Sony Z11 (new) SSD change.

Hello world.
Anyone can tell me how can i replace my SSD 128 on bigger one (want 512) and where i can buy it ?

 

The answer to this is more complicated than you may think. Sony's SSD drives are proprietary and cant' be replaced with aftermaket SSD drives. Some people were experimenting with removing the optical drive and installing an aftermarket Ssd drive with a lenovo drive holder however I read that it doesn't work properly.

 

Actually you can upgrade to 512gb SSD if you get the Sony Quad SSD. You can order it thru here https://servicesplus.us.sony.biz/sony-parts.aspx or your local Sony service provider.

Installing a non-Sony SSD is a different matter. The only way, at the moment, is to use an adapter in the optical bay. It works fine (I am using one - intel x25-m) except there is an issue with the notebook power management (ie. Less battery time)

 

Ok. Understood. But i need a part number to order it, can anyone help me ?

 

The part number is 185757711

 

Thanks Alot !!!!

 

It was a fairly quick swap with very little customization and it works 100% immediately.

 

I didn't follow it up but I read that some guy said it works at first but then doesn't. Is this the case?

 

It's too bad it's not in stock >.< and costs $1,216 USD

 

If you have dual-SSD Z or tripple-SSD Z, there are no problems at all.

If you have quad-SSD Z, adding one more drive is triggering a bug in the BIOS, which overwrites CPU-related ACPI data. This manifests as shorter battery life, as CPU works constantly @max frequency and cannot step down to lower P-states.

Well, it is a 512 GB SSD, right? $1.2K for 512 GB SSD is within market value of MLC SSDs today.

 

Is it possible to upgrade a 128GBx2 (i.e. 256GB) to a 128x5 (i.e. 512)?

If so, what parts would one need to order: I would assume the 128x2 drive card as well as perhaps a dual cable to replace the single? What else?

Also, does anyone know what the part numbers would be?

 

Mine has worked fine since the install, no issues with accessing it at all.

I had an issue where I couldn't boot off of the new drive but I am 100% convinced that it's a config issue with the way I setup that drive. When I have some free time I'm going to rebuild it and I should be GTG after that.

 

Just a little add. Is that part number suitable for Z12 notebook series ? (i mean 185757711)

 

Does anyone have the partnumber for the smallest (128GB) ssd?
I'd like to buy the HDD-Version and add a SSD to it, so i don't have to do the OD-to-HDD-Swap thing.

 

Check out this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/511578-how-replace-ssd-vaio-vpcz11-vpcz12-non-sony-ssd.html

 

The HDD version has a cable that goes motherboard->HDD

The SSD version has a different cable from motherboard->SSD

Both has a slimline SATA port that doesn't lead from the motherboard connector (above). This means that if you get the HDD version, you don't get the cable motherboard->SSD, you'll also have to buy that. There's no cable that goes

motherboard--->SSD
+-> HDD


Then again, if you don't intend to have the optical drive, you can just replace the 2.5" drive with an off-the-shelf SSD, it doesn't have to be the 1.8" Sony.

 

Can you clarify that TofuTurkey? I'm considering getting the HDD version of the Z12, and adding an SSD, but I was hoping to keep the sony-fitted HDD.

ie i want to add the smallest (128gb?) version of their proprietary SSD, is it possible to buy that from Sony? or get a 3rd party model that will work reliably?

 

Please check in the thread mentioned above if the HDD is in the same place as the SSD's and if the connector on the board for the cable that goes to the HDD is the same as at the SSD's. You can buy a cable the goes from the Mainboard to the SSD (mSATA) . The best thing is probably to ask Sony directly if you can upgrade the notebook later with two SSD's or not. If so than you can probably just buy the cable and the SSD's you want (1.8" mSATA).

 

The innards look like this (HDD version):



The hard disk in there sits in place of the optical drive. Sony's proprietary SSD would sit in the small space at the bottom left, but for the HDD version there's no Sony SSD. Cable-wise, the HDD cable (as shown in the picture) leads from the motherboard to the HDD. For the SSD version, the cable leads from motherboard (same connector) to the space immediately below. Different cables. Unless someone can hack the cables, which, in addition to deciphering the pin connections, require $$ (~$2K) to build the prototype FPC cable.

Or you can replace the optical drive with one of them bay adapters, that's the path of least pain.

 

Thanks for your answers,

I don't know if I'm someone who should open up SSD's and use tape to fix them inside a 2000€ Notebook
Thats why I'd like to get a sony-ssd so I can simply put it in and run it as system drive, so I don't want a SSD, I want a SSD in addition to a HDD (I need the space).
On the other hand, Enny02's mod looks great and if it is not TOO hard to do that mod, i might try it.
Can i simply buy a SSD and that cable and add this SSD as second drive to the HDD Z12?

 

The problem is with the cable: there's either the MB->HDD cable, or MB->SSD cable, both use the same connector on the motherboard. There's no cable that leads from MB and splits to both HDD and SSD. BUT, there is the slimline SATA connector in the optical drive space (where the HDD would sit as well), you can use a bay adapter to replace the optical drive, then sit the HDD in that. For that option, it's easiest to go with the optical-drive + SSD way, since it'll already have the Sony SSDs and MB->SSD cable. I suspect it's cheaper too since I've heard upgrades later on are generally quite expensive...

Edit: here's Zoinks' thread on replacing optical drive with a drive adapter, there are pics in there so it'll be possible to compare and see the different cables... http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/469244-z11-replace-dvd-hdd-working-solution.html

 

@TofuTurkey You can buy the cable from the Z12 (see first post of my thread). Of course the HDD/SSD in the optical drive bay needs to use the sata port of the optical drive if you want both.

@fuchstronaut I don't think the HDD and a SSD fit in the same place together. The HDD is I think twice as thick.

 

Thank you very much guys,

one simply has to love that forum. Explanations are dummy-friendly with colored pictures, great

I just thought it might be possible to get that extra SSD, I didn't knew about the cable.
But thats defently something I don't want to touch.
I think I stick with my plan and get a caddy from newmodeus, they seem to be well made.

 

I think replacing the optical drive with an HDD/SSD is more work than replacing the internal HDD/SSD. If you want to keep the optical drive and you want performance and more than 128GB disk space you have to buy two (or much bigger and more expensive) SSD's. I bought a RealSSD C300 128GB for $300 for OS and Apps (for performance) and a Samsung 256GB SSD for $400 (still on the way to me) for storage. The RealSSD C300 256GB costs around $600 .

 

I order a 185757711 and wait for 1.5 month. Recive a single small package with board with MMDPE56GQDXP-MVB it and that all. I spend a 1.3k $ for 256gb SSD drive ? What does this mean ? Can anybody tell me how could that happend ?

 

Can you elaborate? What did you order and what did you get?

 

Did you call in and make sure that's the 512 GB? If you think about it... the 512 GB IS in fact 2x256 GB... and I dont think sony would have a separate listing for the 512 when it's just 2 of the 256 GB drives...

 

I have panic
No, I did not call. Just place an order at https://www.servicesplus.sel.sony.com/sony-parts.aspx with Part Number 185757711 and recieve a package with 1 (one) MMDPE56GQDXP-MVB SSD drive inside, as i read at the post http://forum.notebookreview.com/5918283-post2578.html - it's a 256gb (dual 128gb) SSD drive, but not an 512gb (2x256gb). My question is how many of MMDPE56GQDXP-MVB SSD drive I had to get for 1.2k $ one or two ? Price 1200$ for 256gb SSD drive looks like a hoax :-(

 

Helloo. Can anybody help me ? Maybe someone buy this stuff and can discribe content of package received from Sony ?

 

I suggest you call or email Sony parts: [email protected]

 

Don't think too hard, you brain is gonna hurt If sony is selling 512gb SSD for Z series, it's obviously a pair of 256s, prepped and ready to go in a single package

 

So, i can suggest that somehow second HDD(SSD board) was missed/stolen/anything ? And my suggestion was right about of pair of SSD's in that order (Part Number 185757711) ?

 

Okay, out of curiosity for myself I decided to contact Sony support. From the site, part numbers 185757911 and 185757611 are 128GB SSD drives. The part number for the 256GB SSD drive is 185757711...This is directly from Sony support. Hope this helps.

 

That's... quite a lot for 256GB If that's for just one board, then it would be the cost of another Z to get 512GB

 

And so ? As i understand, setup an 512gb SSD drive into euro version of sony VPCZ12Z9R/XQ Z12 (256gb SSD (yepp 64x4 (128x2))) may cost for me 2400 $ ??????
Excuse me, my english terrible

 

If you're getting one physical board, then yes it does sound like it'll cost $2400 for 512GB. Which is quite a lot... I think you'll be better off getting that cable which Z13 uses for Toshiba drives, and getting off-the-shelf SSDs. That should be way cheaper.

Can you still able to return the Sony SSD?

 

Please explain. Because i have a stressful conflict situation with my local Sony retailer, i accused them of missing the second SSD. When I created this post called at Sony USA and conclusion was that part number 185757711 OTB 512GB SSD drive.
BTW question was how can i upgrade an Sony Z11 with 128gb SSD
onboard, so at first time i do not have any type of 256 SSD drives.

 

Based on thegre8stone's post above, it looks like 185757711 is the part number for one physical 256GB board. Did you confirm with your Sony retailer that it's supposed to be 512GB before you bought it?

 

Yepp. And for sure, search query at Sony Sevice plus (Model Prefix starts with: VPCZ11, Description contains: SSD) have an result:
.

VPCZ110GL 185757811 185757811 NAND BASED SSD INTERNAL 271,54р. Availability
*This price includes a refundable core charge of 0,00р.. If you return the faulty part within 60 days you will receive a 0,00р. credit.
VPCZ110GL 185757911 185757911 NAND BASED SSD INTERNAL 583,62р. Availability
*This price includes a refundable core charge of 0,00р.. If you return the faulty part within 60 days you will receive a 0,00р. credit.
VPCZ119FJ 418056201 418056201 SHEET MESH SSD PLASTIC 15,95р. Availability
*This price includes a refundable core charge of 0,00р.. If you return the faulty part within 60 days you will receive a 0,00р. credit.
VPCZ119FJ 185757611 185757611 NAND BASED SSD INTERNAL 626,73р. Availability
VPCZ11AFJ 185757711 185757711 NAND BASED SSD INTERNAL 1 204,09р. Availability

And nothing else. And of course this type of SSD suitable for Z11-Z12-Z13 series notebooks.

 

And for future reference. In Europe and Russia 512 GB SSD version is not available. Otherwise i would not order something from the U.S.

 

Okay...So I wrote them back to confirm about the size. I gave him my model number Z122gx, and told him that I would like to convert to 256gb capacity. He have me a different part number then on the site when searching for the vpcz11 model...Here's the quote from the email:

"The correct part number for the 128MB SDD drive for the VPCZ122GX is 145822111.
Yes you would order 2 to make 256GB "

Upon searching for that part, on Sony's site, it costs $465.62 per drive and I would need 2 to make 256gb. I guess I'll either get the C300 or the Vertex 2 1.8" drives then remove them out of the case. At least we know a part # now for the OEM Sony drives for those who wants to convert to 256gb drive...

 

Where did u get this P/N ? Because my search results for that P/N - VGNG3KBG
Model Part
VGNG3KBG 145822111 145822111 INTERNAL SOLID STATE DRIVE 465,62р.

 

Do you have P/N for Z12/Z13 ???

 

Yes i think... but it shuld take lot of time (1 month minimum). Do you have P/N for that cable ? which Z13 uses for Toshiba drives ????

 

Try this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/511578-how-replace-ssd-vaio-vpcz11-vpcz12-non-sony-ssd.html

 

Thank you for response.

 

Sony support gave me that part # when I asked them about the 256gb upgrade for the Z122GX...

 

thegre8tone, would you like to share it with us? It would be useful to find out the exact sony part price.
SORRY HAD SKIPPED A POST FROM ABOVE. PLEASE IGNORE THIS...