My discoveries on Vaio Z’s Hybrid Graphics

OK, I'm going to reply to this in detail, but can someone please make this a sticky?

Apart from the options of using the stock driver and getting rid of your Z1, there are three sane options open to you.

1. Use the hybrid drivers created by Andrew08 based on the excellent work done by Nautis in researching this subject. Thanks and Kudos to both. This has full functionality, but you only get the drivers posted in this thread. You cannot use the latest drivers. The technique used to make these drivers only goes so far. We have hit a brick wall. If Windows 8 brings about a breakthrough, great. Otherwise we are stuck. However, these drivers are a LOT better than the Sony stock drivers. Very rarely would one need anything else.

2. Use the Optimus mode. The hybrid graphics in your Z1 does not support Optimus, but we can trick it into running in Optimus mode by modding the inf. As one would expect, there are issues, namely, the HDMI doesn't work at all, and the power consumption is also a little higher than one would expect, although if you normally use your laptop plugged in, this is not a big deal. The switching is sometimes a little buggy, but I haven't found it to be very troublesome. The upside is that you can use the latest drivers, so if the above two points aren't deal breakers for you, this is the one to use.

3. Use a BIOS hack. Once you have done this, you'll see an option in the BIOS to select static video adapter switching. If you select this, then graphics switching works like this: set the mode selector switch to the desired mode and reboot. The OS sees only one display adapter at a time, so you can install drivers for each independently. Everything works, and ComputerCowboy helps out a lot with tips and infs and drivers. The downside is that hacking the BIOS is potentially hazardous, and a mistake can result in a 'bricked' laptop which will probably need to go back to Sony for repair, if they care to do it. Also, for those with an HDD instead of an SSD, the time taken to reboot is quite significant. The upside is that everything works, even with the latest drivers.

 

Is it possible to revert back to factory settings in the Bios? (I'm currently using the BIOS Hack, but thinking of selling my vaio)

 

Yes. You can flash back the original BIOS. The flashing process makes a backup anyway, but you can make a backup manually too.

 

Have anyone noticed that when you connect a display on your HDMI output, it's basically impossible to work with any programs started? My CPU keeps hitting 100% on a simple Internet explorer

 

I just reinstalled Sony's original drivers. I can confirm that Andrew's drivers have some kind of problem with HDMI output. Will stick with the original drivers...

Next laptop will be a macbook air, at least they have proper driver's support under Mac OS and Windows Boot camp. Really disappointed in Sony

 

I've tried macbook pro and got it back, extremely closed system. By the way, the Air doesn't have a discrete graphics card so you won't be running any recent game on top of it, which I believe is what you want. For any other tasks, the old driver works pretty well and I'm stuck with it.

The newest Samsung series 9 look good as well.

 

I don't use the HDMI output very often. Never noticed this. Will try to reproduce. Does the graphics mode change cause this problem or were you in speed mode throughout, and only connected the HDMI to trigger this issue?

Does restarting the application in question fix the problem? Which other applications have you tried that exhibit this behaviour? (Note that new versions of browsers have significant interaction with the graphics system - I believe there are some settings that disable this. The Flash player also is somewhat buggy.)

 

Ok, last night I was watching online tv(flash player tv shows) and suddenly computer hang. Had to shut it do a force shutdown with holding the power on/off button for 10 seconds or so.

I noticed the laptop was incredibly hot, but it was 4 AM so I went to bed and started working on it this morning. The old Sony drivers were able to play the videos normally, but still wasn't able to function properly for a long time. While using the HDMI output, there must be a bigger load on the GPU. I have it on Speed mode by the way. Stamina mode doesn't support HDMI output(only the Nvidia card has a HDMI output module).

So, I started opening up my laptop and inspected the GPU fan. The fan was sooooo dirty, it almost seemed that the dust started to materialize into a hard substance that was holding on to the fan. I've dusted out the computer from the outside with a vacuum cleaner once every 3 months(just suck from all the ventilating holes at the side, front and bottom of the laptop). But I have never done the inside before. After peeling out all the dust with a screwdriver and sucking out all leftover dust with a vacuumcleaner directly on top of the fan, I reassembled the laptop and booted. No problem whatsoever now, but I do believe that using Andrew's drivers do put more load on the GPU and make the fan work harder, thus suck in more dust. I highly recommend you to do a internal dust clean up every 6 months, no matter what drivers you use. For people who want to do this, I will give you some pointers. My sony is the VPCZ139, so this only applies on VPCZ1 models, please note that this is just a guideline and I will not be responsible for any damage. Use at OWN RISK!

1. If your memory isn't really good, get a A4 paper and draw circles or dots on it according to the screw holes by looking at the backside of your laptop. Remove all screws on the back(also 2 in the battery compartment, I think there are 5 in total, but 2 closest to the RAM slot compartment are the ones you are looking for) and put each screw on the same position you just drew marks on the paper. Turn the laptop around like if you were to use it and carefully lift up the keyboard unit.
2. The keyboard unit is connected to the mainboard with a push/click cable. Pull it out carefully, because you don't want to damage anything.
3. Start digging all the pesky dust out of the GPU fan located at the top left, preferably with a small screwdriver and I can't tell you enough to do it carefully. You will probably have to get a tissue to put the dust on numerious times because it's just too much to dig it out all in one time.
4. Now get the vacuumcleaner and set it at the lowest vacuum setting(I have a 1400W vacuum cleaner,you don't want to suck the mainboard in it). Suck the dust everywhere you see, it's a big dust heap inside. I have been using it 2 years now.
5. On the GPU fan, I've put the vacuum cleaner head directly and put the power on max. Make sure you're not clumsy and move the head, you don't want to damage other components.
6. All set, put back the cover, close the lid and turn your laptop around. Now put all the screws in the proper holes.

Try it if you think you're computer is having impact on it's performance. My computer was really not able to function normal, Internet Explorer, Chrome, VLC, Windows Media Player, even messenger programs would make my computer go 100% and everything would be so laggy. Forced me to go to task manager and end processes or the programs running would forever be non-responsive.

Last but not least, to answer Paloseco's answer. I bought my sony also to be able to play games, but since I bought my desktop I don't play any games on it anymore. Playing games on such a small screen really sucks. And it's laggy compared to my i7 3.8GHz 12GB DRAM 480GTX SLI on a 52" TV
My next comp will still be a Mac Air, I just wish Apple can be friggin more innovative and fully use it's capacity, I.E. 1920x1080 screen(13"), 8GB or 16GB DRAM, SATA 3, USB 3... The new intel processor family called Haswell has an integrated GPU was able to play Skyrim on 1080p fluently. Set to release in 2013, but my sony should be able to cope up if nothing happens(*knocks on wood* I dropped my laptop and it fell of the stairs, good thing I had the foam sleeve on it and it's still going strong).
I mean the price you're paying for one is the similar or even more expensive than Sony. Let's hope the next Air will be like that haha!

 

Well done, -Bing-. And nice guide as well, albeit in the wrong thread. I'd like to add a couple of points:

1. If you have a flatbed scanner, scan the underside of your laptop and print it out, or take a picture and print that out. If I think I'll be at it for a while, I use cellotape to stick the screws to the printout.

2. If your vacuum cleaner has a blower option, use that after you have sucked out as much dust as you can to dislodge even more dust. Be gentle, and don't let the air get too hot.

I agree that playing games on such a small screen really sucks (not to mention the pathetic sound), but I travel a lot, so I carry an HDMI cable and use the flat screen TV in the hotel room.

 

To answer -Bing-, I've tried the Air as well, and the screen is quite far behind the Vaio in terms of screen resolution, contrast and such.

 

Hi, I switched the VGA Policy in the hacked Bios to Static and installed the latest nvidia notebook drivers with the patched inf from laptopvideo2go.

In Speed Mode with the Nvidia Chip the Vaio works like a charm, but when I switch to stamina to get some more battery time (of course after a restart) the Intel Driver cant be loaded properly. I tried to reinstall the intel drivers form the intel hp, but to no avail.

thanks

 

Did you switch to Stamina with the computer powered off?

 

yes, also it seems that the intel card is used, but theres a problem activating the driver. (seems like it)

 

Maybe you can only use the nvidia card while on static mode, did you consult about it?

 

What is your laptop model? Maybe you need an older Intel driver. Or you need to edit the installer.

 

Vgn-z31wn/b

 

after some restarts the intel driver works but crashed about 1 time a day. (not that bad imho)

 

Can anyone please upload Andrew's
VGNZ Hybrid graphic driver "VGNZ Nvidia 26308 - Intel 2020 signed" is up (don't need to sign), Special features 1 and 2 not included in packages.This is beta. ?

I would highly appreciate that, since i lost it due last system failure...

 

Dear All,

Anybody knows if there is any version newer than nvidia 26314/intel 2281 signed?
I'm trying to run diablo 3, but it keeps saying that my video driver is too outdated. And the game is running really slow in nvidia card, even at lower resolution.

Cheers.

 

Hi, there's no newer version, but I have no problem at all running DIII with 26314/2281, are you sure you're in speed mode while launching the game launcher ? (actually it improves performances a lot compared to optimus for the Z...)

 

Can't believe that no one have Andrew's old VGN-Z Nvidia 26308 - Intel 2020
Guys please, help!

P.S. Andrew, please check my PM for solved old VGN-Z flicker issue.

 

I have a VGN-Z570N and I was able to get the 26308 hybrid drivers installed in Windows 8 Pro after restarting with driver signing verification disabled.

However, it only works in Stamina mode. When I try to switch to Speed mode, I get all the normal prompts, but it just doesn't switch over. The prompts also will then repeat, after a few minutes.

I tried to install the drivers in both Stamina and Speed mode...same results both times.

Any help???

 

Nevermind...I installed the *.inf file and all is well, so I can confirm that Andrew's 26308 signed drivers function perfectly in Windows 8 Pro 64-bit.

Just make sure you disable Window's signature verification and you install the *.inf file.

I think you also have to make sure that you do the install while your machine is in Speed mode.

This thread is a lifesaver...it has literally extended the viability of my VGN-Z laptop by several years.

I would have ditched it after my migration to Windows 7 a couple years ago if not for these hybrid drivers.

Thanks to all, particularly Andrew and Nautis!

 

I actually have the NVIDIA 26308 - Intel 2020 and it's the one I've been using since Win8 CP. I do suffer from the flicker issue though, so please tell me how you solved that!!


VGNZ NVIDIA 26308 - Intel 2020 - by andrew

 

...and what is the flicker issue?

 

The screen keeps flickering when using certain apps..

Edit: I hope you don't want me disabling powermizer, thats not really a solution..

 

Hi I currently have a VAIO VGN-Z650NB and I'm trying to switch from Windows Vista 32bit to Windows 8 64bit.
Thankfully I've found this thread and I was wondering which driver should I install to get the best experience from my old laptop on Win 8.

Currently I'm trying the Win 8 Preview (while waiting amazon to deliver my copy) and first of all I can confirm that the Original Sony Driver for 7-64 works perfectly except for some glitches or problems while refreshing the desktop image while switching back and forth from the startup screen.

The thing I would like now is a little performance boost as the Sony drivers are REALLY outdated and Sony won't release any new driver for my notebook.
As far as I read the best solution seems to be the:
"Hybrid graphic driver "Nvidia 26314 - Intel 2281 signed" is up (don't need to sign), Special features 1 and 2 included in packages."

but my questions are:
- should I add the registry key for VGNZ? My notebook is a VGNZ but there are a lot of different Z models and I don't know if I need it.
- should I suffer the glitches I read of in the thread? And just in case: how can I disable the power optimizer to remove the glitches?
- how much can I gain in performance with the modded drivers?

best regards,
ilvecchio

 

TheDizzAR
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!
Can't wait to test it out finally!
Coz i was testing on Nautis's latest, which have same issue...

You won't believe how easy the solution was...

I was testing Nautis's 260.63 x 2020, and at some point i realized, that problem is not with 60-to-59 hz switching, it's about the evaluation of VGN-Z monitor by driver. When you create a new custom resolution, you should leave it on 60Hz, but need to open syncronization dialog at the bottom, and change on "CVT with lower flicker", in this way everything is perfect, and with fullscreen and games also!! It seem that just driver have defined monitor type of old VGN-Z not in the right way...

So i will test it really soon, and write how it was...

ilvecchio

For old VGN-Z (like mine VGN-Z11VRN/B) - certanly yes, but i think that for most other Z laptops answer is also yes..

Please, don't disable powermizer, that wasn't solution at all...I have just written the solution to TheDizzAR above!

Not much except support of PhysX and CUDA!

Hell, i really can't believe...I wasn't using my laptop for like...TWO YEARS!!! Just for this stupid issue...Oh damn, thanks God the answer have been found!
Hopefully old Z users saved now )

I would like to ask Andrew, to pack this driver, and shif it's status to not beta and actually sign it (coz now they're not signed), hopefully he can do this, just for ease of use...

 

Hello,

I've done my homework and searched/read more than half of the pages in this thread. Very informative, thank you all for helping out. Here's my situation:

Background

I have a VPCZ122GX and I installed Windows 8 via an upgrade. I am able to switch between graphics cards after restarting the computer. The Intel card works fine. However the nVidia card will stutter when I'm playing games (Age of Empires 3). Also, when I open the Start Screen and then go back to the Desktop Mode, the screen is gray until I drag a window and "scrape out" the gray.

Question

Is there a way to fix my nVidia performance issue? I am also willing to disable my Intel card and not have hybrid functionality. I just want to be able to use my laptop properly with the nVidia card.

 

Good day.
I clean install Win 8 x64 and "VGNZ NVIDIA 26308 - Intel 2020 - by andrew" dont want to install - failed on half-way of progress

How to disable and install *.inf file?

Sorry for my English

 

In PC Settings - General - Change - Advanced Settings.

 

I had nVidia problems too when I upgraded.
I am instead running the static switching which is better anyways because we can use updated nvidia drivers. Go the static route.

 

Old VGN-Z guys, don't mess with sync yet, nothing so clear with Andrew's drivers, i need to make more tests to be 100% sure...

 

Awesome, how do I go about doing that? Do I just leave it on Speed and download the latest nVidia driver from the website and find a modified INF? No bios hacking involved like on other threads?

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi, i own an old VGN-Z too, would like to use the Cuda and Opencl feature for video editing but seems that only 256 dedicaced video card is compatible.
Any way i would like to install the driver and test it out but do not know how install it, can i do an upgrade installation from the original stock drivers. I just downloaded VGNZ NVIDIA 26308 - Intel 2020 - by andrew and ready to install.

Thanks for your help

 

oh, you have to hack the bios first to go the static route. it can be daunting by i think it's worth it. mostly if you want to run windows 8. however if you run windows, i think the hybrid graphic from Andrew is good enough, unless you want to play game with your pc

 

podam
Hi!
Well, those drivers have CUDA and OpenCL, but there are much more hardcore issues with flickers now (on old VGN-Z only)...
So if you're not in hurry - i suggest you to wait a bit, until i will test it for sure, and will say the solution.

P.S. Right now i'm totally confused. If some of you guys have now Win x32 or Vista x32 / x64 and some older drivers installed, could you help me to obtain some info about your monitors? Coz i suspect that old VGN-Z monitors could differ much more than we could think of them..

 

Hi Failure,

Thanks so much for you reply, i gave a try yesterday with the Andrew drivers and installed over the stock divers... installation went smooth but get stuck during the shutdown process. Then restarted but screen resolution was oversized and drivers seems to fail to recognize the 9300gs and the Intel. Finally rolled back using restoration and still back with the stock drivers. I have the 187.35 and windows 7x64. Where can i find the monitor informations? It is under Generic PnP screen.
Do you think static driver may function right away with lastest drivers? i don t care having to reboot to use a specific card.

 

podam
Well, no wonders man
It's generally bad idea to install custom drivers over anything, you will need clean Win 7 installation, with a right order of drivers installed, i will give it to you a bit more later, when i'll done with testings (coz messing with refresh rates on VGN-Z ain't safe at all, so i would like to keep you out of this, until i will make sure that everything is cool!)

What do you mean by static?
Bios hack?
I don't think old vgn-z support this hack..

(sorry for russian windows lol)
So, i need a very specific information...through Control pannel
http://s2.ipicture.ru/uploads/20121101/pSHScehJ.png

Green - is the way to get in there, orange - is what i need to know, from the drivers that doesn't have flickers...Problem is that on stock drivers there are no such option.

But please, be aware - don't tweak those parameters on your own!! You can easily end with brick, which i had already year ago.

2everyone
Guys, is there any other way to know those monitor parameters wihtout nvidia control pannel?

RESULTS OBTAINED SO FAR:
1. For Andrew's VGNZ NVIDIA 26308 - Intel 2020, unlike Nautis's latest - it doesn't seem to be enough to just choose "CVT with lower flicker", when you choose this, everything seem to be fine, until you reboot, and then loose switching and general responsiveness of nvidia driver.
2. When i have tryed to leave all custom values as in auto, and change only bottom right value to 59Hz - everything seem to work fine without flickers, until you got to fullscreen game or movie, or anything fullscreen - it starts to flicker, and more than that - doesn't support custom resolution created in nvidia cpl at all, only native one.

I suspect that rest of the values are completely wrong for old vgn-z screen, but how to know which ones is right - i'm not sure...I have try installing Win7 x32 with Nautis's 191.90 - 1994, which gave me all 0 numbers, like on the screenshot above...Which is clearly non-sense.

How else to know the default values?
I don't know...Coz default drivers cpl doesn't have this custom resolution dialog
At least with Win7 x64 187.35 - 1872 i couldn't find it, there are only 59 \ 60Hz switch.

We seriosly need to know this parameters of our monitors somehow...

 

Found something interessting, running all lastest Nvidia and Intel divers, Sony VAIO VGN-Z
Did anyone already tested, seems disabling the powermizer may prevent from flickering and BSOD, right?
Humm i looked into the control panel and there is no option to access like yours...

 

podam
Not sure that this guy have 9300MGS, do you?
So i wouldn't try such hack)

Yes, but not completely. Actually powermizer have nothing to do with this problem i think.

that's the whole problem - this options are availible only on customized drivers
So i'm trying to find at least one driver, that have this options and valid info on Win 7 x32 / x64 or Vista x32 / x64, i don't care how, but we need this info surely!
Now i think i've tested everything i could find from Nautis, Andrew and Dox for Win 7 x 64 / x32 - no luck so far, there are either no such option in cpl, either all 0.

 

in his post he refered to VGN-Z41WD modded bios, which i believe Sony : Specification for VGN-Z41WD/B | VGN-Z41WD/B technical specifications use the same 9300GS, only this one is 256mo and our old Z have only 128mo.
Looks that bios hack may be the solution to go avoiding complication between the hybrid drivers?

 

Hello all. Very interesting discussion indeed. After so many months. Let me clear two things I'm sure about.

At first - all VGN-Z use 9300MGS.

At second - the difference between those with 256MB and 128MB is not age, but resolution. 1600x900 uses 256MB. I have completely 1st gen of VGN-Z and it has 256MB.

That hack look very promising. I'm using hacked bios version R5031M3 Advanced, so I'm curious, if I can reproduce it the same way. The guide seems to be really new, as he is mentioning Win8.

I'm running that set from Andrew on Win7Pro x64. Disabling Powermizer always helped in my case with the flickering. Doesn't mean, I'm not interested in failure13's results, as it's said, that disabling Powermizer draws more heat. I didn't have chance to test it, as I'm switching to speed everytime I need to do some heavy task, so the laptop gets hot anyway. I'm planning to test Windows 8 on this nb soon.

As for installing that Andrew's set, podam, I needed to sign those drivers anyway. After that, they work the best comparing to any drivers so far.

If I could help with anything, pls ask.

 

Thanks a lot for your feeback, and very helpfull to all VGN Z user since the laptop still offer good performance for my needs ( Autocad, photoshop and video editing), as i use more up to date software actually many of them ask fo CUDA and Opencl drivers...and found irritating we cant go easily in this way.
You re right my is 1366 resolution one so it use only 128mo of dedicated ram, not sure i ll be able to use properly the CUDA things with this limitations.
Anyway you applied the hacked bios and still running hybrid drivers as you mentionned, i mean you can still use the switch button.

With your actual setup (andrew drivers) can you use Opencl and CUDA on it and HDMI work properly? believe it started to be packed inside driver from 270 series drivers.

Did you try the static way with modded Inf so you can use both lastest drivers available? I can simply reboot when i need to have my laptop on 9300gs for rendering task.

One thing i didn t clearly understand is the guy from the link i posted installed his driver usind Remote Desktop Sharing, can t figure what does it mean.
I ll go for the bios hack first and see if i successfully can upgrade to same drivers as you... seems little complicated to me for the bios part! have to found the detailled route. Your help is kinldy accepted^^
thanks again

 

podam
My luckly have 256mb, but yes, as Metsn said - they're technically same!

Really not sure about it, coz this hardware is really tricky...
I personally don't want to test this hack, until i will test everything i could with hybrid (and actually they work nearly perfect, except flicker), they got CUDA and OpenCL, so it's enough for me at least..

Metsn
Hi! Glad to see you again in here!
I think i'm reeally close this time..
The only thing i need is to get somehow this data about our monitors from stock drivers!

Yet i don't got ideas, will try to install Vista really soon, to check on some DOX's drivers..
Probably they're written somewhere in registry in hex, but i don't know how to find it without Nautis or Andrew than...
Any ideas about it?


P.S.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/EDID-Viewer.shtml

OMG!!!!!!!!
This utility reads EDID info about monitor from registry!!!
Now guys wish me luck, gonna do some final tests!! ))

 

I'm sorry for answering this a bit briefly, as right now I'm fighting with Win8 installation on VGN-Z.

podam

I believe CUDA was working, not sure about Opencl and HDMi. Previous Nautis pack I was using had a HDMi glitch, when it was possible to use only external monitor (not extended or copy).

The hack is working greatly. I'm surprised that such simple solution I always had just under my fingers actually works. I installed latest Intel and latest Nvidia drivers following that guide (I found latest INF built on laptopvideo2go site). Just don't forget the last step, otherwise you will get a lot of BSOD. As for the BIOS, forget about any guide and just install already hacked BIOS. I'm using this one.

As for Remote Desktop Sharing, you'll need another computer on the same network for that. Some info. Dunno why it's needed, but as he's saying so, I did it as well. It's at least more comfortable. Not sure if it's really needed though.

God luck


failure13
The hack worked for me Quite easy in fact. Good luck with your observations


And now back to Win8 install...

 

Metsn,

Thanks so much! i ll install the Bios hack right away to test it, but after installing the Nvidia drivers you mention to not forget the last step? what do you refer about? can you post the guide you refer about?
I email to the guy, Szen he kindly exlained that if i wont go for the RDP way and launch the Powermizer things it ll cause BSOD so he use this to avoid your screen unusable.
Will u use the static way on Windows 8?

failure13,

thanks i ll try the program, anyway theses infos can be found in Device manager, through display adaptor, which lines du you need?

 

I meant that step about Powermizer. As I knew about the flickering solution, somehow I ignored that step and was fighting with BSOD for a while until I realized, that disabling Powermizer helps with that as well I believe that in case you don't have possibility to go the RDP way, it's possible to do without, as you have some time until the BSOD happens. But the RDP way is surely more elegant.

And yes, I'm trying to keep the static mode in Win8. It's a bit troublesome right now, as disabling Driver Signature Enforcement in Win8 works a bit differently.

edit: Success - Win8Pro running ForceWare 306.97 CUDA, PhysX and DirectCompute 4.0 is supported. OpenCL isn't. I'm just wondering if OpenCL was supported with any drivers for this GPU?

 

Hum i see, as you stated this is a way to be sure your screen wont turn into crary process and have to do hard reboot^^
As for the Driver Signature do you need to have it permanent? i thought we just have to boot with Driver Signature boot option after pressing F8 and just install the driver and ll be fine once you restarted?
do not a lot about Win8 seems they block this process from beeing easy to unlock.

thanks so much

 

I was running Win7 in test mode and signing drivers by myself, so I didn't have to care about disabling Signature Enforcement in general. F8 didn't work in Win8. But this works.

It was interesting, that in Win8 Test mode I was able to install the driver, but CUDA and PhysX was disabled.

Anyway Win 8 on VGN-Z is very nicely snappy