Vaio Z Ultimate Upgrade Project!

VAIO Z ULTIMATE UPGRADE PROJECT

I am starting a massive update project on my Vaio Z now that I have collected all the necessary parts. My Z is a VGN-Z27GN and the current configuration is with a 2.53GHz CPU, 4GB RAM, BluRay burner and a 16GB Mtron Pro 7000 Solid State Drive (when I originally ordered it I a couple months ago I had the standard 320GB hard Disk replaced with the SSD). Though it's only 16GB it works for me as I only use it for the OS itself, all my data and files are on external disks.

My current upgrade project now that I've gathered all the parts is:
- X9100 3.06GHz Extreme Edition CPU
- Kingston HyperX low-latency DDR3 SODIMM 4GB
- Solidata X1 SSD 32GB (currently the fastest 240MB/s read, 220MB/s write SSD)

I am posting here a brief benchmark set on Everest with my current configuration and will after the upgrades repeat the tests. I am running Windows XP SP3. Boot-up takes approximately 14 seconds and overall as it is the system is extremely fast and ultra-responsive. As you can see by both the base system's performance and the current Mtron SSD, the numbers are really good as they are.

So, I am eager to see the tests results after the upgrade is complete.

Here's my dilemma:
I have no clue how to open the Vaio Z and get the CPU or the SSD inside (replacing the RAM is obviously a no-brainer). So, I would like to request help (ideally a step-by-step thing) on how to crank the Z open to access the CPU and the HD compartment. I do not have the faintest clue on how to do it. Till then I'm stuck. Thanks to all in advance and I look forward in starting the work and posting results!!!

 

padres3 has what you need:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=342581

I think it's gonna be a risky exercise. The CPU could possibly fry itself.

Your boot speeds make me want to get an SSD though. Gragh.


Edit: The CPU has a TDP of 44w - almost 19w higher than the 25w TDP of the P9500. http://ark.intel.com/cpu.aspx?groupID=35431

 

While an X9100 could be a little toasty in a Z, it shouldn't be too different than people popping in an X9000 into an SZ.

 

Thanks for the link! I will start my work Looks complicated... I shall see...

yes the X9100 has a TDP of 44w isntead of 25W for the current CPU but that is taking into consideration its maximum power consumption when overclocked. At stock speed it should not be much hotter then 35W.

As for the SSD upgrade, I highly recommended it specially now as prices are starting to fall. Its an amazing computing experience as far as workflow goes, no matter the speed of thr CPU

 

I don't think Intel official spec is meant for overclocking.
http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLB48#
http://processorfinder.intel.com/PopUpHelp.aspx?label=ThermalGuideline

Thermal Design Power: (Also referred to as Thermal Guideline) The maximum amount of heat which a thermal solution must be able to dissipate from the processor so that the processor will operate under normal operating conditions.

 

I think it won't be a problem. The fan is just going to be very active.

I've seen some similar configurations on Ebay. They guy had very good rep, I don't think he would sell it if it did not work.

 

Correct! Also, a lot of the upgrades he does are done by Sony reps. I live in Honk Kong and Sony here can actually do the upgrade for me (I loose the warranty of course) but they charge me a ridiculous amount of money for labor so, that is why i deiced to do it myself... hmmm... let me re-frase that: "humbly" I will try to do it myself...

I am particularly excited to bench the new SSD that should be about rtwice as fast as my current Mtron that is already incredibly fast

 

wow, you will without a doubt have the most kick a$s Z on the planet

nice work, i envy you I don't know how much you got it for, but that CPU alone costs $1k here in the states! Put's my 2.4ghz Z to shame

 

I bought the CPU for an amazing deal of $400 US dollars from a guy I know in Taiwan that sells random high-end laptop parts and that had a few extreme dual cores and quad core mobile processors, the SSD was around $450 directly in Shenzhen at the factory in China across the border from Hong Kong (yes, its made right here) and the RAM was about $230 + $30 shipping bought directly from Kingston's web site in the US because they dont sell it here

 

wow, great price on the ssd & cpu. I'm about to get an intel x25-m myself, for my Z. I'm pretty excited

 

I'm planning on doing the same upgrade with the X9100 in a few weeks, just curious, though I can guess the answer... any chance you have multiplier control in the BIOS when using an extreme chip?

Oh, you didn't mention this but I was planning on using the best thermal paste I could buy in the hopes that I could maintain a simular temperature to the P9500. I recommend the same since we have very few cooling upgrade options.

All the best with the mod

 

Im suing Arctic-Cooling MX-2 thermal Paste supposedly the best product on the market today. I havent started the upgrade yet. I am reading the repair manual and taking notes... a bit scared on it all... seems dauting... I plan to start this Sunday

 

I've been using MX-2 as well. Pretty good.

Just remove all screws and see where that leads you. That's what I did for a few of my laptop. Then again, never did figure out why I had 4 screws left over when I put my old A70 back together.

 

I mod most of my notebooks, and cell phones, it's not that bad, the trick is a really good set of precision screwdrivers(don't forget your torque bits, they usually throw security torque screws when they don't want you messing around)... for me, I have to reassemble as soon as possible without interruption or a few screws are left over lol....worst case take pictures, and organize the parts well...I read the manual, and sony appears to use a disposable sticker in between the cpu and heatsink... I'll try to get a new one, but either way, I'm drenching the cpu in high quality paste.

 

I did this upgrade a couple of days back and Windows 7 FLIES. Boot time is about 11 seconds and apps load up quite fast. It's not as "Snappy" as my MacBook Air with an SSD but it is still quite good.

@

 

Yeah, the new Solidata X1 SSD is substantially faster (theoretically of course) than Intel's SSD (including the Extreme version) so i am very interested in benching the results.

 

May I ask how well your Z is working with the X9100? I also plan to do this upgrade.

 

RAM is in and so is the SSD... but I have not gotten to get the CPU in. basically I dont know how to get the laptop opened all the way to access the Processor socket...I may need to have this professioanlly donr by someone else (or Sony)...

 

I opened a thread regarding an X9100 in a Z series. I think it would not be possible to do that since it might fry your laptop since the cooling system is not designed for it. Now I'm trying to find out regarding a T9800 which IMO is the next best thing.

 

hi i'm korean

i try vaio z cpu p8600 to q9100

but machine is not running.. only cooler is run.

so i give up upgrade my z.

http://memolog.blog.naver.com/soccori/58

 

I have X9100 that I fitted in Z

Few things:

1. If you have Z with 25W CPU, you probably will not be able to run this CPU @3 GHz for a long time before throttling kicks-in - as heatsinks are just too small - fan itself is not powerful enough to cool that monster down

2. You need to very carefully re-install the cooling system, you have to absolutely make sure that the surface of the cooler is really pushing the CPU and don't forget to apply good (e.g. AS5) thermal paste - if you don't do that, you'll end up with CPU that permanently throttles down as soon as it gets loaded a bit

3. Still, even with all these measures applied, in case you have 25W heatsink, you will need to undervolt the CPU in order to avoid thermal throttling - use CPUgenie or RMClock

If you don't prevent thermal throttling, your X9100 will actually run slower than the CPU you replaced, because thermal manager will regurarly kick the frequency down back to 800 MHz for few seconds, to cool it down during full load