My discoveries on Vaio Z’s Hybrid Graphics

Great find Czez, thanks.

The realtek drivers fixed the problem for me. My HDMI video and audio output was being continually interupted by breaks in both picture (black screen) and sound. The realtek update worked. I don't know if I have stereo or 5.1, but my amp sorts it out anyway, so I am very happy. I am using Nautis 190.38 - still having an issue with the picture to an external display (projector or LCD television), not fitting to the screen dimensions

Thanks,
Gibbo

 

Only have stereo so I cant test this, sorry. But at least we have sound now some of us anyway!

 

Actually, I did some more tests, and realise that despite the fact the driver only let me select 2 speakers, it DOES passthrough Dolby Digital and DTS signal over HDMI.

I closely listened my speakers during a 5.1 movie, and I hear sound from each speaker so I guess the driver fixed the issue.
Thanks

 

VAIO Z got ALC262 it's 2.0 stereo.

 

The NewDriverVersion

http://www.nautisiandesigns.com/drivers/latest/19062_win7x64_hybgfx.exe

Anyone tried it?

 

Works fine on my BenQ, but for Vaio users.. I dunno.

 

Hi, thanks for your answer czez. Actually, you are right, there used to be some HDMI device visible (though not working), and I think I disabled it or uninstalled it trying to solve the problem... Any hints on how I can get it back ?
Anyway, I'll try the 190.15 and let you guys know how it goes.

 

tried installing 190.15 but somehow I messed up and now I can't event go back to 190.38... I tried driver sweeper to clean it all but no sucess and now i'm stuck with Intel graphics only . Anyone had issues like that ? Sorry if this seems noob to you all

 

s0iZi: Try and do a system restore, worked for me when I messed up in a similar way once.

 

Nautis, please build one for we 32bit OS, Hybrid Graphics, plzzzzz

like 186.81 or 190.62

 

Hi,
It seems I can't install nautis's drivers anymore. I uninstall both 190.38 via device manager, reboot, tried installing 19015_win7x64_hybgfx.exe, 19038_win7x64_hybgfx.exe, and even 19062_win7x64_hybgfx.exe, then I sign "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys" and "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\igdkmd64.sys" with DSEO, reboot and nothing... I stay with my VGA default driver. Is there something windows updated that messes with the process ? Someone has this issue ?

 

Sorry all.. computer has been on the fritz lately and I have been working hard not to become homeless. Now lets see if I can get this stuff put together for you.

Edit: Checking out the officially released Vaio Z drivers for Win7 now. Expecting the same results as previous experiences with the later 190 series. Garbled split screen and the rest. I am confused as to why Sony would release these without testing them.

 

Nautis
I still can't understand their logic, do they think, that if there's no any support of 7 on Z11 VGN\b we'll pay for next vaio laptop with 7 twice more?
No way.

We need to crack it's potential maximum, i'm still searching for solutions...

 

Indeed Sony is nasty enough to do such things: they limit the maximum RAM that Z3 can support down to 6GB, only by BIOS firmware. Indeed, Z3 can support 8GB by flashing using the BIOS firmware of Z2 or Z4.

They just think they can force people to buy new products. But this really hurts returning customers and I will not buy Sony's products again.

 

btw, what is the latest firmware for VAIO VGN-Z11VRN/b ?

 

I know that this ain't strictly on the forum topic, but......................

So the 2nd gen Z supports 8GB RAM?
I have the latest official bios firmware (the one which enables VT); could I just go along to a parts store and buy any brand ram and stick that in my Z26, and it will work?

And yeah, Sony's marketing strategy is on the 'sadistic' side of things - my Z though will be my last Sony, more due to the build-quality issues (and the resulting, rather crap afterservice) though; Z is too fragile in me opinion...

 

Not sure about the official VT BIOS for Z2, but I can confirm that each of Z1, Z2 , Z3 and Z4 can support 8GB with R2168M3 (or earlier BIOS versions).

 

Again, sorry for being off topic......
I can downgrade when I want (nothing too difficult), but just wish to confirm; does ANY brand work? From what I have read a few months back, only a specific specific brand (Micron was it???) works, but that may have changed...

Just regarding the new graphics drivers for windows 7, is there a slight chance that the drivers that is causing the random warpping problems could be a unfinished beta caught in the wild? Has (or could) anyone try downloading the driver again from the site and see if that works??? Currently not on 7 so can't test it out (and won't be installing x64 7 till I upgrade ram at this stage...)

Cheers in advance

 

Any DDR3 Will work.
I've downloaded drivers yesterdayand it work for me. All except video. That's usual problem for last time here.

I believe we'll see any inprovemeny on thursday, when Win7 will be released.

 

can Z3 laptops be downgraded to R2168M3 so they can support 8 GB?
anyone tried already?

 

I've downgraded from R2168M3 to R2165M3 without problems in the past so I guess downgrading from higher versions would be trouble-free as well.

That being said, won't the VT enabling firmware R2169M3 support 8GB as well? It is the better (higher-up) version compared to the R2168M3, so in a logical sense that should support the 8GB Ram installed... But haven't tried so probably should wait for confirmation from others...

 

I got new question...
How to use shared VRAM?
I think if my laptop video ram was really 1,5GB, GTA IV should work more smooth than lowest 640x480 settings lags+)

And about new VT BIOS, how does it helps to improve perfomance?

And

Ain't it strange...?
No BIOS and transistors info

How can i update video bios?

 

I'm almost dead on certain you have no idea how shared video ram works.

First, the nVidia card will borrow the MUCH MUCH slower DDR3 Notebook ram when needed, there's no need to manually set it.

Second, I am almost certain, if it does borrow the Notebook Ram, it'll make you run GTA even slower.

The requirements for running GTA is really high

Graphics Hardware
Minimum
256 MB Nvidia 7900 / 256 MB ATI X1900
Recommended
512 MB Nvidia 8600 / 512 MB ATI 3870

CPU
Minimum
Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz, AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4 GHz
Recommended
Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4 GHz, AMD Phenom X3 2.1 GHz

It does not pass the Graphic minimum requirements, and only passes the CPU requirements.

 

MegaMan X
Why so MUCH?
Just 170mhz, it's not so critical, so i think 1,25gb of ram ain't so bad for multipass video forkflow at least.
Anyway, what's the way to insure that shared vram used on pc or not?

btw, just test the new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. call of Prypat game, running really smooth at 1600x900 on high pref, but it's requirments are not low at all

 

because DDR3 memory is WAY WAY slower then GPU's GDDR3 memory. Borrowing it would only slow you down.

Why a majority of people think the greater the amount of video memory, the greater the performance.

More is better, right? That’s their excuse when you have to justify your purchase to yourself or to your geek friend.

Well yes, but not if you base your purchase solely on the amount of RAM. A video card performance is based on many other factors, such as the GPU chip model, the frequency of the GPU/memory, the memory bus width, etc.

A good example of this would be someone buying a 8600GT 512MB over a 8800GT 256MB. Sure, it may have more memory, but every other factor will limit the card performance in comparison.

Also keep in mind that you won’t need the extra memory unless you play at very high resolutions, such as 1920×1080 and/or with AA/AF quality filtering. Why? Because your video card won’t need/use it.

That's right. Your video memory DOES NOT HELP IN COMPUTATIONS of graphical displays. It merely saves the textures it needs to load on and off. However you need the BANDWITH to be able to use all of it.

Not to put too much blame on the 9300m GS, but this is a VERY low end discrete GPU.

Read this post: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=122013

There's no point to ensure if VRAM is used or not because the card is built to borrow as much memory as possible if needed (which most of the time will NOT be needed)

 

MegaMan X
Thanks for the expmlanations, man)

Actually i'm not the idiot, who buy video card becaurse of memory amount, just interested in it's perfomance and capabilitys, and haven't heart almost nothing yet about shared vram, coz i was in XP on my pc, whole, time and there's no shared vram function.

And actually i think that 9300mgs ain't so poor, for laptops, of course i have dreams about 200 series, but i think it's impossible to built it inside vaio)

 

Check this thread

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=421846

 

New original SONY GPU driver v8.16.11.8735 for Win 7 64bit:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNZ898HX&upd_id=5151&os_id=49

Other new SONY drivers:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGNZ898H/X&region_id=1

 

That GPU driver does not work with my VAIO VGN-Z690.
As Nautis said, garbled split screen, etc.
I guess I have to wait for official sony z690 win7 driver or nautis driver.

Additionally, Protector Suite 2009 (5.9) crashes on my win7, rolled back to Protector Suite QL 5.6.


Other than those, I confirmed that all drivers work fine (they should be).

 

Maybe the problem is a updated bios. In the release note of the european drivers is an information about a bios version which isn´t released yet...

 

Nice find. Hopefully they'll post up the BIOS soon, since Windows 7 was just released.

 

Protector Suite 2009 works fine for me on Windows 7 64bit. I am hoping to get some info from the people who claim the new drivers are working for them but haven't gotten any response back thus far.

I have doubts that the the PC BIOS would be causing these issues but who knows. I do know for a fact that there are drivers working on other Hybrid Graphics notebooks that cause the garbled split screen problems on the Vaio Z.

Since I haven't gotten any word back on people who claim the new drivers are working on their Vaio Zs I don't have any information to compare. There are a number of reasons the drivers could appear to be working and really may not be. I have only seen maybe 5 people claim that the drivers are working for them and a whole lot more who the drivers are not working for.

The big question is what change did Nvidia make that caused this problem to start happening in the first place. As I have gone on record of saying the last working drivers that I have gotten to function on my Vaio Z are 190.62 and 190.57.

I have only heard of this problem happening on the Vaio Z. All other notebooks seem to function fine with a modified INF. I have personally tested probably 20 different drivers that have all been released after 190.62/57 and they all have this same problem.

A few things to note:
-This problem only happens on the Nvidia GPU side.
-It garbles the splitscreen almost perfectly in half.
-As has been pointed out and already hacked Nvidia had added a trigger to their drivers for PhysX that disables hardware acceleration if any GPU other than a Nvidia one is in the system. ( More Information Here)

Possible culprits IMO:
3d Vision Bug (Screen split in half)
Nvidia detection feature gone wrong. (PhysX hardware acceleration detection)
Nvidia video bios (Guessing)

 

Hey! There's new drivers!
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGNZ750DB&LOC=3
Previous version was released on 15th of octover(as i remember) and was 107.17(that i remember!) so that is new one and released yesterday!
I got to go now, so i can't chech them out.

Hope they'll work fine!

 

those are OLD those are version 174.49, those have been out since 64bit vista came out.

the ones that just came out are 187.35, and what we have been talking about.

 

Technically 186.84 is also out for Vaio Z. (with the same problems) They can be downloaded here.

 

ahh... may be you're right and i just missed and opendvista drivers.
BTW there's lots OS now(all the versions of se7en) listed there, it was only 3-4 there when i've posted previous post. there's all drivers but video. hope they'll bring it up soon.

 

I tried New """Official Graphic Driver""""

In Stamina Mode is ok

But in SPEED Mode in mistake....


Win7 x64.....god.....

 

This looks like video timing issues, not BIOS, not OS, not Sony event service, but NVIDIA, most likely because latest driver does not have settings for 1600x900 resolution. I'll make a guess here that new drivers work for those with Z that has 1366x768 and do not work for those with 1600x900. Driver probably selects 1440x900 in the latter case or something like that.

 

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGNZ690&SelectOS=49

For VAIO VGN-Z690 Win7 Drivers are released except VGA driver.
I guess Sony is still working on it.
Also, a lot of VGN-Z690 Win7 Drivers are outdated compared to new Z890 original drivers.

I don't know why Protector Suite 2009 is crashing on my Win7x64 machine.
Maybe language problem? Some files are corrupted?
I guess I need to stick with 5.6 for a while and retry when I reinstall Win7.

 

i thought same too, but it doesn't help, if you lover the resolution of the screen

 

I am installing drivers from European pages, for the latest notebooks (vaio z) and they all work perfectly for me, except the Graphic card. Also, they are saying that new graphic drivers will not work without BIOS update R4041M3b. BUT i tried this, and the result is the same.

 

Sony states, that new video driver will not work without BIOS update R40 43M3 not R40 41M3.

 

haha you are right. is it working for you ? where can i find that 43 update ?

 

Well right now there's no graphics driver for Z on site. And i'm pretty sure the driver will work properly without BIOS update when released. So we should just wait for sony to release a new driver. Hope It won't take much time.

 

I'm stil looking for the R4043M3 Bios without results. No R4049M3 far and wide.

 

have you tried to contact online sony support ?

 

Yes, I have. No answer untill now.

 

by the way, i upgraded my z590 vaioz BIOS to R4041 and it is working fine, for now.

 

Honestly without properly working graphic card is it useless for me.

 

Did you also turn off NVIDIA scaling? If not then NVIDIA tries to scale image to spread it over 1600x900 and obviously fails to get correct timings for the latter. Scaling MUST be switched off to properly test this.