Vaio VGN-TZ190N/BC - SSD upgrade possible?

I get a Vaio VGN-TZ190N/BC for my wife who will mostly use it for word documents and internet browsing. 32 GB memory and the speed is enough for those tasks however if possible I would like to increase storage space.

I will create a restore disk and later delete the hidden restore partition. I will also get rid of nearly all the preinstalled softwares. If downgrading to XP will help save even more space I will do that too, risking some hardware not to function, however I think Sony having issued 30 xp driver files should have thought about everything.I downloaded them already.

However I have a question for which I could not find an answer around: can I buy a larger SSD and replace the onboard 32 GB ? If this is possible which type I need to buy? The on board should be Ultra ATA and that's all I know about it. I would go for a 128 GB if possible but I do not now the price. Anyway is this even possible?

 

The only option for your laptop is 64GB SSD. I think it was Samsung SSD 1.8".

 

I see, 64 is the other model's SSD. I thought we might have a larger one having the same other specs for compatibility. Thank you anyway. Well, can I buy it separately? And can I replace it easily? Or should I go through Sony Center which will probably cost me well over market price?

 

I think runcore ahas a 128 GB upgrade , look for 1.8 inch ZIF PATA interface

 

I havent opened up my TZ but I did open up the P, that also uses a 1.8" ZIF PATA drive. The P can only use 5mm thick drives and not the slighty larger 8mm thick drives! Dont know if the same goes for the TZ.

The runcore drives should fit but the 128GB model is 8mm (all the smallers ones are 5mm). So be sure to check that first! Would be a shame if you bought a nice SSD drive and end up not using it because it doesnt fit in the device.

 

Thanks for great posts. Now I need to search online and see if I can find any info about this. I understand removing the older and installing the new one into the notebook is an easy operation provided the specs are fine and the physical space allows, is it?

Or maybe I should go for a clean install of XP with all unneeded pats left out + deletion of recovery partition? Then I can add high capacity Memory Pro, SDHC and firewire cards all over to get many data storages. And carry around high cap. USB storages as well. Believe me I would glue an external hard disk somewhere if it wouldn't be very awkward

 

I have found some links:
http://www.dvnation.com/ZIF-SSD.html

and I think those might be the ones I am loking for:
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=128GB+SSD+1.8%22+ZIF+

500 bucks is a bit steep. Well, maybe I should try to use the notebook adding SDHC and HC Mem.stick and try to use it that way a while to see if it will suit fine.

 

Maybe try conics.net.
The TZ has enough space for a 1.8 inch Hard drive so I think a 128 GB Runcore SSD will fit. You can check at conics to be sure.

 

I just purchased the Sony Vaio TZ190N/BC with a 32gb SDD. I have also purchased a KingSpec 128gb, 1.8 in., with Zif interface, SSD to upgrade the existing 32 gb SDD. However, I have never done anything like this and was wondering if anyone has directions with possible pictures. I came across a thread the other day with directions, however the pictures would not load. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Maybe use the pictures from these japanese site:

http://kunkoku.livedoor.biz/archives/51004188.html
http://kunkoku.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2008-11-17

If you browse around on this site, you'll see they disassemble vaio's all the time

 

I just replaced the 48gb SSD (which failed ) from my TZ195 with a KingSpec 64gb SSD.

For the most part, the install was pretty easy. The OEM Samsung 48gb SSD circuit board is mounted to a cage or frame (as shown in the others photos) without any housing. Unfortunately, the KingSpec SSD circuit board does not have holes that are aligned with those of the cage, and thus could not be mounted to the cage in the same manner as the Samsung SSD.

I ended up removing the topside of the housing of the KingSpec SSD which fit into the cage perfectly. However, I could not mount the half housing to the cage using any of the OEM hardware. I ended up cutting two thin strips of electrical tape and wrapped it around the cage and the seated SSD. (Sorry, no pictures). That has worked well without any play or wiggling.

The KingSpec SSD has been working great for the last few days which has been working hard installing the OS, updates and software. Frankly, although the Samsung SSD is supposedly an SLC while the KingSpec is an MLC (while also getting 16gb more), I don't notice any performance differences thus far.

For only $186 at MemoryC.com, this upgrade is highly recommended!

 

Hi guys, thanks for the useful information you have posted here. I have a vaio TZ150N and (as many of you) want to replace the HDD with a SDD. CALBenzo confirmed that the Kingspec 64GB works on a TZ so I'm thinking of getting this unit for the upgrade. However, I was thinking that the cage on which the actual Toshiba HDD is mounted might not be compatible with the KingSpec (even if I remove its housing), what do you think?

 

Could u let us know if upgrade was successful.Comments/feedback appreciated.>

 

Hi,

I've just replaced by DVD drive with a 320GB 2.5" HDD and want to replace the 1.8" drive i my TZ with a small SSD just for the OS and apps to be installed on. Thinking about getting a 32GB Kingspec, but see that there are actually 2 versions:

KSD-ZF18.1-032MS - 32GB KingSpec 1.8" ZIF 40-pin SSD Solid State Disk SMI Controller (MLC):

32GB KingSpec 1.8" ZIF 40-pin SSD Solid State Disk SMI Controller (MLC)

KSD-ZF18.1-032MJ - 32GB KingSpec 1.8" ZIF 40-pin SSD Solid State Disk (MLC):

32GB KingSpec 1.8" ZIF 40 pin Solid State Disk MLC for notebook computers

Anyone know which one is the correct one to buy?

EDIT: The Based on what I found here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com...l/thread/5b4e677c-4b74-436e-9a80-5e94f27c056c

So looks like the S version is the one that's supposed to work. Although the discussion I linked to above hadn't concluded yet.

 

Before buying it read this thread.>>
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...ony-tz11-kingspec-64gb-install-problem-4.html

 

Yep, I actually asked the same question about the SSD model in there as well, but as if often the case with problem threads, people have moved on and quite likely long forgotten about it. However, to support my case, check out:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...ingspec-64gb-install-problem.html#post5677687 [post #3 in the thread]

The problem drive for that person is clearly listed as KSD-ZF18.1-064MJ which is the jmicron controller version which fits my theory above (which I say the SMI is the one that should work) perfectly. I just wish others who posted in that thread would chime in to indicate if anyone else with problems had the jmicron or smi controller.

Apart from the hideously expensive Samsung drive that originally shipped with TZs, it seems a risky exercise trying to buy a SSD drive to put in these machines. If someone wants to sell their original Samsung drive, please PM me!

Also from the thread on Microsoft's site I linked to:

The evidence seems to be mounting. Clearly the JMicron version has compatability issues. The challenge right now is to find enough evidence to suggest that the SMI version has none of these issues. It would be great if TZ owners could finally go buy an SSD they know will definitely work. I wasted $$$ on a 128GB Supertalent SSD recently only to find the BIOS won't detect it (trust me I tried everything - resetting BIOS settings, hacking AHCI on, etc).

And finally, since the SMI controller is made by Samsung, who are the OEM provider of drives for the SSD version of the TZ, that does provide a case to argue that SSDs with an SMI controller should work...

 

In my previous TZ195, the KingSpec drive that I had installed to replace the original Samsung had also gone defective. I replaced the KingSpec with a Runcore SSD that is supposed to get up to 80 mb/s read. Anyway, I was only getting around 32 mb/s, and I recall reading on some forum that, for whatever reason, the TZ architecture limits the read/write speeds, although not for the Samsung drives. For my current TZ298, with the original Samsung SSD, I get around 57 mb/s read.

 

Thanks, that's quite useful info. Well, like I mentioned earlier I replaced my DVD with a 320GB 2.5" SATA drive and the CrystalMark stats I get from that drive are:

Sequential: 70MB/s read, 66MB/s write
512k: 33MB/s read, 46MB/s write

These numbers are 2-3 times faster than the 1.8" HDD. Rather than screwing around forking out $$$ for an SSD that might not work properly anyway, I'm starting to think of just pulling out the 1.8" drive altogether and just stick with the 2.5" HDD which is going to already give a large noticeable performance gain over the std 1.8" drive which was really becoming quite unbearable.

 

Zimbros12, what is the part number of your Samsung drive?
There are about 3-4 Samsung SSD zif drives on ebay right now.

 

So far from what I have read and by experience the one that has shown reliability is the PHOTOFAST V4.I got a 128GB but paid $600.In you case a 32GB
Product Listing Photofast 1.8 32GB V4 ZIF SSD

My SAMSUNG 64GB = MCBQE64GKMPQ-M1A (it is sitting around in a box as we type)

Right now I am trying to figure out how to boot from an INTEL x25 G2 I have replaced with my 250GBHDD.Hope it works

P.S.By the way Rachel U disappeared from the TT THREAD.

 

Hey, zimbros12, are you able to run a CrystalDiskMark on your photofast? I understand the photofast is about the fastest PATA ZIF SSD on the market, but is it being throttled by the TZ's poor interface?

Do you have any experience booting off your 2.5" HDD? I'm curious how performance of 2.5" SATA HDD compares with 1.8" PATA SSD. Granted the SSD will always rule in terms of seek time, I'm suspecting the performance would be quite similar.

I saw a 2nd hand TZ here in Japan yesterday for ~$650 and it's the model with the 64GB samsung SSD + a HDD. It's sadly getting hard to justify the incredible cost of the SSDs alone given I'm just looking to get onto an entry level capacity. My TZ is already 2 years old so I know my luck it will die as soon as I spend more money on it

 

From the top of my head last time I run I got >>

SEQ 91XX 73XX
512k 84XX 31XX
4k 15XX 4XX

++++

Booting from my HDD > not yet.Trying to figure out how>
Came across this
???????????:?EasyBCD??????typeT(TZ????)??????????????
but the Japanese translation is a bit confusing.Working on it

 

I could have swore I read somewhere that, for whatever reason, the interface of the TZ would limit the read/write speeds, other than for the Samsung SSD's. I still have my old TZ195 with the brand new Runcore drive, and I'm only 32/31 mb/s seq. read/write from CrystalMarkDisk?????

 

The RUNCORE

 

Is this in your TZ?? Puzzling why my seq. read/writes are more than half that???

I know I have the latest firmware installed on the Runcore.

 

No mine is a PHOTOFAST.Why don't you emai RUNCORE or start a thread why ur getting low readings at this site >>

Runcore

 

On page #24 the screenshot was from a 128GB

This is from a 64GB so ur readings should be somewhat close.

 

Thanks for posting those performance stats zimbros12. Hmmm, still tempted to get a small SSD. Based on your link, it looks like that guy used an Mtron drive, so at least I know those are compatible as well. On the Japanese auction sites I can get a 64GB photofast for about $200 (2nd hand though I believe), so that could be an option.

UPDATE: Received a respomse to a query about compatability from Kingspec:

Now, factoring in that Kingspec costs about $112 US only (new), you can virtually afford to buy a new one each year if it dies...

UPDATE 2: Just spotted a Samsung SSD from a TZ (32GB) on ebay which I picked up for $95. At least I know it's compatible.

 

Can anybody confirm if these are 40pin or 44pin that we need to look for in replacing SSD? My 32GB SSD just gets too full no matter how hard i try to keep junk off of it. i need 64 or even 128 would be ideal, but all i know is 1.8" zif...no idea how many pins and have seen threads on both 40 and 44. confirmation would be terrific. thanks

 

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