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    SonyZ590. Could i get a Gfx chip installed?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by plancy, Sep 28, 2008.

  1. plancy

    plancy Notebook Evangelist

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    closed, nevermind
     
  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    No, sorry. Most laptops cannot have their GPUs upgraded. That one is one of them.

    I wouldn't bother looking for something than can be upgraded, because you won't find one that truly is upgradeable.

    Depending on your needs, the Intel card might be perfectly fine.
     
  3. plancy

    plancy Notebook Evangelist

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    well i was looking to play at least FFXI on my laptop.(thanks for the quick response btw)
     
  4. plancy

    plancy Notebook Evangelist

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    nevermind. Is there a guide for installing windows XP on this model?
     
  5. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    Bear in mind that the Z series all come with both the Intel integrated graphics AND also an Nvidia 9300 GS (the Speed vs Stamina switch allows you to choose which you want to use).

    If you order a model with Vista Business, Sony gives instructions and installation media for 'downgrading' to XP. If you order any other model, you should be able to find the drivers and utilities for most things to work on Sony's website, but you'll most likely have to slipstream the right SATA drivers into your own XP installation disc using nLite or similar.
     
  6. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    That laptop already has a 256MB Nvidia 9300M onboard. It's hybrid graphics, like described by InfyMcGirk.
     
  7. plancy

    plancy Notebook Evangelist

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    Is there a big difference between 128MB dedicated GPU ram and shared? Installing XP sounds difficult, I've never slipstreamed anything, is there a guide on this forum or must i google it?
     
  8. plancy

    plancy Notebook Evangelist

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    I just realized yesterday that BestBuy and Conn's actually have the Z520/B, which i don't think has dedicated GPU ram, but shared with system RAM I THINK.
     
  9. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    VAIO Z without dedicated GPU does not exist.
     
  10. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    As Phil says, you can't get a Z without the 9300 GS Nvidia chip. The lower res models come with 128meg dedicated vram and the higher res models come with 256meg.

    Installing XP isn't too hard but then I didn't have to slipstream anything as my Z came bundled with Vista Business and XP downgrade media was included in the box.