATA cable of the HDD that I'm removing?
• How easy is it to access the HDD for replacement? Is there any guide, tutorial or video showing the process?
• Does changing the HDD by a SSD voids the warranty?

Here are my guesses:
- No incompatibility
- No need for extra cable
- Easy to access (still would love a guide/tutorial/video)
- Warranty stays intact

Please confirm or infirm those.

Thank you so much for your time ;-)

 

It's been a while since i have had chance to follow this thread. I have been so satisfied with my Z, only thing which i don't understand is 0,3 mp webcam. I wish that we could get atleast 1,3 mp for almost 3000 € that this laptop cost's here in Finland.

I have used Z's webcam a lot in Skype etc and i used to have Vaio with 1,3 mp webcam, so i can say there is a difference. But i'm sure that for some reason we won't have better webcam in future Z models either. Besides that, everything is great...

 

Unfortunately, I believe you are incorrect on all your guesses . You can look back at my earlier posts to see the discussion. I wish you were right!
Will

 

hi achu.. the bottom frame where the mainboard and other internals are mounted/attached.

i got it! thanks for your help

 

Hmm I've read pretty much every post on both part 1 and part 2 of the owner's thread... and AFAIK, i dont remember anyone reporting a problem like this. Have you seen both your Z's reboot or do you just walk away and come back to a login screen (that could be just your Vaio locking itself). Are you plugging both of them into the wall and using them w/o the battery? maybe the charger is wrong? (<-- actually that wouldnt cause a reboot) Have you installed any beta software on both laptops?

I'm not exactly sure what wkhan is referring to, but as far as i know, your first 2 guesses are correct and the last two are sort of wrong.

The HDD is in the spot of the DVD/Optical drive and there's already a caddy for it, so just remove the HDD and install SSD... simple and straight forward.

Easy access: well, that's a little different, the only easy access, IMO is the RAM slots which requires you to unscrew 2 screws. Then lift a hatch. But in order to access the HDD, you have to unscrew all the screws on the bottom, then remove the keyboard (careful of the ribbon cable!) then it should be easy from there.

As for warranty intact... well, as long as you dont mess up, if you vaio crashes and burns(<-- how ironic i was listening to Crash and Burn by Lifehouse as i typed that ) just replace the SSD back with the HDD, there are no seals on the screws so Sony wont know you messed it up unless you break something inside, etc. Just be careful.

^ I agree! I skype a lot with the GF too... and it's ridiculous the quality of the camera, but it's forgivable considering how much more awesome this laptop is compared to others

 

I trust that you are knowledgeable, at least better than me, anyways, forget about cod2, this is my main issue now:

Please see this:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/529851-vaio-z-hdd-power-management.html

Will

 

If you have windows update on automatic, that can automatically reboot your machine after doing an update, without you doing anything. It could be that.

 

I'm sure that this has already been discussed in here, but i just don't have time to go trought all +100 pages i havent' read yet.

Does anyone have information about the differences between the Intel i7-620M and Intel i7-640M?

I got Intel i7-620M in my Z and i noticed that they updated processors from all models to Intel i7-640M like in 6 months, since i bought my Z. Then again this might sound totally normal...

 

By going to task manager, I cannot find vpmlm.exe running, so do I need to uninstall? as its not running. sorry for being a newb....

thx

 

It's just clocked higher. The 620M is clocked at 2.66ghz and turboboosts to 3.33ghz. The 640M is clocked at 2.80ghz and turboboosts to 3.47ghz.

specs are here: Intel® Core™ i7 Mobile Processor - Specifications

Back before i uninstalled it, it was not always on, but occasionally i would notice that it would take like 25% of my processing power. If you dont experience that problem then you don't need to worry about it (If you use the Vaio Media Gallery, i think it helps <-- don't quote me on that though)

 

Thanks so much for your detailed reply!

Most importantly standard SSD are compatibles with the Z HDD version "as is", and that's a great news.

Okay it's not as easy as accessing the ram, but for me it's nothing complicated doing that, I already own a VAIO and I've opened it many times without any particular issue.

Thanks again for helping new comers like me!

 

Hey guys,

I've always had this "problem", but only recently discovered what is the cause of it. So I use the fingerprint reader to login to my Vaio (with the always present option of typing in the password) and whenever i locked my Vaio, I would always turn off the backlight by Fn+F5(for you that wonder how i do that, read this). Upon coming back, i would turn back on the backlight and try to unlock my Z with the fingerprint scanner, and it wouldn't work. In the beginning, i thought it was just the Protector Suite going to sleep or something, but that can't be the case, because the Z is still running behind the locked page.

Well, the other day, i locked my computer as usual, BUT i forgot to dim the screen, when i came back, i tried using the fingerprint scanner to unlock my Z as I usually do, expecting it not to work and having to type in my password, but lo and behold, my Z unlocked itself. I relocked it, and immediately dimmed the screen and then undimmed, and tried using the fingerprint scanner, it didn't work. I then tried a lock/unlock sequence and this time instead of dimming the screen, i muted/unmuted the volume and i couldnt unlock using the fingerprint scanner.

So my question to you guys that use the fingerprint scanner, do you also have this problem/inconvenience? If not, then it might just be the fact that i use the program Auto Login and Lock(<-- which is a good program, but the speed of the Z makes it less amazing).

Thanks!

 

Wow. Arrogant much?

If (and I stress IF) Sony were to adopt a policy anything even remotely resembling this, it would be incredibly dain bramaged, not to mention shortsighted.

As a business owner, you never know whether the $500 buyer of today might be your $5,000 buyer of tomorrow, so you strive to make EVERY customer happy, regardless of the magnitude of their purchase. Furthermore, a dissatisfied customer will be 10x more vocal than a satisfied one.

What you are suggesting makes ZERO sense.

 

I have never opened anything like this. It's too risky

 

Only a few days to CES...maybe there are some new models of the z series showing on that event

 

Guys, do you know if we can use the Microsoft's drivers for the audio chip instead of the Realtek ones?

The problem is that the Realtek driver miss the most important feature: Bass Booster.

Here is what you can find on any $400 PC:



(sorry it's a french screenshot)

The Bass Booster is missing on VAIO Z.

This issue has already been noticed a few dozen pages ago:

Thanks for your advices, and it would be GREATLY appreciated if someone would have the time to try uninstalling the Realtek drivers and using the Microsoft's ones (which are apparently better).

Thanks!

 

Microsoft Drivers ???

Can you post a link please ?

And anyways if you want Bass Boost, why don't you try installing SRS HD audio lab, it should pretty much do what you want.

 

No link for Microsoft's drivers, just uninstall the Realtek ones, it should automatically use the default Microsoft's drivers.

I don't want special effects, or any additional layer that use a lot of CPU and aren't even compatible with all softwares (works only with some media players etc.), I'm looking for a driver-based bass boosting, which is enable for any song outputted (flash anims, games, etc.).

Any low-cost PC that make use of the Microsoft audio driver provides excellent quality bass-boosting, I'm expecting to have the same on the $2000 VAIO Z.

Thanks for your feedback!

 

I'd like to ad another note to this: I also notice before the laptop shuts down by itself, a pop-up message comes on briefly that says "Windows is hibernating now and will shut down" (or something similar to that). But, then all of a sudden, the screen goes black and it starts rebooting. I am suspecting maybe something in firefox may be causing it, because this happens when I have firefox running. When firefox isn't running, I don't think I have this issue. I will watch this over the next week or so to confirm my suspicion. Again, if anyone has experienced this, please let me know.
Thanks
Will

 

Back in September I did exactly what you are planning now.

I took some pictures in case you want to see what you are going to find once you open it.

 

I use the fingerprint scanner and had always had the problem of my cursor freezing which I can only remedy by rebooting. I believe it's somehow related to the laptop changing graphics modes when hibrenating?

 

Guys, do you have Sound Reality in your Z ?

 

Thanks!!

aa

 

Update on my screen replacement,
Called on Friday 10th
Courier Picked it up on Monday 13th
Courier Delivering it back Today - 16th

not bad turn around !

I called to ask what the repair was and they said it was a straight screen replacement, and no other parts needed repairing.

 

Regarding the realtek bass problem:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=60928&view=findpost&p=546246 :

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=60928&view=findpost&p=579375 :

Anyone wants to try removing the crappy Realtek audio driver?
All you have to do is to uninstall all the Realtek crap from the "Add/remove software", and also uninstall the Realtek audio driver from the device manager, then the default Microsoft driver will enable itself, and you "should" see the bass booster back! Could anyone pleaaaaase try this? I'm at the limit of cancelling my order if it doesn't have the standard bass booster available in Windows 7... :-(

 

But i like the noise cancelling features of the sony provided ear buds... then again, if you aren't using the sony earbuds, then by all means upgrade it, but i think that's the reason Sony went with the Realtek drivers, for the noise-canceling features.

Thanks for the HQ photos runavaio

wait, so your fingerprint scanner causes your cursor to freeze? Could you give us more detail... that's much worse than my "problem" (<-- which i suspect is a conflict between Sony drivers and a third party app i installed)

 

I´ve deinstalled the Realtek drivers, after reboot the microsoft driver was installed. The sound is MUCH louder, and the bass option is available.

 

I have tried too, but the integrated micrphone doesn´t work anymore... Reverted!

 

THANK YOU SOOO MUUCHHHH!!!!!!!!

Woaaa that is just AWESOME news!!! Can't wait to get my Z!

Thank you so much for taking the time to try and to report here, very very appreciated!

Is it working good? Do you feel a real bass amplification? Would you mind making a screenshot of the bass booster option? I know I'm requesting a lot ^^, feel free to not comply (only if you have time), you've already answered my most important concern, which is already more than I would expect!

Thank you again!!!

You guys are really helpful

 

Oh that's really too bad
Maybe it's just a configuration thing? Did you check it wasn't muted in the options?

If it isn't just that, maybe there's a way to install only the microphone driver... I'll try different settings when I'll get my Z, but I prefer to use an external microphone than not having basses, so this is acceptable for me as long as the bass booster works

 

more detail on the fingerprint scanner freeze issue.

I think it's related to the graphics switching because it seems to happen more when the Z is plugged in, then I close the lid & it hibrenates, then I unplug it and open the lid (wake on open). The fingerprint scan screen then comes to life & sometimes, at this point my cursor will be frozen in place. So I must sign in with my fingerprint & then toggle around windows using my tab & enter keys to reboot the system. Upon reboot, the cursor always works. It's somewhat annoying.

 

I just ordered a VPC-Z13EGX/B today, will have it here tomorrow. I have a few questions if you someone wouldn't mind chiming in....

Is there two or four SSD's in the laptop? How's the performance? Can I swap them out with a different model SSD if I want?

I plan on formatting it as soon as I get it. Any suggestions on installation order or things to definitely put in or leave out?

Would it be worthwhile to take it apart and throw some AS5 on the CPU/GPU to help it run cooler?

Thanks, I can't wait to get my greasy fingers all over it!

 

Guys would that be compatible with the Z?

"SO-DIMM DDR3 4Go PC8500 Dual Channel"

?

I'm planning to upgrade to 8 Go of RAM in the next few months, it's a €100 upgrade.

Do you think I'm doing wrong to go my own way? It's cheaper than Sony's!

€1250 => Vaio Z13 HDD version (i5 460M, 4Go, 1600x900, 3G+)
€250 => Crucial C300 SSD 128 Go (or OCZ Vertex 2)
€100 => 2x4Go DDR3 1066 Mhz (don't know which brand yet)

Total 1600 € VAT incl.

For the same configuration Sony wants more than €2000! So I'm saving a minimum of €400 here!

And my version would be even better because it will be lighter (~1,3 Kg) since I won't have the optical drive which I REALLY DON'T WANT! (SSD is lighter than HDD, especially if I remove the metal container).

Also, I'll get a better battery life (Dual SSD in RAID 0 needs 2x more power (64 GB SSD don't use half the power of a 128 GB SSD)). OKAY I won't have the RAID 0 performance, but it won't be that far with one of the fastest SSD ever (C300...), and I will have the TRIM support which we can't have in RAID 0 right now.

For the memory it's exactly the same, appart the frequency, I'll check the timings and will make sure to get quality DDR3 memory chips.

The ONLY thing that makes me really frustrated is the Core i5 460M, because it misses the AES Hardware Encryption (which I would use intensively with TrueCrypt on a daily basis), if only I could get the Core i5 520M instead... :-(

 

Maybe you should try sleep instead of hibernate. It might work better for you. Anyway, the Z boots fast enough that hibernate doesn't really buy you very much.

Also, I never leave my switch in 'auto', that's too irritating. If I want 'stamina', I set it to 'stamina'. If I want 'speed', I set it to 'speed'. The auto-switching just because you unplugged it is not useful.

 

I have not seen this and I have not heard of others having this issue (and I have been following this thread since the Z11 came out). It would be interesting if it turns out firefox is doing it to you.

I have been less happy with firefox lately. It seems to be having more issues in general. Mostly using Google Chrome now (you might want to consider switching).

 

If you got the european model, it's 4x64 (but 2 physical drives)... you can replace them with 1.8" drives if you remove the enclosures... That's discussed in a thread around here somewhere.

If you do put some AS5 that'll probably void your warranty.

Yes any DDR3 RAM 1066 or 1333 will do. 2 sticks of 4gb ram is pretty here in the states... back during black friday there was a set for ~$70USD

Although there isnt any TRIM there's some behind-the-scenes garbage collection going on that's apparently OS-independent.

Regarding TrueCrypt, you can use uhh the TPM module and BitLocker with Windows Ultimate to encrypt your hard drive

 

Damn..wrong topic

 

I imagine that you could really lose out on the speed advantages of the SSD drive if your data is encrypted and the chip doesn't include hardware encryption. Have you thought about taking the CTO option and getting an i7?

 

Hmmm. this is good advice. I must admit I never knew the difference between sleep and hibernate, which I just looked up. I'm gonna give it a go. thanks!

 

Is there a better place to download drivers than Sony's site? They seem like they've never been updated.