Sony Vaio SVS13 vs Sony Vaio SVZ13 (New Ivy Bridge Models)

Since the new S13 and Z13 models have hit the shelves, I have been debating which one to get. Should I get the more compact and lightweight powerful but expensive Vaio Z? Or should I get the powerful and inexpensive yet considerably more builky Vaio S?

More information about what I do and what I expect out of the laptop I choose-

Sizing-I prefer a slim and compact laptop that does exceed 0.9 inches thickness or 3.75 pounds of weight (basically, lighter is better), but however, I require a computer that is able to handle powerful work.

What I do-Photoshopping and graphic editing of images, music/radio/video streaming on the web, video production and editing, 3D ragdoll modeling and creating short animations within Autodesk 3ds Max/Maya, playing games such as Team Fortress 2, Minecraft, Portal 2, Mass Effect 3, DotA 2, and Diablo 3, and everyday writing, creating presentations, graphs, and essays, surfing the web, video chatting, etc.

One last thing-I would hate it if the laptop overheats like crazy when doing my work, or if the laptop creates loud emissions and a lot of noise when I do my work as well.

Can someone give me the advantages and disadvantages of each laptop and tell me which one I should pick? Thanks!

Specs for each laptop
-Intel Core i5 3210m 2.5GHz
-8GB of RAM
-128GB+ (prefer SSD)
-Windows 7 Home Premium
-(for S) Nvidia GeForce GT640M LE
(for V) AMD Radeon HD 6650

Link for Vaio S
Link for Vaio Z

Bumping post. Please help!

 

I hope this doesn't sound too snooty, but for such a power user, you don't seem to know much about power laptops. The Sony Z and S have two things in common:

1) They both have Sony logos
2) They both have 13" screens - except the Z's is technically 13.1" and the S's is 13.3"

...and they're both laptop computers!

Seriously, Google your core question (S vs Z) and you'll quickly know what to ask further. If money is not an object, the Z is unquestionably the one you want with one glaring issue: it does not have an internal discrete gpu option - you can buy a small docking unit that has a lower-midrange AMD gpu, the 6650. In this respect alone, the otherwise inferior and dissimilar S has the new "Kepler" architecture 640 gpu in the laptop itself. I do not do graphic editing or 3D modeling but I'm guessing a high end gpu is important for that !

Ironically, then, the S, then, could be your better choice, if it wasn't for the fact that its 2011 version had the worst 900p screen made - no color saturation, gamut width or contrast - and it had the noisiest fan of any laptop ever made (exaggeration). There may be a better screen and fan offered in this year's SVS version, just released, but there are no reviews and the news is conflicting. Oh, and, by the way, the Z has the finest 13" display in existence.

If you don't need better graphics than the Intel 4000, driven by a quad core cpu, can handle, the Z is your no-brainer choice. If you need more graphics muscle, Sony may not be your brand.

Beyond this, you really need to digest the basics about these two computers and then ask any specific questions you have. You might also want to post this in the "What Notebook Should I Buy" thread here at NBR.

 

Since you mention Photo/Video editing, I'd reiterate the fact that the S series screen cannot hold a candle to the Z's nearly full Adobe RGB coverage.

 

How do you do that to a professional standard on a 13" screen? Unless you have a proper tower at home and the 13" is just when you are out and about meeting clients?!

But to answer your question in the most simple of ways I'd take the Z over the S because it's better in almost every area. If you hate things running hot then definitely try before you buy a Vaio!

 

Alright, thanks everyone! I am 80% sure I will get the Vaio Z,

and lovelaptops, the reason I did not Google this question is because many of the answers have been outdated, and these two laptop came out not a month ago. Heck, there hasn't even been that many reviews out there.

and Steve78, I can't exactly test a Vaio Z or S on heat in a store because most of the programs I will be running exceed 2GB, which will be a problem when I attempt transferring them.

I only have 2 problems with the Z-with the GPU, and with the heat
6650 is a pretty old GPU, I really hope Sony comes out with a better GPU,
and I have no idea how much heat is generated when running, for example, Maya on a 13 inch rig

 

The new Z has a new GPU, 7670m, in the dock. Although there is said, at best, very little difference between the two. I think Maven1975 ordered through Sony US and despite the mention of 6650m in the online configuration on their website, he got the new 7670m.

Check out the owners link on the Sony forum.

 

7670m isn't exactly going to cut Autodesk Maya. Sad to hear that

 

7670m is not new. it's a rebrand of 6650m, the GPU used in 2011 Z2. in other words, the 2012 Z and 2011 Z share the same dGPU. oh the other hand, S13(A) has a 640m LE which is noticeably faster than what the current Z-series has.

 

Z13, nothing else need to be said.

 

tomato, tomahto

 

I already realized that the graphics power on the Z13 was going to be much weaker, as the 7670m < GT640m LE, but everything else should make up for it. Maybe I could build my own eGPU with AMD Crossifre XD? But seriously, can I build my own eGPU dock with something like the 7770m?

 

I don't get it. There seems to be no pictures that show the Z and S next to each other.

How big is the quality difference between the Z and the S13A for example? S13A has some carbon fiber materials, but that seems to just be the lid!


I wonder if the Z is truly more powerful? 3-4 years of now will the Z still work? That's the problem with these machines with every soldered. if the SSD should fail, it will cost an amazing amount of money to change if the warranty is broken.
It's my impression that many people with Vaio Zs have upgraded theirs to newer versions!
I wonder if the S13 is as durable! (or the S15 for that matter!).

 

The reason the Vaio Z can be only 2.57 pounds is because its made of carbon fiber. Carbon fiber reduced its weight by 3 pounds, but keep in mind that carbon fiber is very premium and expensive. The Vaio Z, in my opinion, looks a ton more sexier than the Vaio S.

Depending on the type of work you do and how well you treat it, it may last forever, or only a day. The reason people that own the Vaio Z have upgraded theirs every year is because when new technology comes out, you pretty much want it. So they buy a new laptop for the technology. You may ask, Why don't they just buy new components? The answer is that the Vaio Z is non upgradable. If you have the Core 2 Duo, you're stuck with it. If you have 2GB of RAM, you're stuck with that.

Perhaps you can go to a Sony store and check both laptops out, hmm?

I can't do that due to my location being far away from Sony Stores

 

Actually, only the Z2 and SVZ are soldered-on affairs. Previous Z's were very flexible and upgradeable.

The problem with dong an e-GPU with a Z2 or SVZ is no ExpressCard slot.

One area of much greater speed in the Z vs the S is that the S takes only SATA2 SSDs and the Z takes SATA3, also of very high qualtiy/speed, so your SSD may be more than double the speed, especially for small, random access events.

Also, the SVZ is not a new model, just the Z2 with IB cpu, and quad core at that. So it's a big step up between the quad core cpu and the much faster HD 4000 graphics - though not what you would need for photo/video editing and 3D modeling. The S is a bit more refreshed, but is also a refresh of the 2011 SA.

Would you not do better with a 15" something like the HP Envy or Dell XPS 15? They will have same or higher specs on all components except no RAID0 SSD array, but you can get a really fast SATA III SSD and drop it in. They are pretty well time-tested (actually, the Envy 15 has the "no reds need apply issue, but the DV6 does all the same stuff and has a high quality matte finish FHD display. I know Sony people look down their noses at HP and Dell, but other than sleek looks and weight savings, they make much better product in this arena and you can upgrade parts. There is a new Dell XPS 15 coming out and it is said to be .9" thin, so maybe closer to weight of the Sony SVSE 15. The XPS has a FHD screen that is equal or better than the Sony Z's (see anandtech.com) but it was glossy only last year. It also has the best audio on any laptop on the planet. Lot's a stuff for the $. The HPs are nearly as good on screen and audio but they're matte and the DV6 version with a quad core IB cpu and nVidia 640/650 gpu sells for the same as the SVS13, which has a dubious screen - 900p and, if the same as last yr's model, awful. Might be upgraded (all is talk for now; no user or professional reviews).

 

I just received my Z3 today and it is beyond expectations. I did the same thing you did a few weeks trying to get info which was very limited. Lisa's review on MobileTechReview sealed the deal for me as I was trying to decide between the Z3 or wait for the new MacBook Retina or Ivy Bridge ASUS with IPS screen or HP Envy Ultrabook. I ordered the Premium Carbon, i7, 256 GB SSD, 8 Gb RAM, battery slice with engraving. This really combines the best features of the raw horsepower of the MacBook Pro and the portabliity of the MacBook Air. Compared to the 2011 Z2, the fan noise is not an issue and it does not run as hot. The screen is gorgeous and bright. The battery slice adds a but to the thickness, but that's an acceptable tradeoff for 12-13 hours of moderate use. The main factors for me were HD 1080p screen, battery slice for international travel, light weight, and ivy bridge i7 with HD 4000 graphics. I haven't decided whether to get the new premium dock which is not yet available. The graphics power of the Intel HD 4000 seems just fine after hooking up a HDMI second monitor and is a vast improvement over last years HD 3000 chip. The only downside is the price which I'm glad SONY unbundled the media dock, otherwise there's no comparison with the SVS13. You will not be disappointed getting the Z3!!

 

Nice of you ^ to weigh in. Sounds like you know the Z2 at least somewhat. Does the Z13 feel noticeably faster doing everyday things or just things that really push the cpu or iGP? If the latter only, what kinds of things push the processors?

Also, do you mind saying how much you paid? I've read the base model is $1,500 but I'm not clear on what RAM or cpu it has.

Thanks again.

 

I paid ~ $2000 (including battery slice) and also received the free PS3 using the academic deal. The Z3 seems pretty fast. It opens simultaneous Office apps instantly. The Adobe suite also opens fast and Photoshop manipulation is pretty quick. Lisa has a nice demo on her review. The fans barely kicked in and it was comfortable in the lap. Standard streaming videos like Netflix/Hulu/Crunchyroll were smooth as was handling our home media network. I'm not a gamer so I probably won't need discrete graphics, but overall the HD 4000 ship seems like a big improvement.

 

Is there an express slot on the new SA13 or Z3?

Edit: checked on the specs page and both of these don't have express slot or thunderbolt. Does that mean these machines cannot do egpu?

 

Z3 does have Thunderbolt that is hiding on a USB 3 connector. In fact, Intel's original idea was to piggyback copper Thunderbolt on USB connector.

 

Wow, I'm really impressed on how well the Vaio Z3 performed based on what you said. Glad for someone to weigh in! And thanks for an analysis on how well it did on heat and fan noise, that was impressive.

My only concern is how well it will perform when using Maya, After Effects, Photoshop, Sony Vegas, etc. I'm more of someone who does production but requries a thin and light laptop. And even if Sony has upgraded the dock, the 7670m won't meet my standards.

Oh, and have you guys heard about the Gigabyte U2442 series? It seems like a good laptop, pretty light being able to have the same specs of a Vaio Z + the GT640m non LE version graphics card, which is a significant difference in performance from the LE, and the LE still blows the 7670m out of the dust. It's pretty tempting, I'll admit, but I'll wait until its released in July or August, then make a conclusion on whether I should buy the U2442 or not.

I wonder if I could build my own eGPU dock with my own graphics card and probably implement a AMD 7770m, which I found to be very impressive, and plug that in to the ultrabook I purchase. Lol should I go for an AMD 7970 Crossfire? lol

 

The keyboard flex looks awful on the Gigabyte u2442 from the youtube vid I saw. But its definitely got a interesting spec and if priced aggressively, its a good contender.

 

So, you can buy a 4GB 128GB S VZ13 for $1,500 and only $500 more to go to 256GB, 8GB and a slice battery? Wow, that has made this computer almost competitive - among high end laptops. Heck, the new MBA 13 goes for $1,710 with 4GB and a 256 GB SSD but only an i7 ULV. $400 more to get IB quad core i7, 8GB and a slice battery (Air has no battery extender, only gets around 5 hrs running Windows in Bootcamp). No, I would not even seek to compare these machines, but that's the point. If you are looking for small, light, good screen laptop most of the better offerings are the top end "ultrabooks," including the MBA 13, the costliest and the "standard-bearer." This leaves truly nothing to recommend the MBA over the Sony, unless you just can't find that extra $300 - in which case you should probably not spend even $1,700 on a laptop!

Ok, so to be even more obnoxious - and totally out of character from this A-hater, I have to bring this up. The new MBP 15 with "Retina" screen (it is a head-snapper though. Some scaling issues even running OSX, even worse running Windows. But that will change and, for now, it brings all of it's awesome IPS qualities when scaled to 1080p. Which brings me to the price/value equation. The "Retina" costs $2,199 with a quad core IB cpu, nVidia 650M discret GPU and "the screen!" ("the screen!" is, one must remember, glossy finished, but it is very bright and I'm told their coating diminishes glare somewhat.) If weight and size 4.1 lbs vs. 2.5; 15" form factor vs. 13") was not a non-starter for one looking for a high end laptop with a superb display, hard to forget about that Kepler GPU and "t s". (are you reading, RobotsEatCookies?) Oh, and, loving Sony product and hating Apple-anything as I do, my bias is for the Z. But then there's that customer support elephant in the room...

Thoughts everyone?

So sorry if I seem to be raining on your parade - you did great! And you did us all a great service letting us know the great deal on the Z. Enjoy, keep us posted.

 

I believe the U2442n (note that there are 3 versions) is priced at $1200 O)

 

hey Robots,

The Z is a very powerful little machine. The Z screen blows the S13 out of the water. And for a graphics artist, I'd think a screen would be the number one selector for a laptop. Plus the Z has Raid 0 SSD's. Stupid fast.

On another note, i'm suprised that you are so ok working on images on a small screen. The S15 Sony has a screen that is comparable to the Z and 1080p res. Plus its only 4.4 lbs and has a Nvidia 640mLE. while you lose out on weight, you gain on GPU and screen quality, and drives that you can swap out at will.

Anyways, something to think about.

 

edit: misread

 

A lot of the value in Apple laptops is their vastly superior battery life. Right now it doesnt seem like windows 8 has any meaningful improvement.. goddamit.

 

Actually, the Sonys get better battery life running windows and then double that with sheet batteries and replaceable main batteries - neither of which Apple provides.

Despite my momentary lapse (earlier post) I think Sony has become very competitive in this space (light, thin, full power notebooks, most with discrete house. If you don't need a d-gpu the z has a lot to recommend vs MBP 15 R. Pending more info on the S13-s new screen it is better value and better performance than the MBP 13 and MBA 13. Same for the S15 vs MBP 15 non-Retina.

I'm back! (Never really leftover just being conscientious. ;

 

I enjoy reading your express of why Apple is inferior. And I love it

 

I had a weak moment there. Sorry.

 

First of all sorry to ask this on your thread, thought it'd be useful since I find very informative feedback here. Sony only offered quadcore i7 IB on Vaio Z, and it worried me a bit. How good is Vaio Z thermal management? And also, judging from the looks, Vaio Z seems to be quite fragile. Would the carbonfibre-made material really covers it up?

 

The thermals are great on my SVZ, extremely quiet unless i'm playing a game. Even with hardware ball buster like BF3, temps never got crazy high. 80-81C is what I saw after half an hour and that's while using Intel's integrated graphics. I'm sure it would be lower if you used the PMD.

It also feels extremely solid, you don't have to worry.

 

Thermals of the new Ivy Bridge Z are pretty darn good...

Here are my results:

- 10 minutes of continuous CPU-stress, temp is 82-84 C
- If Intel's GPU is also stressed at the same time, temp is going up to ~88 C

If GPU is not stressed, CPU is able to run @max. turbo frequency (2.8 GHz) for seemingly indefinite amount of time. When GPU is stressed, CPU frequency drops to ~2.4 - 2.5 GHz

At the same time, fan is noticeably less loud (or, let me put it this way - less annoying) compared to Sandy Bridge Z. It might not be the loudness itself, but the noise spectrum (not so "whiny")

Interesting enough, HWInfo reports that the CPU supports max. TDP programming, but it is locked by the UEFI firmware... It might be possible to tweak the TDP params so CPU does not throttle down when GPU is stressed.

Another funny thing is - I use the old PMD dock... Now, Windows is seeing it as HD 7670M [Sony]

 

I know this post hasn't been visited for quite a while now, but after multiple sources gave a good review on the Sony Vaio S13, I want to reconsider this-

The Vaio S13 now has a quieter fan, and stays relatively cool as well. The specs are very good (I like that 640m LE better than the 7670m) and the reviews state a drastic increase in quality from the 2011 model. I have been taken away.

On the other hand, I have heard so many people say similar things about the Vaio Z-cool, good specs, quiet. I feel like I am in the state I was in before, and that I am undecided (once again). The Vaio Z has tremendous quality and the fan noise and generated heat has become better.

The only drawbacks that persist:

-The contrast level on the Sony Vaio S. Yeah, not exactly helpful.
-The lack of a good enough graphics card (even with PMD connected) and that crazy price on the Z.

So, anyone else have a comment to make that is my deciding factor?

If it helps at all, I will list some things that I will be doing-

Computer Production Work-
-Screen capturing (Fraps)
-Video editing (Sony Vegas Pro 11)
-Compositing, video animation (Adobe After Effects)
-Photo Editing, Graphics design (Adobe Photoshop)
-3D Modeling, animating, rendering (Blender and 3ds Max)

Basic Programming (Arduino, Visual Studio)

Gaming*-
Creating machinima (Source Filmmaker)
Team Fortress 2
Minecraft
Portal 2
DotA 2
Mass Effect Series
Crysis 2
Diablo 3
Shogun 2: Total War
Section 8: Prejudice
Orcs Must Die

*Games run at minimum 35FPS on medium

 

Bumping post. Any more help?

 

Can you really do much video/image work on a 13 inch screen? The S13P is lacking in the screen area but it makes up for it with a solid GPU especially after the BIOS unlock, which then lets it reach gt650m ddr3 speeds.

The Z on the other hand has just about the same components except a much better screen and much weaker card and a lot faster storage.

I'm personally going to use an external monitor to do work later on.