Photos of taking VAIO Z apart

For people who like to see what's inside Sony VAIO Z series. ENJOY!

 

That's pretty interesting. I built a few desktops before but never opened up a laptop yet. Do you have any input as to how easy it is? For example, if I wanted to do a major dust cleaning job, would it be too risky or is it even possible to open them up without certain tools? (aside a screwdriver)

 

Thanks for sharing with us. The layout looks very similar with SZ. Does it still have access panel for RAM and CPU at the bottom of the notebook, so that you don't need to lift the keyboard if you need to upgrade them?

 

Awesome pictures.

From the pictures, it seems that the optical drive is a bit slimmer than the one used in the SZ as it is without the "cover," just like the ones in the TZ. Another thing I noticed is that it is a lot easier to clean the fans as you get full access to it after taking off the keyboard unlike the SZ, which is good.

 

yeah it does, see:

 

It looks pretty simple to upgrade the harddrive.

 

Awesome photos. Thanks!

 

I think they were talking about the optical drive on the Berlin press conference. And the guy said it is slimmer...i am not sure, but i think he said something like 20%

The mogo on this laptops it awesome, damn good job. I wonder if anybow knows who is the oem manufactorer that builds this babies...

 

Fascinating photos that show some excellent engineering! The challenge is to put it together so that it works again.

The optical drive is probably a 7mm thick unit, similar to that used in the Toshiba R500.

John

 

Bump, not often i see disassembled picture of sony units so early around the release dates. I too like how they made the fan easier to clean. Just cleaned out my SZ fan recently and boy that was more work than i thought! Amazing how they squeezed everything in so nicely. Going to have to save money again!!

 

If you look at the SSD vs. the HDD, it appears that they use slightly different mounting so that may account for the difference in BR vs. DVD only.

 

as far as I can see, it looks like ordering a Z with harddrive now and later upgrading it to SSD is an easy mod.

 

If I'm looking at the pictures correctly, they recessed the fan so there is a small pocket of air. This is nice because you no longer have to worry about the fan pulling dust off the desktop/countertop/bed etc. However, with the left speaker being so close to the fan, I can see dust collecting into the left speaker hole.

 

hey guys from the pictures, is it easy to upgrade the ram on our own?

 

yes, there is panel on the bottom that can be removed. look at post #5 on the firs page of this thread.

 

Can anyone comment on how easy this would be? Can you just remove a panel and have access to replace the drive. There are some reasonably priced SSDs around from the likes of OCZ.

 

Have a look at this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=274083

Basicly you have to take out the screws and remove the keyboard, then you can replace the harddrive.

 

i wonder why sony did not use the optical drive like Apple Macbook's..
the build in type where its flush with the casing.

 

Awesome wow I don't know how I totally skipped that post.

 

WoW a cooled harddrive, via the heatpipe (copper)!!

Havent seen that on a laptop before !

 

Talking of cleaning a fan, Fujitsu designed a detachable
strainer in the fan assembly.

 

I dunno what kinda non sense u guys are talkin about how easy the hard drive is to remove? What are u nuts? Have u seen the damn Thinkpad? Its a god damn slot, u just slide the drive out. Sony couldnt be more stupid to nopt add that. Very easy to, just make that plastic part underneath removable.

 

WOW! What kind of lens did you use? Also what kind of SLR? The lighting is superb in these photos. Very little noise! NS

 

Do please consider that a slot for anything needs more material and thus makes the laptop heavier.
You cant just cut out a bit of the underside to make space for a slot, also a slot affects the whole design.

For the integrity of the casing its actually usefull not to have any "lids".

And if you think of it, when will you need to get your harddrive out anyway?
Sony's harddrives are large enough for a laptop, so size is not an issue.
In normal life you don't want to remove the harddrive, the only time that may happen is when you want to upgrade (most people don't want to) or when you send your laptop in for repairs, but then unless you are a quallified person it would possibly void you warranty if they find out anyway.

 

Cant argue with u there budd. Good point I guess.

 

did anybody locate the Nvidia? I'm looking for "THE PERFECT NOTEBOOK" since June now. So while reading myself up to a total notebook freak, still unable to decide, I was reading about MXM Grafik Card Updating. Does the Z (which might be it) offer this opportunity? So kind of from an GS to something GT like? Or am I getting crazy now?

cheers, kalakaua

P.S.: I found this gentleman presenting the Z on youtube, hoping you may appreciate pictures in motion:

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Is it possible to upgrade WiFi module Atheros AR928x to any other that support 802.11n?

What the type of this module? MiniPCI-E?

 

Hi,

this kind of goes with my thread on the international options. Can you comment on how easy it would be to replace the complete keyboard with the top cover, because the keylayout for German keyboards is a little different...

Nice pics btw.

 

Anyone? Bump...

 

If the key's arrangement is identical (as I believe i is on all European modells) replacing the keyboard should work fine, as far as I'm aware any keyboard may be replaced if it breaks for example.
If you want a keyboard with a different "grid layout" then you'll need someone who owns the Z to comment...

Is the "grid" integrated with the keys or are they separate??
If they are separate you can most likely switch within Europe but not outside Europe.
Or you just change the keyboard language, then you may type with a German layout on a British keyboard (I did, after I ruined my Medion's keyboard).

 

don't forget very good manual from IsamuX how to change HDD (very detailed explanation with images)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=272690&page=90

BR
Miki

 

Problem ist that the keylayout is different and even if I would switch the language there is key totally missing from the US keyboard. Which is the "<>|" key in the lower left which is kind of important for a programmer

But in the picture it looks like the top cover might be replaceable too, which is the question I am asking

 

I think in that case it should be possible, I couldn't see why not.
There is only onething to consider - its going to cost a lot of money because you'll need the whole cover too.

 

yeah, but $2400 against €2700 leaves a lot of room to get a cover

 

eddieaus
can you make big photo of WiFi adapter?

 

hey guys, you know what i'm thinking???
I want those special order top cover from Japan now. My Z will be here soon but the its top cover is no where as good as the SZ's carbon top.

 

Do you guys know if the aluminum keyboard panel is separate from the keyboard, in case I ever need to replace it after some wear and tear?

 

Hi, I bought a Z11 with the P8600 CPU and I have a T9600 to put in place and while I have opened and upgraded the SZ series a million times in the past, I can't get to remove the motherboard...
What I need is some help to remove the second layer the one that's still in place after you remove the keyboard.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Gregory

 

............... man, u r really so cool~ but im really interesting that can u put the every part back as original condition? since it looks so complicated. @@

 

Can you tell us about the WWAN card and how best to access it?
Thanks!

 

I think it is 9.5mm unit. At the moment when Z released, the thinnest BR drive for laptop was a 9.5mm unit.

 

Can you upgrade the wifi card? To an Intel 5300? I understand it is a question of antennas? Whether there is enough in the laptop as the 5300 needs additional ones.

 

anyone see the wifi card? is it user replaceable with lets say Atheros card? I think on the SR wifi is built into the mobo.

 

Can somebody provide a set of instructions on how to take apart the laptop, specifically to be able to get to the motherboard? I want to clean it as i unfortunately spilt some coffee on the laptop.

 

Can you please show us the WWAN card and and where is it?

 

anyway we can change the graphics??

 

No.

(10 characters requirement...)

 

The graphics chip is soldered into the motherboard. You could change the CPU, but I don't think I'd recommend it as it would be a relatively expensive and time-consuming (and risky) process for very little gain.

If you're looking for a gaming machine, it would actually probably just be cheaper to build a cheap desktop system (perhaps as a complement to the Z, as I do), where graphics cards and CPU's cost a mere fraction of their notebook brothers, usually for much more power (or potential power with overclocking).

The Z w/ its 9300 is a great little machine if you plan to do no more than very light gaming and don't intend on trying to run bleeding-edge 3D games.

 

I'm also very interested how the wifi card can be changed to wifi 5300. I just ordered a half hight mini pcie card that i hope will work (was only 20 bucks) as the original wifi is quite week in my z compared to my previous vaios.

anybody have a picture of the original wifi card on the z or know how it is best to access it?

thank you.

 

Did anyone try to replace the optical drive by a second 2.5" HD?

Do we have to remove warranty stickers to change HD? CPU? WiFi? Keyboard?

Thanks!!!