Sony VPC-Z11 - Frequently Asked Questions

Does it happen only at the beginning right after you boot, or occasionally?

 

1) I wouldn't take WEI too seriously. you will notice the change if you use memory intensive applications. I think 4GB is more than enough for everyday tasks (browsing, word processing and some multimedia use). the more ram you have the more heat/power you emit/draw. it is a trade off.

2) i have never used crystal disk but it may have to do with sony's proprietary ssd? no clue im just guessing.

3) i do not know anything about this, sorry

 

it happens occasionally. it does not matter if it is after booting or not.

 

I think my Z hangs for a couple of seconds when the network driver is doing something at the start. Maybe try removing all accessories, disabling some drivers and slowly add them back one by one and see which one causes the problem?

 

i do not have any accessories. the only thing i am using is a mouse. even when not using that, it still freezes.

i think it is either a power settings issue or a video driver issue as this does not happen when i am in speed mode.

If no one else is experiencing this, i might just update drivers and change power settings and see if it makes a difference.

the problem is that it is hard to know if the issue is resolved after making one change as the freezing happens occasionally and nothing really triggers it. It is very annoying during class when i input data or try and switch between windows, it just slows me down.

 

Try playing with the minimum processor state in power options.

 

1) Hmm mines did that too... i think... i realized when i first got my Z it was 7.9... then it went 7.6... i'm not sure though if it was after i replaced my RAM... I don't put too much emphasis on WEI scores anyways, they're just guidelines. A 3 minute diagnostical test is pretty insignificant.

2) I got it to work on my Z... (scores attached compared to an old 80gb 5400rpm drive i had laying around try to guess which one is which ) Maybe try an older version of CrystalDiskMark

3) That's weird... are you sure you followed the right registry path? Maybe post an image of what you do see there? (or where it is missing?)

edit: So i realized the test i linked was only 500MB and 1 run through... well i just ran CDmark... with 1GB and 5 runs through each. I attached the image below look at the new read/write speeds! It makes sense that 512k and 4k reads are slower than 5.2k and 4k writes right? because the writes are easy just go to empty space and write whereas for read you have to find it right?

 

@ Achusaysblessyou:

1) Hmm mines did that too... i think... i realized when i first got my Z it was 7.9... then it went 7.6... i'm not sure though if it was after i replaced my RAM... I don't put too much emphasis on WEI scores anyways, they're just guidelines. A 3 minute diagnostical test is pretty insignificant.

Thanks for your help!

Yes, it's funny, but everyone says: "don't use the WEI, it's not a useful benchmark," then everyone seems to use it and post their scores! Oh well, my computer is fast and running fine, so I will not worry about the WEI scores.

2) I got it to work on my Z... (scores attached compared to an old 80gb 5400rpm drive i had laying around try to guess which one is which ) Maybe try an older version of CrystalDiskMark

I'll try that. Any reason why you think that might work? Did you use an older version? If so, which one. I did find it strange that it kept saying "no disk found" and I tried it many times.

3) That's weird... are you sure you followed the right registry path? Maybe post an image of what you do see there? (or where it is missing?)

I absolutely did follow the correct registry path; I tried it several times, even trying some slightly different paths to see if they might get me to the the adjustment to the light sensitivity. I assume it is not in the Z11 registry, but was added to the Z12 and Z13. I found it very easy to put a tiny piece of black tape over the light sensor so the keyboard backlight will always come on once I touch any key, and I have it set to go off if not used for 15 seconds. No need to go hunting around. Thanks.

edit: So i realized the test i linked was only 500MB and 1 run through... well i just ran CDmark... with 1GB and 5 runs through each. I attached the image below look at the new read/write speeds! It makes sense that 512k and 4k reads are slower than 5.2k and 4k writes right? because the writes are easy just go to empty space and write whereas for read you have to find it right?

I'm not sure what you mean, but I will just download the previous version of CDmark and look for where you input "1GB" I do recall where you tell it how many runs through.[/quote]

 

Yeah i'm actually using CrystalDiskMark 2.2... I'm not exactly sure why it would work as opposed to a newer version, but since it worked on mines, maybe you should try it on yours.

Well if the black tape works for you, i guess that's fine. No need to worry about battery life impact since i guess it's probably lit by LED's anyways... since the entire keyboard/touchpad/fingerprint reader is literally connected to the rest of the laptop by one fairly insignificant ribbon cable (but don't break it, it'll cost like $38 and a fairly long wait to replace it)

 

set it to 25%. still happens.

 

---see next post

 

I finally got this all figured out, and was able to run CrystalDiskMark (using the 2.2 version), though disappointingly I could not get CrystalDisk Info to find the disk, and I kinda want to know how many times the machine has started up, due to some very disappointing results (see below). Like Achusaysblessyou, I ran it 5 passes at 1GB and got very disappointing sequential read/write numbers, about half of what you got. This suggests to me that my SSDs are wearing down (this is a refurb Z11, and while it looks and works great, I'm thinking it has a lot of "miles on it, though most have not reported much degradation even over time.)

So, my key questions:

1) Could I be running the test under the wrong circumstances (should certain programs be off/on when running, etc?

2) Do you know another program other than CrystalDiskInfo that tells you how many times the machine has booted up, just as a benchmark for how much use these have had.

3) I have the 2 X 64GB Raid 0 array; does that have an effect, vs the other ones?

Thanks much.

--------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 2.2 (C) 2007-2008 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : Crystal Dew World
--------------------------------------------------

Sequential Read : 248.507 MB/s
Sequential Write : 202.643 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 81.111 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 148.287 MB/s
Random Read 4KB : 13.421 MB/s
Random Write 4KB : 22.080 MB/s

Test Size : 1000 MB
Date : 2011/04/21 10:57:17

 

Hi,

Has anyone tried using the HDMI and VGA ports to connect to two external monitors and use both monitors and the laptop screen at the same time?

I would like to read my news on one screen, browse for junk on another and do my programming in another.

Thanks
L

 

^no joy. Only the HDMI or the VGA (one external monitor, plus the on-board LCD). The HDMI output requries the graphics be set to the Speed (nVidia) mode (or Auto mode with the DC power plugged in, which will kick it into the Speed mode anyways)

 

get a single monitor with more real estate

 

Hi All,

I have a question about USB bandwidth on the VPCZ11.

There are three USB 2.0 ports, can I simultaneously run all three USB ports at full bandwidth (480mbps)? Or are the three USB ports actually sharing a single pipe of 480mbps?

Unfortunately I don't have a means to test this locally.

Thanks
L

 

All 3 ports deliver 480mb/s individually or simultaneously. You can also get an ExpressCard USB3 for $15 and get 2-5X that speed. Check out this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...ies-esata-expresscard-review.html#post7035926

 

Does anyone know what the location of the internal microphones are? I'm trying to get better recording quality for conference meetings!

 

I believe the microphone is the pinhole under the front edge of the computer to the left of the headphone jack. I don't think that there is more than one internal microphone on the computer, but I could be wrong about that.

 

Hi Gurus!

What is the maximum external monitor resolution that I can achieve with the Sony VPCZ11? I was thinking about getting an external monitor with 2560x1440 support, but could not find any info on whether the VPCZ11 supports anything beyond 1080p.

Thanks
L

 

Anybody know if the CPU in the Z11 is socketed, so it's replaceable with a more recent Core iX of the same socket family?

 

It's soldered on.

 

VGA supports up to 2048×1536 @85 Hz, and HDMI should be able to do 1440p without issue (standard 30" monitor resolution).

EDIT- looks like HDMI output is limited to 1080p. See http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/472488-owners-new-sony-vaio-z-series-laptop-use-external-monitor.html It's actually listed on the Sony page under specs, too.

 

A friend of mine has VGA outputs only (no HDMI) on her laptop and got a USB card that gives DVI expansion. For about $40, you can add another functional monitor in spite of the laptop's limited connectivity. You won't be able to game on it or watch really high-bitrate video without having issues (thanks to USB throughput limitations), but for your purposes it sounds perfect. There's also a USB 3.0 version in the works for better future performance on multiple monitors.

 

hi, my vpcz11 would no longer boot. i would like to retrieve the data. Please advise what are my options? TIA

 

same here, i'd also like to know.

joco: do you know why it stops booting?

I suspect mine doesn't because i broke they keyboard cable ribbon. Haven't found out a source to boot up the vaio without they keyboard's power button. But most importantly how the heck do you retrieve data of the SSD's if they are sony propierty connectorss??

 

Depends on the Z1 that you have. I believe if you have a Toshiba SSD, then the connectors are mSata on your SSDs so just buy a mSATA to SATA, connect both to a motherboard that supports RAID0, and set that to work.

For the samsung drives, they use Zif connectors on the drives themselves and mSATA on the other end. I guess you could find a way to work with the cables and do the same there.

 

Guys, post what error it shows so we can figure the reason out. Perhaps there is an easy way to get it up and running again.

 

No error. I press power button and it won't boot up at all. No lights or anything.
Happened right after o broke the keyboard ribbon cable.

I have samsung ssd's. One 128gb on the top and 2x128 underneath. So i have to look for some ZIF > sata or esata connector??

 

Did you purchase a replacement keyboard cable? Did you make sure to put the little plastic lock back in the same way on the keyboard side? (If I recall correctly, it does fit both ways but only works one way)

 

Yes purchased one, it will take roughly 1 month+ to get here according to previous buyers who bought from the same supplier. Yes i made sure it goes the same way, as far as fitting the cable goes, it can only go one way or other wise you would have an upside down keyboard.

Ok i did swap the cable upside down and does power up! But it got stuck at the "Starting Windows" logo screen for 3~minutes which never happened before. So it's good to know that keyboard cable definitely affects power up, but no i'm not sure about this 'starting windows' problem. Keyboard and mouse don't work though so ill have to find a usb keyboard/mouse and hope i can access the o/s with no faults. For reference the top row of the keyboard cable ribbon is stripped off.

Thanks for the tip, never would have thought of that.

edit: no longer working now, hmpph, not sure just shut off instantly. No more power up again =(

 

Maybe the way that it's plugged in the power button is stuck creating a circuit (perhaps it's not actually connected to the power button and coincidentally turned on due to being in the wrong way), so you need to unplug it and plug it in again to turn it on and then when it's turned on you need to unplug the keyboard and keep it unplugged.

Not sure if that made sense, but be careful.

 

yea not too sure. When i first stripped off the pin connectors it would still power up but then with some slight movement of the keyboard ti shut off and hasnt powered up since. And now today same thing, i flipped the plug/keyboard upside down and plug in the power, hear some noise from the dvd/r and press power button and it powered up fine. Then few minutes of windows i slightly moved the keyboard and the screen turned off, i move slightly to gain screen again and it flickered back on. Then it powered off cause i nudged the keyboard a bit. So now attempting to unplug and replug both ways i don't think it's going to power up anymore. Something's is really sensitive to movement and i'm surprised why the screen would flicker off and on since i didn't think that had anything to do with the keyboard connection??

edit: man this is really strange. Now i plugged it in the correct way with the keyboard facing the right way and it booted up again. I'm getting really confused here. I better download all my stuff before it shuts off again.

 

Anyone have a way to use the internal drives as external drives? I've got a Z13 that's only good for parts, but I'd love to re purpose the internal ssd's.