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    Replace ssd on new z

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by Supermiguel, Aug 17, 2012.

  1. Supermiguel

    Supermiguel Notebook Evangelist

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    So the biggest price difference between the z is the ssd, how easy/hard is to replace inside the z???
     
  2. maven1975

    maven1975 Notebook Evangelist

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    Easy to open, really a pain in the arise to replace as you will be VERY limited to the drives that will work. Just buy a 256+ GB version from the start.
     
  3. Supermiguel

    Supermiguel Notebook Evangelist

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    I only see the option of 2 drives how do you have 4????
     
  4. lovelaptops

    lovelaptops MY FRIENDS CALL ME JEFF!

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    "SONY Z SVZ131190X | GLOSSY PREMIUM CARBON | 3RD GEN INTEL® CORE™ i7-3612QM QUAD-CORE | 8GB RAM | 4X128GB/512GB GEN 3 SSD RAID 0 | 1920x1080P | BLU-RAY BURNER PMD | DVD PMD"

    I think that's your sig the OP is referring to, A. Wondering that myself.
     
  5. Valnar

    Valnar Notebook Consultant

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    Are The SSD´s in the Z2 and Z3 replaceable?
    I think pyro told us that there is a sony own cable for the SSD...
     
  6. Supermiguel

    Supermiguel Notebook Evangelist

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    If its only the cable we should be able to use the ones in there right?

    Just wonder since sony wants a fair bit of money for their 512GB model... May just get the 256gb and a SD card, for storage
     
  7. Supermiguel

    Supermiguel Notebook Evangelist

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    Yup that one :)

    Unless the 512gb model is not really 2x256 instead it is 4x128gb
     
  8. pyr0

    pyr0 100% laptop dynamite

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    All Z2 and Z3 512GB models have 2x256GB configuration (one SSD PCB populated with two SSD controllers and NAND chips on each side). That means maven's signature is not correct. You can check out that you have two 256G SSDs in your BIOS or in Intel's Rapid Storage Technology tool. The "step down" has a sense: Intel's chipset only supports two 6Gb/s SATA channels and the Z2 has not so much space to cram in more than 2 SSDs. Actually 2 SSDs sandwiched are superior than 4 - lower probability to fail in RAID0, less energy consumption, faster initialization cycle etc.

    As for after market SSD upgrades, there is currently NO SSD that fits into the Z2/Z3 without major modification other than Sony's SSDs specially built for the Z2. Modification means that you have to solder the SSD's connector to the Z's motherboard.
    There are two reasons:
    The Z's SATA cables are proprietary LIF ribbon cables with two SATA channels and power wires in one single plastic film cable.
    The Z's SSDs have a proprietary form factor (sub-1,8"). You need a 1,8" SSD stripped from its case or a mSATA SSD in order to make it fit in the small space of the thin chassis. Because of the thin chassis, there will most likely not fit more than one regular SSD PCB.

    The moral of the story is: Better configure your model with your desired SSD capacity in the first place because purchasing the original SSD modules from Sony will cost you a leg and an arm. From the upgradeability, we must accept that the current ultra-slim (this is a good thing!) Z development is strongly approaching Ultrabook A**le MBA standards. In the long term, laptop slimness means soldered CPUs, soldered RAM, soldered SSDs, no upgradeability. This is what we are approaching right now.

    But, if you are a hard-core modder with SMD soldering skills, I will help you with losing your warranty by hooking up a regular SATA / mSATA SSD to the Z.