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    Vaio Z2 Replace graphics card from dock.

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by arekieh, Sep 24, 2011.

  1. arekieh

    arekieh Notebook Guru

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    Hi guys,
    Quick question, Is it possible to replace the graphics card in the PMD of the new vaio z?

    It would be an instant buy for me if it was.

    Also, a couple more quick questions.

    How quick is it rendering wise? How does it to with alot of flash? Ie opening a ton of tabs off of google reader, how smooth is scrolling and stuff?

    My current dilemna is wether or not I should keep my current setup or sell both my desktop and laptop and get a vaio z.

    Current setup: X220 w/ i5-2540 and 120gb SSD
    Desktop: Vertex 3 SSD, i5-2500k, 8gb ram etc etc

    Thanks
     
    arekieh, Sep 24, 2011
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  2. ComputerCowboy

    ComputerCowboy Sony Fanboy

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    ComputerCowboy, Sep 25, 2011
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  3. arekieh

    arekieh Notebook Guru

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    so basically $2000 laptop requires another $250 dock (not including gpu) to get a good gpu?
    Thats pretty stupid considering the thing already comes with a gpu dock.....

    God damn sony and their proprietariness (is that a word?)
     
    arekieh, Sep 25, 2011
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  4. pyr0

    pyr0 100% laptop dynamite

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    Take your X220, support me in this thread and with the results, you are able build a 200$ eGPU that will outperform the z2 significantly (2-3 times the GPU speed compared to the ridiculous PMD).
     
    pyr0, Sep 25, 2011
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  5. arekieh

    arekieh Notebook Guru

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    The only problem is I dont really want the Vaio Z for its graphics capabilities.
    Its just pissing me off that for the $2000 the including GPU sucks.

    I want the vaio z mostly for FHD and 2.5lbs will be very nice on my back for school.

    Ill check out your thread though and if I have time contribute before I sell the x220

    Still might keep it, trying to justify buying a laptop that costs the same amount as my laptop and desktop combined.
     
    arekieh, Sep 25, 2011
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  6. ZoinksS2k

    ZoinksS2k Notebook Virtuoso

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    Buy an S Series. The Z's have never been practical.
     
    ZoinksS2k, Sep 25, 2011
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  7. Louche

    Louche Purveyor of Utopias

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    Good. It's not a machine to buy if you need powerful graphics.

    In that case, buy the maxed out Signature version for $4,500. That way you can be pissed about spending more than twice $2k without any improvement in graphics whatsoever.
     
    Louche, Sep 25, 2011
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  8. arekieh

    arekieh Notebook Guru

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    I went and saw it in store again today and used it for a bit.

    The thing is insanely nice, but not worth twice as much as my lenovo.

    So im going to pass. But thanks for the info
     
    arekieh, Sep 25, 2011
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  9. travfar

    travfar Notebook Evangelist

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    How were the Z1[1234] not practical?
     
    travfar, Sep 25, 2011
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  10. arekieh

    arekieh Notebook Guru

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    S series are also ugly, heavy, bad batt life and overpriced.

    Z's are overpriced as well but atleast your getting something premium for your extra money.
     
    arekieh, Sep 25, 2011
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  11. rmcx

    rmcx Notebook Evangelist

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    I started with an X220 but wanted to run multiple monitors without using USB->DVI converters. Unfortunately, Lenovo changed the BIOS such that the DIY ViDock no longer worked.

    In any event, I paid about $1300 with the base HDD in it. Had the video worked I would have upgraded to 512GB of SSD for another $900 - $1000 or so.

    The Z2 cost me $3200 with the 512GB, the dock, etc. So, not twice as much. About half again as much.

    I'm less concerned with raw video performance than the ability to run multiple monitors directly.

    Plus for the X220: Better keyboard. Price.

    Plus for the Z2: Higher res screen, lighter weight, faster.
     
    rmcx, Sep 25, 2011
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  12. arekieh

    arekieh Notebook Guru

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    Its more like twice as much.
    I got the following specs for $850 through EPP:

    i5 2540m, IPS Display, Intell 3200 Wifi card, 4gb Ram, 9 cell

    plus another $150 for a 120gb Intel SSD I bought separate grand total = $1000

    I dont know where you got yours for $1300 from...


    But ya, multiple monitors is a total no go on the x220. But thats what the desktop is for.
     
    arekieh, Sep 25, 2011
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  13. rmcx

    rmcx Notebook Evangelist

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    Otherwise similarly outfitted:

    I7
    8Gigs
    Win7 Prof
    Premium HD
    Fingerprint reader
    Camera
    Bluetooth
    WiMax
    Gobi

    Right now I'm looking at Lenovo.com at $1600 with their current "savings".

    I'm willing to pay a premium to have everything on one machine. I need to be able to work when I travel. Having to keep two machines in sync became tiresome.
     
    rmcx, Sep 25, 2011
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  14. arekieh

    arekieh Notebook Guru

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    I just priced out that exact build for $1200

    And thats with an 8GB upgrade which is highway robbery since you can buy 8GB of ram for $50 and install it yourself. So if you do the 8gb upgrade itll be more like 1050
     
    arekieh, Sep 25, 2011
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  15. rmcx

    rmcx Notebook Evangelist

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    How did you do that?

    (I don't have the EPP discount available to me, if that's the difference.)
     
    rmcx, Sep 25, 2011
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  16. arekieh

    arekieh Notebook Guru

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    Ya its EPP.
    Why cant you do EPP?
     
    arekieh, Sep 25, 2011
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  17. rmcx

    rmcx Notebook Evangelist

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    I thought that was an employee discount or something like that.

    Can anyone do it? How?
     
    rmcx, Sep 25, 2011
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  18. arekieh

    arekieh Notebook Guru

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    Ya,
    Anybody can. Your in the states so im not 100% sure how it works but in canada anybody can do it. Im 99% sure its the same in the states but I could be wrong.

    The canadian portal is here:
    Lenovo - IBM Friends EPP

    password FNDEPP

    and thats it you order.
    The only difference is no returns through EPP.
    And its not against the TOS or anything. I have called in EPP orders before and they dont ask any questions about how you are related or anything. They just say "ok" and process it.
     
    arekieh, Sep 25, 2011
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  19. rmcx

    rmcx Notebook Evangelist

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    Hmmm...

    OK, I couldn't find it on the US site, but I went in to the Canadian site and still get about $1450 CAD. What am I doing wrong here?
     
    rmcx, Sep 25, 2011
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  20. arekieh

    arekieh Notebook Guru

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    Your not applying the coupon (should be 15%)

    Coupon codes show up on the main EPP page
     
    arekieh, Sep 25, 2011
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  21. rmcx

    rmcx Notebook Evangelist

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    rmcx, Sep 26, 2011
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  22. arekieh

    arekieh Notebook Guru

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    Good luck.
     
    arekieh, Sep 26, 2011
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