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    New Sony Z vs SR

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by LakerFan, Jul 15, 2008.

  1. LakerFan

    LakerFan Notebook Consultant

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    Why is the price point between these 2 models so much different?

    Both are 13 inches and have LED, TPM, finger print, G shock protection, same keyboard, video cards ATI 3470 or the Nvidia which are very similar, so what makes the models a few hundred dollars apart?

    And are any of these models coming with the intel HD4700 instead of the HD4500?
     
    LakerFan, Jul 15, 2008
    #1
  2. nasnovel

    nasnovel Notebook Enthusiast

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    SR190 CTO with ATI HD3470 upgrade cost $1499
    Similar spec'ed baseline Z costs 1799.
    The $300 difference is w/ the .5 lbs reduction (magnesium alloy on SR vs. carbon fibre on Z), HDMI, and dual graphic card (and the graphic card upgrade)

    anything else?
     
    nasnovel, Jul 15, 2008
    #2
  3. Jayayess1190

    Jayayess1190 Waiting on Intel Cannonlake

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    Z
    has higher screen resolutions and Xbright Duraview screen
    Intel high def audio speakers
    blu-ray option
    DDR3 ram standard
    Sprint Broadband option
    Keyboard has 2.5mm stroke (compared to 2.0mm on the SR)
    SSD option

    SR
    Xbright Eco screen
    Only 2 usb ports
     
    Jayayess1190, Jul 15, 2008
    #3
  4. SpeedyMods

    SpeedyMods Notebook Deity

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    Basically from what I can tell, Sony is targetting the SR as competition to other 13.3 inch mainstream models and taking back that niche that the SZ had when it was first released with the Z.

    Greg
     
    SpeedyMods, Jul 15, 2008
    #4
  5. prodigy1290

    prodigy1290 Notebook Geek

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    What specs do the SR have over the Z?

    Is a higher end SR better than the lower end Z?
     
    prodigy1290, Jul 15, 2008
    #5
  6. ThreeD

    ThreeD Notebook Evangelist

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    . carbon fibre body
    . hdmi output
    . option for bluray drive
    . 1366x768 / 1600x900 resolution
    . xbrite duraview as oppose to just xbrite-ECO
    . 9300gs m can be ran in 'SLI-like' mode with the x4500 GMA (essentially making it a 9600gs)
    . option for SSD memory (might be a feature on the SR too? not sure)
    . DDR3 memory as oppose to DDR2 memory (unconfirmed)
    . lighter by 0.5 lbs
    . other features like everywair not available on the SR
     
    ThreeD, Jul 15, 2008
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  7. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    What does this mean? (and why is it better?)
     
    SoundsGood, Jul 15, 2008
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  8. Duke2007

    Duke2007 Notebook Deity

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    i was thinking the same thing. maybe the larger one has a deeper key stroke... as in when you press a key to type, it will travel further in? thats what im thinking.


    And although I never use all 3 USB on my other laptop, I'm dissapointed to see only 2 on the SR yet 3 on the smaller Z?!!
     
    Duke2007, Jul 15, 2008
    #8
  9. mkhsu

    mkhsu Notebook Enthusiast

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    I really doubt that 9300 gs can run SLI-like with x4500 GMA after checking Nvidia website. To run hybrid SLI, both dedicated video card and video chip on board has to be Nvidia .

    Besides, by spec, SR is 4.2 lbs and Z is 3.4 lbs. Z is 0.8 lbs lighter than SR rather than 0.5 lbs?
     
    mkhsu, Jul 15, 2008
    #9
  10. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    But he was referring to the Z: "Keyboard has 2.5mm stroke (compared to 2.0mm on the SR)"
     
    SoundsGood, Jul 15, 2008
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  11. LakerFan

    LakerFan Notebook Consultant

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    [/QUOTE]"I really doubt that 9300 gs can run SLI-like with x4500 GMA after checking Nvidia website. To run hybrid SLI, both dedicated video card and video chip on board has to be Nvidia ."[/QUOTE]


    So the Z series can run both the Nvidia 9300 & the intel card in dual SLI mode for more graphics power??


    The SR series only has a dedicated ATI card?
    No switchable hybrid from intel integrated to ATI like the SZ can?
     
    LakerFan, Jul 16, 2008
    #11
  12. mkhsu

    mkhsu Notebook Enthusiast

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    "I really doubt that 9300 gs can run SLI-like with x4500 GMA after checking Nvidia website. To run hybrid SLI, both dedicated video card and video chip on board has to be Nvidia ."[/QUOTE]


    So the Z series can run both the Nvidia 9300 & the intel card in dual SLI mode for more graphics power??


    The SR series only has a dedicated ATI card?
    No switchable hybrid from intel integrated to ATI like the SZ can?[/QUOTE]

    No, I think Z can't run dual SLI mode since the GPU on the motherboard is made by intel rather than Nvidia.
     
    mkhsu, Jul 16, 2008
    #12
  13. Duke2007

    Duke2007 Notebook Deity

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    The specs are actually 4.14 for SR and Z is 3.42, making the difference 0.72

    But honestly, you won't tell the diff. from .7 to .5 pound difference. If you are soley basing your decision on weight.. stop being women and just carry the damn .7 pound difference!

    "Oh my god my lap just can't take the .7 pound difference it's a nightmare!"

    "WOW this laptop is just way too heavy! I mean.. I'm a man and 4 pounds just killing me! I wish I had exactly 3.42 pounds instead!"

    Give me a break. I had to lug around a FZ which was basically 6 pounds with the charger (i needed the charger, batt life was not that great). and my 5 foot petite g/f could carry that no problem when she had to without *****ing about it.

    Save the 500 bucks and go buy some balls.

    j/k but in all seriousness people, if you got the money, the Z would probably be where it's at. SR is great though, IMO. If you game, get SR with ATI. If not, then get Z.
     
    Duke2007, Jul 16, 2008
    #13
  14. Duke2007

    Duke2007 Notebook Deity

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    edit double post
     
    Duke2007, Jul 16, 2008
    #14
  15. Skyshade

    Skyshade Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Haha, Duke, you crack me up...

    From my experience, the weight difference between SR and Z would only show up in one-hand operation -- which neither is suited as neither has the PageUp/Dn series of keys or Fn key on the right.

    I think SR is more attractive for most people (as it should be), the biggest concern I have is the battery life with ATI -- it probably doesn't eat more power than the nVidia in Z, but you can't turn it off in SR.
     
    Skyshade, Jul 16, 2008
    #15
  16. MegaMan X

    MegaMan X Notebook Evangelist

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    are there proven benchmarks that the ati in the sr is proven better then the nvidia in the z?
     
    MegaMan X, Jul 17, 2008
    #16
  17. TetonWolf

    TetonWolf Notebook Evangelist

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    You'll need to wait a few weeks for those kind of benchmarks.
     
    TetonWolf, Jul 17, 2008
    #17
  18. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Phil, Jul 17, 2008
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  19. Duke2007

    Duke2007 Notebook Deity

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    thanks Phil I was actually just trying to look for that since that what I based my statements off of.
     
    Duke2007, Jul 17, 2008
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  20. petand78

    petand78 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the info.

    So the Z will use the GeForce or the Intel graphic card - right? - so switching between 1174 and 1500 (3Dmark06 benchmark scores)? Which would make the GeForce boost 28%.

    While the SR will use the ATI and the Intel together - making the combined benchmark 1174 (Intel) + 1933 (ATI) = 3107... But perhaps you can't just sum it up like that...?

    I'll probably go for the Z anyway since I really like the 1600x900 resolution (the 1280x800 of the SR is 29% smaller).
     
    petand78, Jul 18, 2008
    #20
  21. Takashi

    Takashi Notebook Consultant

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    Hilarious... and good advice too.
     
    Takashi, Jul 18, 2008
    #21
  22. Rachel

    Rachel Busy Bee

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    The SR (unlike the Z) does not come with hybrid graphics.

     
    Rachel, Jul 18, 2008
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  23. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Like most laptops. :)
     
    SoundsGood, Jul 18, 2008
    #23
  24. petand78

    petand78 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Right, thanks.

    Wouldn't it have made more sense for Sony to put the higher 1600x900 resolution in the laptop with the better graphics performance SR, instead of in the Z? Now I have to choose between high graphics performance and high resolution...
     
    petand78, Jul 18, 2008
    #24
  25. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    No because Sony is not targetting gamers with the Z.

    The Z is targetted at business people who value weight, battery life and overall performance. For those people the 9300M handles all their tasks fast enough.

    If you're looking for serious 3D or gaming performance have a look at the LG P300.

    By the way, a ATI 3470 is not the kind of GPU that delivers gaming performance for a 1600*900 resolution.
     
    Phil, Jul 18, 2008
    #25
  26. Hinduemperior

    Hinduemperior Notebook Deity

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    You don't add the 3DMarks for the processors to get their power. the Z has an integrated and a dedicated processor that you can switch between to fit your needs at the moment and conserve energy.
     
    Hinduemperior, Jul 18, 2008
    #26
  27. fuzzielitlpanda

    fuzzielitlpanda Notebook Consultant

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    hey all,

    does anyone know how easy it would be to upgrade the memory/hd on the sr and z and if it would void the warranty ?
     
    fuzzielitlpanda, Jul 18, 2008
    #27
  28. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    If it's the similar to TZ/SZ (I think it is) then upgrading the memory is easy, while replacing the HHD takes taking the machine half apart and removing the keyboard. Some consider this easy, some don't. Although most people who try it figure it out I believe.

    As far as I know, it does void warranty. Although if one could do it without leaving any traces Sony would have a hard time finding it out.

    And I have not heard of any cases where Sony refused to repair because the laptop had been opened.
     
    Phil, Jul 19, 2008
    #28
  29. fuzzielitlpanda

    fuzzielitlpanda Notebook Consultant

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    ^^that's great to hear! thanks for the detailed info.
     
    fuzzielitlpanda, Jul 19, 2008
    #29
  30. btdvox

    btdvox Notebook Guru

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    You guys should also note that 3DMark06 Scores mean Nothing....

    My Dual SLI 8800 Ultra PC gets whooped by 2- 2900XT's in Cross Fire... in 3dmark06

    Yet in actual games like Crysis or any other actually- my PC will get almost a 65% difference (Higher FPS) than the same 2900XT's.

    No Joke.....
    I wouldnt trsut 3dmark06 scores AT ALL, they really mean nothing.

    With 3dmark Vantage scores- everythings also messed because a Nvidia card with PHYSX driver gets a whopping 35% advantage in the score lol.--Yet in real life the same level ATI card would be probably just as equal. In fact alot of games will see a drop in framerate comparing to the ATI because the Physx doesnt bond well with certain engines.
     
    btdvox, Jul 19, 2008
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  31. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    That is very interesting btdvox. I've seen this before with synthetic benchmarks. Real life benchmarks are much better. It's the same with HD Tune.
     
    Phil, Jul 19, 2008
    #31
  32. btdvox

    btdvox Notebook Guru

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    btdvox, Jul 19, 2008
    #32