Sony Vaio Z Series and 8GB support [Again]

Hi all,

I have been scouring this forum and the net for information on how to upgrade my VGN-Z36GD to 8GB.

I've read through the thread "How to make 1st to 3rd Generations of Vaio Z support 8GB" and there are some promising leads there especially from ZugZug an Sniper_Sung but the thread kind of abruptly ends without a clear resolution.

Another thread indicates that the victory was celebrated too early and the 8GB doesn't exactly work.

Could someone give me some clarity on this? What to I need to do to get 8GB on my Vaio Z3?

Thanks in advance!

 

Links to your threads would have been useful.

This is the only part that Sony uses:

http://www.micron.com/products/partdetail?part=MT16JSS51264HY-1G1

Two of these = 8GB

$300-500 from official sources for each chip.

That chip is nearing EOL, The new version is this but is CL9 and faster speed but also supports CL7 and PC8500

MT16JSF51264HZ-1G4D1
http://www.micron.com/products/partdetail.aspx?part=MT16JSF51264HZ-1G4

 

Here is a 8GB kit for $350 that seems to match 100% the specs of the mircon but no promises:

http://eshop.macsales.com/Catalog_Item.cfm?ID=11678&AliasItemNumber=OWC8566DDR3S8GP-AL

 

The threads I was referring to in my OP are:

"How to make 1st-3rd generations of Z support 8GB RAM?"
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=384968&page=7&highlight=8gb

and

"Official VAIO Z Core 2 Duo Series Owners Thread" - see post entitled "8GB RAM in US Z690Y: Yes, we can."
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5166385#post5166385

Basically I just want to hear from anyone who has gotten this working and what the steps are or to know I'm wasting my time and just buy a new laptop that will support 8GB.

 

Another thread to add here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=468666

indicates that 8GB can work on an older Z. The specific RAM modules referred to here are Crucial; see http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...tion&AID=10446076&PID=3640576&SID=skim525X832

Can anyone confirm these will work on the Z36?

 

Those 'have' been confirmed working. I understand that certain BIOS firmwares will break capability with 8GB RAM. An example I remember reading here a few months back is that the BIOS update intended capability of the hybrid GPU on W7 broke the 8GB RAM capability, but there has been 1x BIOS update since then, which might work with 8GB.

Though I'm personally looking for Elpida branded RAMs, I guess Microns would be the only choice if they are the only confirmed ones working.

 

I can confirm the Crucial 8GB RAM modules work in the " older " Z. I did not have to do any changes in the BIOS page. I added them and just started my computer and it was instantly recognized. The upgrade from 4GB to 8GB is a noticeable improvment. The performance when web browsing is very quick. "Right now as I post this I have open are 21 tabs, 9 photos, a 720p youtube clip on standby, and a PDF of the " older " Z disassembly guide. Out of the total 8124MB of RAM only 41% of it is in use.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...tion&AID=10446076&PID=3640576&SID=skim525X832

 

You just need a BIOS other than R30xx one to get 8GB works. Your Z36GB comes with this kind of BIOS so it won't work with 8GB. Try to update your BIOS to R4044M3 or R5031M3. I got my old Z working with 8GB (Hynix)

 

@NHT
Very good point. I didn't realize jazuli14 didn't already have the latest BIOS update. I wonder if he is aware of this.

 

@NHT I have the stock standard R3052M3 BIOS with the Advanced and Power menu hacks enabled (mainly to get the VT-x enabled). I run VMs on this thing regularly and without the 8GB it gets pretty brutal sometimes.

I have read that if I update to R4041M3+ that the Advanced/Power hacks are disabled but the VT-x bit is turned on by default... should I worry about keeping access to the backdoor menus for any reason, or do you think it is fine to upgrade as I won't lose access to any useful tweaks?