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    Hybrid drive & Windows XP

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by TLO, Dec 16, 2007.

  1. TLO

    TLO Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi all,
    I am getting a SZ650 w/ 160GB hybrid drive and planning to remove Vista and install XP. I am not interested in the hybrid feature, just want to have XP instead. Is this possible? Will there be any side effects like slower drive performance, etc..? Please advise. Thanks in advance.
     
    TLO, Dec 16, 2007
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  2. nonamelol

    nonamelol Notebook Consultant

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    i'd advise from going with the 650 becuase i've read so many stuff going wrong wit the item. go with a 680 and configure it how u like it. it shoould be in same price range.
     
    nonamelol, Dec 16, 2007
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  3. dznutz

    dznutz Notebook Consultant

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    correct me if i'm wrong...

    hybrid drive is a vista feature.

    putting it in an xp would make it a normal hd
     
    dznutz, Dec 17, 2007
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  4. ProDigit

    ProDigit Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hybrid drives consume more energy then standard drives, and are not recommended on other then gaming laptops.
    This for the simple reason you're powering both the harddrive AND the flash memory installed on the drive, whereas normally you would only power the harddrive.
    This kinda compensates for the spinup power needed for a drive.

    Many tests have proven the hybrid drive to be providing with improved performance, but would not really affect battery life in a positive way....

    May be interesting to know before buying.
     
    ProDigit, Dec 17, 2007
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  5. raul

    raul Notebook Enthusiast

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    "Hybrid drives consume more energy then standard drives, and are not recommended on other then gaming laptops."

    I highly doubt that. Do you have any source for that information, if anything hybrid drives use less power than the normal counterparts.

    Only Vista supports hybrid drives via nvcache, XP does not support hybrid drives for enhanced performance so it will see it as an ordinary drive. Your best option would be to configure a normal drive in your purchase if you plan to use XP and not waste money on a hybrid drive.
     
    raul, Dec 17, 2007
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  6. TLO

    TLO Notebook Enthusiast

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    I guessed I would just ordered from Sony Store instead of Best Buy where SZ is sold pre-configured from the self. Thanks all.
     
    TLO, Dec 17, 2007
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  7. vaio2k7

    vaio2k7 Notebook Evangelist

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    There's nothing wrong with the SZ650 for me. A hybrid HDD is a physical HD, not a virtual thing...I think it just functions better with Vista than it would with XP. Also, I dont think the SZ650 is widely available anymore. Its not on Sony's site, but there is a new SZ, SZ645P3 or something. I didnt look too much into it but it looks to have similar specifications as the SZ650, but comes pre-installed with Windows XP Professional SP2, rather ironic to me. Its selling for $1799 on Sony Style's site.
     
    vaio2k7, Dec 18, 2007
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