The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Is it just me, or is there no difference?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by aan310, Dec 12, 2011.

  1. aan310

    aan310 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    738
    Messages:
    3,811
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    106
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=Property&N=100006740&IsNodeId=1&PropertyCodeValue=398%3A20811%2C398%3A11103%2C398%3A47846%2C398%3A14800%2C398%3A6691%2C400%3A43771%2C400%3A40986%2C400%3A6723%2C400%3A6718%2C400%3A40015&bop=And&CompareItemList=32|34-127-584^icn_ironegg_overlay%23%2C34-127-582^34-127-582-TS

    SONY VAIO SA Series VPCSA3AFX/BI
    and
    SONY VAIO SA Series VPCSA31FX/BI

    on Newegg.
    Prices are different, numbers are slightly different.

    What's the difference?

    EDIT: Also, so I don't have to make a new thread. What's the final verdict on the SATA III support with SSDs. I saw some earlier reports that there were issues with SATA III not working, but cant find any current outcomes.
     
    aan310, Dec 12, 2011
    #1
  2. darxide_sorcerer

    darxide_sorcerer Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    716
    Messages:
    1,347
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    56
    one has the sheet battery included, the other does not. and SATA III has been disabled by SONY since the first BIOS update they released. if you need it, you should revert to the oldest BIOS for the SA series.
     
    darxide_sorcerer, Dec 12, 2011
    #2
  3. aan310

    aan310 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    738
    Messages:
    3,811
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Battery is included with the cheaper model, checked that with another site, but that may be an indication that the more expensive one comes with a spare.

    As for the BIOS updates, was there any important changes with the new ones? and has anyone looked into making a custom bios wit the support copied or do people not do that any more? :cool:
     
    aan310, Dec 12, 2011
    #3
  4. Achusaysblessyou

    Achusaysblessyou eecs geek ftw :D

    Reputations:
    334
    Messages:
    1,809
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    No he's right...

    The cheap one has: Internal Lithium Polymer Battery (4400mAh)
    The expensive one: Internal Lithium Polymer Battery + Sheet Lithium Polymer Battery (4400mAh + 4400mAh)

    The SA series has a sheet battery (in addition to it's internal battery) that you can add to effectively double the capacity of the batteries. (it'll add weight and thickness)

    edit: uhh, if you're using Gen 3 SSD's use Sata III, else buy Gen 2 SSDs... I think the problems have been with the drivers...
     
    Achusaysblessyou, Dec 12, 2011
    #4
  5. aan310

    aan310 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    738
    Messages:
    3,811
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    106
    good call, I didn't see that he said the sheet battery.

    And damn, looks like im buying an older and slower SSD for it then lol
     
    aan310, Dec 12, 2011
    #5
  6. immel

    immel Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    46
    Messages:
    227
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Real world performance gains of gen 3 vs gen 2 isn't massively noticeable, windows/programs will still launch/run at pretty much the same speed.

    Of course, that depends on what you actually intend to use the laptop for. Talking general usage here :).

    That being said, a Gen 3 SSD will still work in the laptop, but will run at Gen 2 speeds. Until someone figures out how to edit the new BIOS to support Gen 3.
     
    immel, Dec 12, 2011
    #6
  7. aan310

    aan310 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    738
    Messages:
    3,811
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Yea, I don't do or know how to do BIOS modding, but since it's in the original BIOS i'd think it would be a simple mod to the newer ones. Maybe i'm wrong :p
     
    aan310, Dec 12, 2011
    #7