New VAIO SA - Return or Keep it. Suggestions?

Three weeks ago I purchased directly from store.sony.com website a i7 based S-series laptop. Price seemed to be pretty good considering it having i7-2640M 2.80GHz, BD-ROM drive, USB 3.0 and Win7 Pro x64. Here is a brief of my experience with this machine (VPCSA3BGX/SI):

1. Out of the box showed two BSOD within couple few hours, first when performing Windows Performance Index benchmark, second when accessing some CD-ROM to retrieve files. This made me concerned already.

2. I installed additional 4GB DDR3 (to make it total of 8GB).

3. Another BSOD appeared again during performance index benchmark.

4. Multiple memory tests under windows and without using memory tools showed no errors on this side.

5. Updated system drivers and software including display driver made BSOD disappear until this day (3 weeks now running no problem).

6. I did not upgrade system BIOS due to negative review of another user who indicated performance issue with new BIOS, posted on store.sony.com website.

7. Sony support admitted, this BIOS has an issue but "you can always come back" as they said at the end of conversation.

8. Replaced factory HDD with 512GB 6GB/s SATA Solid State Disk. Windows performance index for the disk went from previous 4.7 to 7.8 (!!!)

9. With SSD windows boots in around 18 seconds. Amazing performance increase. Apps including heavy office and PinnacleStudio seem to load instantly, no lag or wait to write or read anything.

10. Found another review where somebody posts poor enclosure quality results in many issues including screen damage when closing lid without removing rubber keyboard skin. I become concerned one more time. True, the plastic silver enclosure of my SA looks really cheap, even comparing to black version not mentioning Signature editions.

11. Found $100 price drop on same model on sony store website, requesting $100 refund from sony to match the price otherwise request for product return (still 6 days left to return).

Overall experience:

out of the box experience * (1 star), BSOD?, come on, sony!
built quality *** (3 stars) could be better, concerned about its lifetime
performance ***** (5 stars) amazing with or without SSD
fan (jetfan) ** (are u kiddin' me?) so noisy when CPU reached 40% performance, at 90% it sound like my VAIO is about to take off like a jet fighter... ))

I am still hesitating whether to leave or return my first VAIO. Performance wise it is amazing machine. However built quality make me really scared about its lifetime. Cheap looking enclosure although made from magnesium, looks awful with silver paint. I could live with it if I knew the paint wont come off after a year or so (I am moderate computer user, usually for audio and video processing where I do not use much of the keyboard just machine itself for post processing and authoring). Fan noise is also something that can be handled. But again, quality freak me out!

What is your experience? And are you happy with your SA vaio?

 

I'm generally happy, though I did wish I chose black, and not the silver I have, lol.

 

What's your BIOS version?

 

Wow that's a TON of BSODs... should've looked at the error code then googled it. WEI scores are BS. And you should use HWMonitor to check out your temps. It's a thin laptop with hella fast hardware, you can't not expect it to get a little hot (on my Z1, by setting my CPU max to 99% on "power saver" mode, the CPU never "turbos" and keeps the heat down, you might want to try that too when you use HWMonitor to see if it helps at all)

 

BIOS Version/Date: INSYDE R2080H4, 8/2/2011
SMBIOS Version 2.6

All three BSOD instances were never showing any error code. Which was kind of surprise to me because my other Win7 based laptop and my old XP machine used to shor error code indeed. But Aater updating Video drivers, BSOD does not appear anymore. Hope it wil never happen again. My return deadline is on Dec 3rd and if by that time it wont happen I should be comfy.

 

Well, it has been a month since I have ordered my SA. Since graphics drivers update it shows no issues with BSOD anymore. I have been using it extensively since that day and it looks like it is going to stay with me for good.

I even got a $100 back from Sony just recently after requesting a price match when found my model being discounted just during Thanksgiving week sale. Good job guys.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk