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

Remember that it is impossible to replace the SSD in the Vaio Z21. If you buy one with 128GB, you're stuck with 128GB.

 

I have the 6200N stock WLAN adapter in my VPCZ11. On one hand, Intel says we should use driver version 13.5 with this. On the other hand, 6200 appears in list of supported devices of Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software version 14.3.0.6. Has anyone used this version? I am looking to upgrade since I never got the Intel wifi sharing to work on my current driver. Thanks.

 

I have 6300N in Z (replaced myself) using the 14.x.x.x series of drivers as well as 6230N in SE using 14.2.0.10. Go ahead and update driver to latest - should work just fine.

Note however, I never use Intel PROSet software. I install their driver portion and use Windows built-in wireless otherwise. That means no wireless display or MyWiFi (or however it is called). So I cannot comment on whether the features you are looking for will work with the latest driver.

 

too bad, i would love this notebook if i could expand it to 256GB...

 

Thanks. For the 6300N, did you install a 3rd antenna? If so, which one and where did you fit it? Thanks.

 

^i like to know re: 3rd antenna too. thanks.

 

Yes, installed 3rd antenna. I forgot the place I bought it, probably provantage or pcconnection. Amazon has antennae here, for instance. I laid it around the CPU/cooler area and put the large metal plate at the tip near the DVD drive, where WWAN card is.

 

^thank you ZugZug.
On the old wifi module (the 62xx), is it just a wifi module or is some other function like bluetooth on this same module? (I'm trying to figure out if i'll lose the bluetooth or anything else after i drop in a new 6300 wifi module.) thanks

 

6200 is WiFi only. 6230 is WiFi+BT.

The 6200 is stuck with an older driver, the 6230 and 6300 have newer drivers.

 

Actually I just installed the 14.3.0.6 WLAN driver on my 6200 and it works fine (unmodified, downloaded from Intel). For a while, with the 14.1.x.y drivers, the 6200 was excluded and stuck at 13.5.x.y. Not anymore!

Also, how can I get the latest Bluetooth drivers on my VPC-Z11? I paired my Galaxy Nexus and it is showing some unrecognized devices. So I'd like the latest drivers from Broadcom instead of the older ones posted by Sony. Thanks.

 

Galaxy Nexus actually doesn't have much BlueTooth functionality. Android manufacturers have to implement more functionality themselves, it's not available in stock Android. I get tons of BlueTooth functions with the Sony driver when I pair my Xperia Neo.

 

Never mind my question. Just downloading the update from broadcom support discovers the VPC-Z built-in bluetooth adapter just fine and updates bluetooth from 6.2.x.y to 6.5.x.y. It takes care of most of the unrecognized devices associated with the Nexus.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/8386228-post314.html

^ I temporarily tried disabling C-states with the hacked BIOS and it's the first time that I've seen my stock 2x64GB RAID 0 configuration break ~250MB/s. Got something like 270MB/s seq read and 260MB/s 512K random write.

 

Hello,
I'm interested in getting a used Z1, but can someone who has it tell me how the 1600x900 screen quality compares with the Z2, SA, and SE? I'm doing photo editing work.

I thought the SA screen was dull and had bad angles and contrast. The SE screen was great except for the reds turning to orange. I've only see the Z2 in 1920x1080 and it was excellent.

The SA would be the perfect laptop for me if it had a better screen, but it doesn't. The Z2 does not cost much more than a used Z1, but with the Z2 I can't install a HDD in the ODD since it doesn't have a bay, and it only comes with 2 usb ports. I don't want to keep the PMD because I don't have a home to leave it in, so I'd have to either carry it wherever I go or sell it, and if I keep it, it would be a bit inconvenient to have to daisy chain external drives to it. Since the PMD needs power to work, its a bit useless too. I would just get a usb 3.0 hub, but that involves daisy chaining again.

 

The Z1 is on par with the Z2's displays. However, in the Z1 the 1920x1080 is slightly better than the 1600x900 in color range, while in the Z2 it's the other way around.

But in general you can be sure the Z1 and Z2 in any configuration probably have the best notebook displays ever made. I have a Z1 with 1600x900 display, and I like it a lot. Colors are wonderful and deep, contrast is amazing!

 

But the SA still has one of the best screens out there (at least for now) AND you get a CPU boost, a battery life boost, better integrated AND dedicated graphics and the hinge looks sturdy as heck! I'm just hoping for a revamped SA2 with Ivy Bridge with an awesome screen. Once Sony does that, they can have my money. (Oh! and thunderbolt port too!)

 

What? The SA's contrast and color range are absolutely horrible. The only thing nice about the SA is that it has a high resolution and is matte.

Review: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review...-SSD-HD-6630M-Subotebook.58359.0.html#c731961

Also has a comparison on the color range with the Z13 FHD display.

 

Is the Vaio SA's screen actually 'bad' if compared to the average laptop screen?

 

It's slightly below average. Problem is average sucks.

If you want a good display on a laptop you want either a MacBook Pro (matte please), a Vaio Z, or a Dell with the R+BG LED displays.

 

Any idea if the Vaio Z1/2 screens could be swapped into a Vaio SA?

 

Someone mentions on the SA thread that the z2 uses eDP while sa uses lvds, so the z2 screen won't work in the sa.

But does anyone know what kind of connector the z1 screen uses?

Anyone know the part number for the z1 screens?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/com...-sony-vaio-fhd-1080p-vpc-z1-z2-lcd-panel.html <- Hmm, this guy here is/was advertising his LCD screen as compatible with both Z1 and Z2 so we might be out of luck maybe.

A-1769-473-A LCD LT131EE11000 (S) [13.1/Full-HD_HDAR/BR_LEDAdobe_BP]
A-1769-474-A LCD LT131EE12000 (S) [13.1/A-HD_HDAR/BR_LED100%uv_BP]
(the AUO and Toshiba/LT models are probably the same screen)

 

I don't think you can swap the panels between the two Z's. And I don't think the Z's panels would fit in the SA/SB either, since they're a different physical size...

(and with the low Z2 prices nowadays you can probably get a Z2 for less money than a SA/SB+Display swap)

 

According to this site
LT131EE12000_LCD Panel_Avidia Technology Co.,Ltd
THe 1600x900 is a LVDS connector. Someone mentioned somewhere the Z2 uses eDP. I wonder if the 13.1" 1600x900 for the Z1 is compatible with the SA. If its just .2" difference, its only about 1.5mm less all around the edge. Probably could just stuff in some spacers to prevent the screen from shifting around inside?

 

Good luck with that. Keep in mind that LCD in SA is glued (yes, glued) at the bottom to the plastic frame (in addition to screws holding it in a thin metal frame) and you'll have a hell of a time disassembling SA display.

 

What's the Samsung SSD in the Z1 close to? Would it be most similar to the Samsung PM800 SSDs?

 

Just bought a VCPZ2390X CTO, I've tried searching but havent found much, so I ask; short of reading through all 318 pages, can someone post links to the most useful info, by which I mean, mods, hacks, upgrades, that arent necessarily supported by sony. Say is it overclockable, can you drop in an i7 if you got an i5 etc? Any info would be really helpful.

 

Please confirm the model number of your laptop. If it's a VPCZ2 then you are in the wrong thread - look here instead. However, CPU is still not upgradable.

 

i have my new Intel 6300 network module with the 3rd antenna up and running. Booted it up and it's uses the existing driver. I had to enter the new MAC address into the router (filter) before it can work. I can see 450 Mbps when near the router upstairs (Cisco-Linksys E4200). When downstairs it's 405 or 360 Mbps and i'm happy.

 

I posted an issue I was seeing with my Z11 back in 2010 (wow...has it really been that long?). Basically I was occasionally experiencing the system lock up for a few seconds. The mouse would just freeze, then recover, all within 1-3 seconds. I was worried at the time that it could be an issue with the SSD having become saturated and I was experiencing the read-modify-write operation. I don't know if it's fair though to conclude that, given the seemingly well-functioning GC that appears to be taking place on the Z's SSD. My CrystalDiskMark scores for the SSD continue to remain about as high as they were when I first got the laptop back in June 2010 (I know CDM isn't the best benchmarking tool in the world).

Anyway, I have pretty much isolated when this stutter occurs. Nine times out of ten it happens when I mouse over the task bar and my window list pops up. So if I have Excel and Word running, and three or four tabs in a web browser, and then I mouse down to the task bar to switch between them, I'll experience the stutter when the mini-windows materialize. It doesn't happen every time, but that specific activity is where I see this stutter happen the most. Sometimes I see a jump in processor activity register with the stutter, but not always.

Just thought I would check and see if anyone else has experienced this, or has thoughts on it.

Here are a couple links to my original posts about it:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...l-owners-thread-part-2-a-108.html#post6888165

http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...l-owners-thread-part-2-a-109.html#post6890404

 

Can't say that I've experienced anything like that. Are you in Speed or Stamina mode? Are you running the original Sony drivers or hacked drivers?

Do you already have the following installed?
Sony eSupport - VPCZ1190X - Intel RST 9.6
Sony eSupport - VPCZ1190X - SATA Registry Update after RST 9.6

 

I'm in Stamina 99% of the time. I'm using the original Sony drivers. No hacked drivers.

I'm running Intel RST 10.6 and have been for awhile. The stutter occurred on 9.6 as well as 10.6.

I have not tried the SATA registry update though. Is it compatible with RST 10.6?

EDIT: I'm pretty sure it's not the SSD. I'm on my Lenovo Y470p right now (just got this last week) and the EXACT same thing just happened. I hovered over the IE icon on the task bar to access a different tab and got a momentary stutter. WTH?

 

In Stamina mode, is your power profile set to Balanced or Power Saver?

Sorry, no idea if it will work in 10.6. I didn't notice any differences in my 9.6 setup either. It probably doesn't hurt to try.

 

It's custom. Basically heavy power consumption/high performance/max brightness when plugged in. Switches to settings that maximize battery life when on battery power.

 

Experienced same thing on a couple of laptops in the past. My guess is that in my case it was Windows checking and installing updates. Ever since I have mine set to check but let me choose when to download and install I have not experienced stutter.

 

Wasn't sure where to post, so I thought I'd post it here... If this thing truly has a 1080p screen, it just might be might next laptop. Or at least I'd purchase one and try it out.

 

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I'm not sure windows is installing updates. I do get the icon in the tray saying new updates are available, but I usually have to click to install or shutdown and they install. I'll look into this though to see if windows update is activating and causing the stutter.

 

What, there is no ODD!?

 

Nah, proven to be a 768p screen.

Has a punch of a power though for a 11".

 

Gunna say, the next generation Zenbooks(Ultrabooks) by Asus with Ivy Bridge will both have 1080p screens (both the 13" and the 11").

 

Might consider one of those as well. Need to check if it's possible to set a custom 48Hz mode or similar on the Intel GPU in that laptop - though I suppose that applies to the W110ER as well due to Optimus.

Man, the next generation of ultrabooks is going to be awesome.

 

Someone in my city is selling a VPCZ133GX/B for $650, is that a fair price? Condition is very good. My other questions/requirements are: and unsure if it can be done:

-Upgrade LCD to 1080P - if so what is the part number? (A1813439A I can get that for $200, but unsure if that will fit)

-can it be upgraded to 16GB ram for VM images

-Bluray - what are the model number that have worked?

Thanks!

 

Regarding screen: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/586682-vpc-z11-replacement-screen-weblcd-com-legit-10.html
A1813439A seems to be the same LT131EE11000 screen..

Regarding RAM: No, 8GB max.

Regarding BD drives: http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...u-ray-drive-uj-242-result-12.html#post7219010

Some here would say that $650 is a pretty great price.

Just note the price of upgrade for the screen and BD drive. Do you really have use for a BD drive?

 

Just wondering. Has anyone re-appropriated the drives on their Vaio Z? I have the 192GB model Z1 so, Samsung drives. Anyone use it with another laptop or say desktop? And if not, anyone know how to do so? My Z is getting old... and the fan is dying... making the crazy buzzing/scratching noises (that means the bearings are loose right? no other fix than replace?)

I *might* want to get a new laptop (got a pretty nice summer job with good pay so... ), but my laptop is too old and beat up to be worth selling

Thanks guys!

 

There were some that tried oiling the fan. Does it make the scratching sounds when it's on a stationary surfance like a table, or only when it's being moved around?

As for LIF to SATA, I checked on eBay... LOL... for an adaptor but couldn't find anything.

 

It makes it whenever it feels like it. If I turn it on and it makes the noise, i either try to make it do something that'll turn up the fan and usually that'll shut it up, although recently that's not always the solution. If I turn it on and it doesn't make noise, it won't. Although over time (as I'm using it) it'll eventually come to a state where it sounds like it's running smoothly, but every few seconds it sounds like it catches something and then back to smooth. The sound on start-up sounds horrendous at times... have to explain to everyone around me that it's the fan... it's making using the laptop in public embarrassing and I pray that it's quiet each time I turn it on ><

 

Have you taken it apart and cleaned it completely? Sometimes it can be unbalanced due to dust and debris built up on the blades of the fan in rare circumstances.

 

I've blown out as much dust as I can without literally taking apart the laptop as it's my only one and I've got a few important projects recently and in the foreseeable future. I might over the summer since by then i should have enough cash to replace it if it dies

 

It's kinda sad how hard it is to get to the CPU / GPU to repaste..

I think I'm pretty good with tech stuff and disassembly, but taking apart the Vaio Z wasn't for the faintest of heart, way too fragile parts and so many to remove just for a repaste....

 

Yeah, I'm watching the tear-down... and it's LITERALLY a tear-down lol. I've given it some thought, since I can't really take apart my laptop now (too much to do and can't risk it being out of comission). I'll take it apart in a month or so, when things start dying down again... and if it dies... well, I might jump for a SA... or maybe I'll go for something with a bigger screen...

Also, Ryan did you re-paste your Z? So you added paste to your Z as opposed to replacing the thermal pads? Or did you add paste onto the pad? I'm just wondering your experience on that since others have reported it doesn't work well because of the separation between the heatsink and the CPU/GPU is designed for use with a pad. Thanks