FSB Scam on SZ-390????

Hello All,

I have narrowed down my new laptop search between the SZ and TX series of sony Viaos thanks mainly to this forum, (Thanks by the way). During my research I came across an interesting fact that you all should be aware of.

The FSB listed on the core duo procs is 667 MHZ but the memory they are selling with units is the older 533 MHZ. The sony style phone sales person double checked with their manager and it is confirmed.

I dont know if the Sony Style stores are doing the same thing but one can only assume that they are.

The sales rep admitted, after alittle badgering, that the only way to max out your FSB is to sell or toss your brand new memory (1Gig is the current minimum that you can order on the carbon fiber units), and replace it with x2 (1 Gig) sticks of 667 SODIMM that sony doesn't even sell

Bad Form!!!

If any body knows anything different let me know because it might influence my TX vs. SZ decision?

 

to be honest, there is very little if any performance gain moving up to 667 mhz ram. although it does have a higher clock, almost all 667 mhz sticks have higher cas latency that negates the gain in performance.

 

It is in no way a scam. The fsb of the cpu will still run at 667mhz even tho the ram its paired up with is only 533. Like ejl said before, all the gains from goin to a 667mhz memory will be negated by the increase in cas latency. So theres no point in gettin more expensive memory if it performs just as good as the cheaper slower memory.

If u look around at core duo machines, you will see that 90% of them use 533 ram, and noone else is thinking that the manufacturer is trying to scam them.

And when do u ever believe salesmen? That might be the dumbest thing I have heard in a long time...

you actually think that intel went thru all the trouble of increasing their processors bus from 533 to 667 only to bring it back down to 533 by running slower memory?

 

I thought the Bios in the SZ series does not support 667MHz so there is no point buying 667MHz RAM for the SZ as well....

 

As I have said before, while cost is certainly one reason for Sony to use 533, the primary reason has to do with stability [IMHO].

It is simply more difficult to get memory and a CPU to run at 1:1. Doing so reliably requires a very good, stable mobo and tested matched pairs of RAM which are both, by nature, more expensive.

While Sony might likely have achieved 90%, even 95% reliability with 1:1 they are certainly trying to weed out as many heat/timing/stability problems as they can upfront so as to avoid as many expensive support/service calls as they can.

I am not making any excuses for Sony, just pointing out the likely "whys" and yes, other brands offer a 1:1 CPU/RAM FSB and Sony could do it too but they [1] know more about the quality/potential of the parts they are using [mobos and RAM] and are clearly trying to save as much money in parts [RAM] and potential support calls as they can.

In summation, all I can say is that [1] the performance difference of an SZ running RAM at 533 vs. 667 is going to be minimal at best and [2] I have never had one single BSOD [blue screen of death] because of memory and/or heat problems.

I will happily give up a little bit of theoretical speed for real rock-solid stability.

 

My SZ38, equivalent to USA SZ360, came with one 1Gb 667MHz stick of memory. I upgraded it with another Kingston 1Gb 667MHz. The specs of both sticks are identical, yet the system still runs at 533MHz, as it did when I first got it.

It is clear that, even though the motherboard and chipsets support memory running at 667MHz, that it is constrained by a locked BIOS setting.

I am happy that the default is 533MHz, but I would have preferred to have the option of setting it to 667MHz.