Sony Vaio Z slow - too hot?

Hi,

i have a Sony Vaio Z21MN and I'm quite unhappy with the speed after it's been running for like 4-5 hours. I only use it for office work, though I'm a "heavy multitasker", often using 15-20 ff tabs at once and programs such as Excel, Photoshop and Outlook in the background. But I think its not too much.

Right now my vaio is rather slow. The fan is running and is quite loud. I dont really mind about that, but I want my vaio to be fast. I took a screenshot of my temps, do you think they are ok?

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/3701/tempsk.png

 

Yes definitely ok. Not okay when it starts getting into 90 deg C.

 

Those temps are low.

 

haha I agree those temps are pretty low or maybe i'm just used to gaming where my temps break 90C on the VPCZ11...

 

Are you running out of free RAM with that many programs open?

 

I dont know. I made 2 screenshots. Right now its again really really slow.

http://www.abload.de/img/speedftgd7.png


@shurcool: That's possible! Here is a screenshot of my task manager:

http://www.abload.de/img/taskm3drp.png

I hope you can understand it even though its in German.

It says empty: 20 mb. Now thats not much! What can I do? I already have 4GB I think but 3GB is the maximum I can use with 32 bit. Do you think I have to install Windows 64 bit? I dont really want to as it is so much work

 

Actually, the real usable RAM limit with 32 bit OS is closer to 2 GB than 3.

So it looks like you're definitely running out of RAM and it's starting to actively use the page file. This will undoubtedly reduce the performance a lot.

I'd really recommend upgrading to a 64 bit OS if you're such a heavy multitasker. For now, at least, try to set your page file to at least 2-3 GB.

You have 25% CPU utilization (that means 100% cpu utilization of 1 out of 4 CPU threads) in that screenshot; which program is using the CPU that heavily? How many are you running altogether?

 

that is only 2 cpu threads because hi is using core 2 duo processor, page file is set to 1.5*ram size.

 

On my european Z21WN im running on 105 degrees playing WoW in Speed Mode. I think this is not normal but what can i do? All is running fine but very hot...

 

105c or 105f? 105c is the thermal shutdown limit. The core 2 duo's have a TJMax of 104-105c. Once they reach that temp they automatically shut off to keep from going into meltdown. If you're running at 105c and still just going along with things and the computer hasn't shut-down, you won't have a notebook much longer. Just sayin. Get a cooling pad, clean the processor's heatsink, undervolt... do something.

 

Sorry, i´ve made an misstake. The 105 degrees are on the GPU - the CPU runs much cooler!

 

Do you think the GPU will not go into meltdown either?

 

I don´t know. Whats the temperatur limit for that chip?

 

>100 degree is highly hazardous for every chips, you can start getting worried since 90-95 degree.

Do you overclocked your graphic card or are you playing in a sauna ??

 

No overclocking at all. Running the z in a docking station.

 

I found out the docking station makes nb much hotter than without it. But even though, the temperatures should be surely under 100C. When I had such high temps, my nb died and they exchanged my MB for free...

 

The technical limit for most GPU's is 115C. They should NEVER reach that temp though. Let it reach that temp enough times and the solder under your GPU will not forgive you. Extreme heat causes electron migration between transistors and degrades the electrical pathways also.

 

Thank you for that information! So on 105C the gpu may speed down? This is the only effect i know - no shutdown, no bluescreen, only very hot