Sony Vaio Z2 - Photos and Teardown

Update: Better/more pics here

Morning all,

Here we go again. I picked up a Z2 at the local Sony store here in Dallas yesterday and just like when the Z1 launched, they had the low-end model first. I plan, just like last time, to use the low-end model until the Signature series gets delivered.

My apologies for Mr Blurrycam, but my camera is MIA so I had to use my craptastic Blackberry for this photoshoot.

From a complexity standpoint, the Z2 is very simple to open. You need to pull the battery using a coin or a large headed standard screwdriver.

Moving on to chassis screws, they are different lengths which Sony loves to do so be sure you take a pic of the bottom of the laptop, print it and put the screws on top of the printout as you remove them. This way you'll remember where they go.

There are two screws towards the back that are covered with rubber bumpers. Take a flathead screwdriver or spudger and pry them out to gain access to these screws.

The bottom of the chassis comes off without needing to access the screen or keyboard. Work the bottom plate off with a spudger, moving from the front of the machine to the rear. You will probably end up with some fitment issues around the VGA, headphone and ethernet ports. Just wiggle the bottom plate until it breaks free. This plate is carbon fiber, so you can be a little rough with it.

Here are the pics

Looks like the lower-end models lack the mini-pcie slot to install a WWAN card. Good news is that we may be able to replace it with a proper GOBI card on the WWAN-equiped models (read: use Verizon)
Ethernet hinge assembly
Wish this pic came out better. The copper cooling blades look pretty cool.
Intel 6230 WiFi card, half height
Standard Sony SSD sandwich setup. I'll be testing this 128GB (2x 64GB) setup later.
Same SATA adapter from the Z1
Inside of the bottom plate, the carbon fiber weave is clearly visible
One more if the bottom plate
This is one of the two hidden screws. Remove the rubber bumper to access
The SSD bay
Rubber and metallic battery screws
One of the two rubber bumpers
Primary battery
Battery bay with the battery below
Battery bay with the battery below

I'm going to splay-out the dock next.

Enjoy

 

A few equally poor quality pics of the Z2 vs the Z1 and the 11" Macbook Air

The Z2 is about as thin as the Air and much thinner than the Z1
Another height pic
The Z1/2 are about identical in depth
Thin
The Z2 is wider than the Z1
Top-down with the plate battery charger

 

Nice guide!

 

Fantastic. Thanks for the guide. I'm loving the comparison pictures.

 

So, Will it take the same ssd size from the Z1?

 

I think so, but with the speed boost of the new SATA III SSD's, it wouldn't be advisable. Can't wait to see what the 512GB configs can do.

 

Haha, i remember your old guide Zoinks, I guess we shall expect this from you always?

 

Probably, unless the lappy dies or I find something better

Edit: I've been using a screwdriver kit from iFixit. Can't say engough good things about it:

http://www.ifixit.com/Tools/54-Piece-Bit-Driver-Kit/IF145-022

Never hurts to have some plastic spudgers on hand either:

http://www.ifixit.com/Tools/54-Piece-Bit-Driver-Kit/IF145-022

 

I dont think your second ctrl+c worked the links are the same

here's the spudger:
http://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Spudger/IF145-002

 

Thank you sir. Human error

 

Tore apart the new machine this morning before the family woke up. I made a half-hearted attempt to pull off the mainboard. Way to scary for me at this point.

WWAN card and SIM slot

More WWAN
SIM slider
the 512 GB SSD sammich
Copper cooler, looks identical the the one for the i5
Copper cooler
There's your problem, I have larger speakers in my headphones
VGA and wires
Wire organization is the main reason I didn't take the mainboard off
The USB3 port has hair-width wires
More SIM Stuff
Mmmm, carbon fiber
SIM slot in bottom tray
The main body of the bottom plate is CF, but it has plastic bits that appear to have been sonically welded in place
Not sure what this microswitch is for, it is behind the SIM card and nothing appears to touch it.
Rubber charging port cover
More of the SIM slot
And another
The charging port cover goes into the sheet battery here. Seems a bit loose

Profile shots

 

Those wires in the USB3.0 are likely actually the LP fibers. Would explain the "hair width" as well

 

You are probably right. You can see the receptors in this pic

Imageshack - dsc00340ln.jpg

Closeup of the PMB-side port. Neat

 

I bet the SIM drawer hits it when you insert the SIM, the switch tells it that the SIM is in place.

 

Do you plan on putting invisible shield on yours again? Your Z1 was what inspired me to get mine done!

 

CPU and RAM is soldered on?

 

of course an yep

 

I'm interested in replacing the Intel 6230 card with the 6250 WiMax card. Does this look feasible?

 

yes, although I don't remember if it uses 2 or 3 antenna leads.

Regardless, it will fit.

 

The 6 250 has two u.fl connectors just like the 6 230
it seems like the second number in the Intel model numbers for WiFi signifies the number of antennas

6 300 - 3x3 Ultimate N
6 200 - 2x2 Advanced N
6 205 - 2x2 Advanced N
6 230 - 2x2 Advanced N + BT 3.0
6 250 - 2x2 Advanced N + WiMax

What I'd really love to see is a 6330 - Ultimate N + BT 3.0
I wonder why they haven't made this yet.

The great thing about that is that if you had 2x2 and BT on your computer, you have three antennas and all you'd have to do is drop in this fancy card for more range, throughput, and an upgrade to BT 3.0.
I have been running the 6230 in my Z1 for a few months now, with the Broacom BT disabled, the BT works better than ever.

 

Does all of this apply to a Z11 as well? Specifically, can I replace my 6200 with a 6250 and use WiMax? Any problems with antennae, BT? Thanks.

 

applies to any computer that uses the same type of wireless cards.

 

ComputerCowboy,

Dunno, it would make sense that they would.

Madman guesses why BT and WiFi haven't been integrated:

• The WiFi and BT groups don't talk
• 2.4 Ghz frequecy or other technical issues?
• Licensing?
• Upgrade proof (intel's favor) Buy new moboard to force upgrades

Yes, I pulled all of these from my butt

 

I imagine the 6250 would work in the Z1, the 6230 is flawless, I also have a 6300 and that works perfectly also (but you need an extra antenna for this)

Go ahead and try a 6250 in the Z1, it is 99% likely to work and if it does not work you can just resell the card.

 

Ok, too many relevant and helpful responses to quote here, but thank you, and I have a couple of remaining questions:

1) Do you need to have BT 3.0 compatible devices (headphone, speaker,etc) to get any benefit from BT 3.0 in the Intel 6230?

2) Since I have WiMax in my town (DC area), is a 6250 my best bet for WWAN service (given that I'd have to sacrifice BT 3.0), or might I be just as well served with a 6230 for the BT improvement (whatever the Z11's Broadcom BT delivers, it sucks!) and get either an EC or even USB dongle for WWAN service, which I need more for travel and in a pinch; normally I have wifi service. I know you have successfully "transplanted" a SIM card slot into your Z12, but I am just not quite comfortable doing that, and I will not need WWAN service often enough to take the time, risk, etc.

Thanks.

 

Depending on contract prices and how often you (and where) you would want to use WWAN, why not go for a Verizon LTE dongle? The LTE is going to significantly faster than Clear and have better coverage.

 

My understanding was that the cost of both the dongle and the service for LTE was astronomically higher, though I have not researched it recently. Truthfully, I won't need any of this come February, when I am finally released from ATT contract bondage and will likely get a Verizon LTE smartphone that can be used as a mobile hotspot or a tether, whichever is cheaper. But if I could get on-demand WiMax (paying by the month only when need it) now, at the small cost of a 6250 card, that would be a good interim fix. Don't know if Sprint/Clearwire require a contract for something like that with no cell phone or hotspot modem involved. Will check out and report in - unless anyone already knows?

 

LTE will be released from ATT by then as well as 4G mPCIE cards, but that's the struggle isn't it.

Do you get a phone/tablet and tether or get embedded WWAN?

 

Bluetooth 2.1 devices don't do anything special when connected to a Bluetooth 3.0 device.

Since the Z2 has Bluetooth 2.1 on the internal USB you won't loose BT support.

They have to give you service without a contract if you have your own hardware, it is the law.

Just demand it.

AT&T was being a pain in the butt one time about something like that, so I just stayed in the store complaining until they gave me what I wanted. I got hungry during the many hours I spent there... so I ordered a pizza and had I delivered to the AT&T store an opened it on the counter and started eating it. That was the last straw for them. They had had enough and they figured out a way to serve me. They couldn't really kick me out out because I was a paying customer, I wasn't being rude, just very demanding.

 

Veering slightly off topic:

Yes, tenacity is one of the key elements of dealing with store personnel. I also found that being calm, accurate and LOUD also helps. Store personnel tend to get very nervous when other customers begin to hear your issues.

 

Though I tried everything but CC's approach (below), I find myself stuck into an ATT contract for wireless phone until Feb 1 2012. At that time, I will be getting a new smartphone, best I can find with the best carrier deal, that includes tethering and/or hotspot service from the smartphone without at least any additional monthly charges. Till then, I may go with CC's approach with Clearwire, once I have the 6250 hdwe installed in my Z11.

But, if I purchase a BT 3.0 headset and speaker (you know, got the Z1 audio blues, not loving cords to speakers), and get the 6230 card, then how much better is the 3.0 connectivity? As of now, the native Z11 BT + top rated BT headsets and speakers allow me, at most, 5 ft away from the laptop (or BB smartphone) before they break up. Will having BT 3.0 for laptop transmit radio and device receive make a big difference? Right now, that's actually more important to me than having the WWAN, since I have good short term options for that.

As if I needed a reminder, this is why owning a Vaio is a must for me until you switch alliances, CC - you make my day In reality, I have always been successful jawboning to get what I was entitled to, even not entitled to, but I have lost some of my tenacity in that area, hence deciding to wait to Feb 1 rather than keep fighting with ATT. Turns out, no smartphone/carrier combo exists at present that has me chomping at the bit.

Yeah, I'm with you both on that - though I've done well on the phone, knowing that big brother is always listening "to improve the quality of our customer care" Whether on the phone or especially in a store, my wife breaks out in hives when I become "forceful." I was born with a strong sense of justice and just enough wild anarchy to be as scary as I need to be. Again, either age, back injury or lack of passion for the mission (of getting better tech support) have minimized my appetite for the fight, except when a lot of $ is involved, a lot of unfairness or, frankly, a store dude who just pisses me off with attitude!

 

Go to a Clear store, they're all over the town, and will be the best at giving you month-to-month service at a reasonable price.

I wouldn't do that. I'd be afraid that instead of giving me what I wanted, they would give me AT&T service.

 

Does anyone know where to buy these special SSD drives? I would love to buy the larger 512g drive for a good price and install it. I have to believe that it can be purchased for much less then the $1100usd that Sony charges.

 

1100USD is inline with current market SSD pricing for 500/512GB, Sony or not.

 

$1100 is inline with full retail prices...but most places never charge that....plus, the $1100 is to upgrade the 128g drive to a 512g drive...so the 128g drive is worth $300 retail too....I can buy a Samsung 830 series 512g drive for $849 from NewEgg and sell the 128g stock drive for $100 used on ebay. End cost to me is only $749 insted of $1100. Just looking for options....$349 is two days pay for me....

 

^There are no other options for SSD's on the Z2. Currently you must use the Sony drives.

 

Is it even post to buy those drives from Sony parts.
I tried contacting them and they said they don't have it in stock and don't know when it will be.

 

I agree. I've been using Verizon's network for 2 years now and have been impressed with their coverage. Now that I'm on the their 4G LTE network, I'm also impressed with its speed. At times I forget that I'm on WWAN vs. my home WiFi network.

 

So, if I want to open the laptop, I must take out thoses rubber bumper ?
Can we replace it easily afterwards ?

 

^I certainly don't remember running into that

edit: Wait, yes, now I do. it's no biggie.

 

Louche, just wondering: what is the going rate for this kind of service? (MODS: PLEEEZE have a sense of humor about this - 'tis the season to be jolly, ho, ho, ho!

 

Yes. They are attached with a tacky adhesive. As long as you don't get dust or pet hair on them, you should be able to remove and replace them many times. I think I'm on the 4th or 5th disassemble. No problems.

I still STRONGLY recommend you get a spudger to work off the mini-clasps across the rear of the bottom plate. You can easily break one off if you try to force it. I also use a spudger to pull the bumpers.

You also need to remove the SIM card, if your machine has one.

 

^Thank you ZoinksS2k for the advice, I'll try to find a spudger before disassemble my Z2 for trying out my eGPU mod.

 

Anyone have a guide for a Z2 screen transplant/replacement?

 

Zoink, could you please confirm if the RAM on the Z2 is removable or not ? From what it looks like right here, the RAM is socketed onto the board using proprietary connector: [Šg‘å‰æ‘œ]yŠ}Œ´ˆê‹P‚̃†ƒrƒLƒ^ƒXî•ñ‹Çz ƒCƒ“ƒTƒCƒh VAIO Z
I haven't opened mine yet nor buying the RAM since I am not sure whether it will work or not. Would really appreciate if you could lend me a helping hand. And yes, mine is a 4GB model. Suck to be me I know.

 

RAM is soldered, non-upgradeable, non-repleacable by user

 

@Palda, do you have anything to back up what you just said or just simply talked out of your *** ? Beside I am asking Zoink, not you. Have you even opened your Z2 yet ? If not, then please don't act like you know. Thank you.

@Zoink: I found some pics online that looks like the RAM module is removable, would be great if you or somebody else who HAS actually opened his/her laptops could confirm this for all of us.

???? ?? ??? ???? - ????

???? ?? ??? ???? - ????

 

^ That is what I have seen in the Z2 press release when it first came out.

As far as the pictures from your link and the sony teardown photos tell, the RAM modules are generally user replaceable but do have proprietary connectors.

See the pics from here with connected and disconnected RAM modules:

 

Whoa, what's with the mega-attitude? Consider:

1. Though pyr0 has modified Palda's response (because he is a genius!), it's been long discussed here that changing/upgrading RAM in the Z2 is just not feasible.

2. Asking "Zoink," as you call him, is quite futile; he has not posted to NBR in months, has an extremely busy practice all over the world.

This is just me saying so, but I don't think insulting people who offer to help, even if they are wrong, is, well, not nice or terribly smart. Frankly, I'm surprised pyr0 even gave you some of his valuable time knowing him as I do. Just be nice, ok?

 

Sorry my response was a bit rude but I am interested in responses of people who have actually opened up their Z2, not just some guesswork. I will try to tone it down. Thanks pyr0 for your reply. I guess I have to try it myself and report the findings then.