VGNSZ48GNC Versus VGNSZ38GP

Hi All

Sorry for the newb question

I'm located in Australia and am looking at a new Sony laptop. The SZ series looks ideal. The VGNSZ48GNC and VGNSZ38GP sell for the same price but have slightly different specs. What do the differences mean in the real world (heavy photoshop CS2 use plus graphics while travelling)? Also do the specs indicate that one machine is overall better than the other or is it that the 48 is better in some areas and the 38 better in others?

Any info would be much appreciated. Cheers

Here's the specs of the two:

VAIO 13.3INCH PRESTIGE NOTEBOOK VGNSZ48GNC

Hardware

* Microprocessor: Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology, Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T7200 (2.00GHz)
* Processor System Bus: 667 MHz
* Cache Memory: 4MB Advanced Smart Cache
* Main Memory: 1GB DDR2 SDRAM. 2 SO-DIMM slots. (The pre-installed memory module uses one)
* Hard Drive: 160GB (HDD Recovery Storage: 7GB, C:Remain) Serial ATA, 5400rpm
* Wireless LAN: IEEE 802.11a/b/g
* Optical Drive: Reading Speed: DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW: x8 / DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL (Double layer): x6 / DVD-RAM: x5 / CD-R, CD-ROM, CD-RW: x24
* Optical Drive: Writing Speed: DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW: x8 / DVD-RW: x6 / DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL (Double layer): x4 / DVD-RAM: x5 / CD-R: x24 / CD-RW: x16
* Graphics Processing Unit: NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7400 notebook graphics processing unit (GPU)
* Total Available Graphics Memory (Max): 319MB
* Display: 13.3" Wide (WXGA: 1280 x 800) TFT colour display (Clear Bright LCD: White LED, Wide View)
* Interfaces: USB 2.0 x 2, 4-pin i.Link (IEEE 1394) S400, ExpressCard™/34 Slot, PCMCIA Type I/II x 1(Cardbus Support), RJ45 Ethernet, RJ11 Modem, Headphone Jack, Microphone Jack, Monitor VGA D-SUB 15 pin, Memory Stick Duo Slot, Port replicator connector
* Bluetooth®: Bluetooth® standard version 2.0+EDR, Output: Maximum +6dBm, Frequency: 2.4GHz
* Built-In MOTION EYE Camera: Effective Pixels: 640x480, Image Device: 1/8" VGA CMOS, Lens: 2 elements in 2 groups F4, Focus distance: f=1.74mm
* Modem: V.92 and V.90 Compliant
* Ethernet: 100 Base-TX/10 Base-T
* Audio: DSD compatible high quality sound chip: "Sound Reality"(Intel® High Definition Audio compatible), 3D audio (Direct Sound 3D support), Built-in stereo speakers, Built-in monaural microphone
* Keyboard/Input Device: ca 19 mm Key pitch / 3mm Key stroke, Intelligent Touchpad
* Battery: Up to 6.5 hours of use with supplied lithium-ion battery (at STAMINA MODE)
* Dimensions (WxHxD): 315 × 21.8-32.6 × 234.3mm
* Weight: 1.69kg (including supplied battery)
* Warranty: 12 months standard

VAIO 13.3" PRESTIGE NOTEBOOK VGNSZ38GP

Hardware

* Microprocessor: Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology, Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T7200 (2.0GHz)
* Processor System Bus: 667MHz
* Cache: L1 Cache: 64KB L2 Cache: 4MB (on CPU)
* Main Memory: 1GB DDR2 SDRAM (2 SO-DIMM slots, 1 occupied) (partially shared with video memory)
* Hard Drive: 120GB (C:50GB, D:63GB, HDD Recovery Storage:7GB) Serial ATA, 5400rpm
* Wireless LAN: IEEE 802.11a/b/g
* Optical Drive -: Reading Speed: DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD+R DL (Double Layer): 4x / DVD-ROM: x8 / DVD-RAM: x2 / CD-RW: x12 / CD-R, CD-ROM: x24
* Optical Drive -: Writing Speed: DVD+R, DVD-R: x4 / DVD+RW, DVD+R DL (Double Layer): X2.4 / DVD-RW, DVD-RAM:x2 / CD-R: x24 / CD-RW: x10
* Graphic Accelerator: NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7400 with NVIDIA® TurboCache™
* Video Memory: 128 MB (shared with main memory)
* Display: 13.3" Wide (WXGA 1280 x 800) TFT colour display (Clear Bright LCD)
* Interfaces: USB 2.0 x 2, 4-pin i.Link (IEEE 1394) S400, ExpressCard™/34 Slot, PCMCIA Type I/II x 1(Cardbus Support), RJ45 Ethernet, RJ11 Modem, Headphone Jack, Microphone Jack, Monitor VGA D-SUB 15 pin, Memory Stick Duo Slot, Port replicator connector
* Bluetooth®: Bluetooth® standard version 2.0+EDR, Output: Maximum +6dBm, Frequency: 2.4GHz
* Built-In Camera: 310,000 pixels effective / Image Device: 1/8", VGA CMOS / Lens: 2 elements in 2 groups, F4 (Fixed) / Focus distance: f=1.74mm / Built-in monaural microphone aside
* Modem: V.92 and V.90 Compliant
* Ethernet: 100 Base-TX/10 Base-T
* Audio: Intel® High Definition Audio Compatible, 3D audio (Direct Sound 3D support), Built in Stereo Speakers
* Keyboard/Input Device: ca 19 mm Key pitch / 2.5 mm Key stroke, Intelligent Touchpad
* Battery: Up to 6.5 hours of use with supplied lithium-ion battery (at STAMINA MODE)
* Dimensions (WxHxD): 315× 21.8 (minimum) - 32.6 (maximum)× 234.3mm
* Weight: Approximately 1.69kg (including supplied battery)
* Warranty: 12 months standard

 

You're mainly just looking at a bigger hard drive, in terms of significant differences.... also slightly faster optical drive. I'm surprised the SZ48 doesn't have 2GB of RAM though; the SZ460 here in the US has 2GB of RAM and a 160GB HD.

Do you absolutely need to go with the SZx8 though? If you get the SZx5 or SZx6, you'll still get the premium benefits (thinner carbon fiber lid and LED backlighting), but it should be cheaper...... the main difference in the more expensive premium models is just that you have the visible cross-hatching in the carbon fibre, which personally I don't find to be worth the extra price premium (I went with the SZ460 personally).

 

If I'm not wrong, the market he/she is in has only one premium choice, SZ48 (for SZ4 series)....

By the way, another difference between the SZ38 & SZ48 is probably that SZ38 comes with Windows XP while the SZ48 comes with Windows Vista.

 

5400 rpm SATA drive..........too slow.....bottle neck.......find a 7200 rpm drive.....plus 1 gigs of memory aint enough for Vista...

Regards!

 

Thanks for the info guys.

The thing is I had an SZ38 which unfortunately got stolen a week ago. My insurance company will replace the laptop rather than payout in cash. But if the sz48 is an all round better machine then I'll see if I can get them to buy it as the replacement rather than a sz38, seeing that the RRP is the same.

Before it got stolen the sz38 worked great for me, power plus the portability albeit it felt a little delicate so I've always babied it.

Do you think there's any difference in the main memory? Sony's website doesn't mention anything about shared video memory for the SZ48 while it does for the SZ38. The Sony guy I spoke to couldn't tell me any more than just read the specs

 

I'm pretty sure the shared video memory is just for the GMA950 side, and it's the same regardless of whether youg et the SZ3 or SZ4.

I think one big thing though, especially if the SZ4 comes with Vista, go ahead and try and get it with 2GB of memory if you can. Right now with my SZ460 with Vista and 2GB of RAM, when I use the little memory usage utility, there's already 850 megs of memory used (even when I don't have any apps open yet) and 950 megs of memory used when I am using GMA950.

 

Vista's memory utilization can be confusing, especially when comparing it to XP. What you're seeing is the filesystem caching and your actual required memory utilization is probably less. However, at this level of spending you're absolutely correct that 2GB with Vista is highly recommended.

 

Thanks again guys

Sony in Oz only sells the 1GB versions of the SZ. Getting a 1GB stick is on the cards though whether I end up with an SZ38 or an SZ48.

Cheers