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    Vgn-ns240e/w

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by Hoy, Jan 12, 2009.

  1. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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  2. Brawn

    Brawn The Awesome

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    congrats on the purchase :)
     
  3. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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    AFAIK, this is one of the only notebooks out there with the Radeon 3430, and I have been unable to find any benchmarks or reviews.
     
  4. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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    Well despite bestbuy's website as well as sony's website saying it has a 3430, I can find no evidence to support that. I checked the BIOS, hardware drivers, etc. It's either a phantom 3430 or it's just not there.
     
  5. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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    LiveAssist Transcript

    Print Copy Email Close
    chat id : a25a4b42-31e4-4935-8d1e-e3494b5bffe2
    Problem : The ATI Radeon 3430 Graphics card isn't showing up, and does not appear anywhere.
    Angela_ > Hi Jessica. Welcome to Sony Online Support. I'm Angela. Please allow me a moment to review your concern.
    Jessica Kumar > Thank you
    Angela_ > Thanks for waiting, Jessica . I'm sorry for the inconvenience you're experiencing as the ATI Radeon 3430 Graphics card is missing. I'll be glad to assist you with this.
    Angela_ > You're Welcome.
    Jessica Kumar > So, the integrated
    Jessica Kumar > Intel 4500 graphics are working
    Jessica Kumar > But there's no sign of the discrete 3430 radeon which your site and bestbuy's site both list on this model. That's part of the reason I purchased this model.
    Angela_ > How long have you been experiencing this issue?
    Jessica Kumar > since I purchased the computer
    Angela_ > As per the information available online the Computer is shipped with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3430 with the Computer.
    Jessica Kumar > Supposedly..
    Angela_ > Are you able to view the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3430 in Device Manager?
    Jessica Kumar > no, only the intel graphics accelerator, which I believe it is also supposed to have.
    Angela_ > Please stay online while I check this information for you.
    Jessica Kumar > Thanks
    Angela_ > I'm still checking for the information. Please be online for a moment.
    Jessica Kumar > Ok
    Angela_ > Thank you for waiting, Jessica.
    Angela_ > According to the information available online the ATI Radeon 3430 Graphics card is integrated with Intel GM45 Express Chipset.
    Jessica Kumar > ok, does that mean that I cannot use the catalyst control software?
    Angela_ > Yes, Jessica. Please make sure that the Software you're using should match the specification of the Computer.
    Jessica Kumar > Do you have a link to that information? I believe it would be good to know where I could find that if anyone asks me about this in the future. I know other people who have also purchased the laptop.
    Angela_ > You can get all the available information of the Computer from the Marketing Specification that is shipped with the Computer.
    Jessica Kumar > Okay. Thank you.
    Angela_ > Is there anything else I may assist you with today?
    Angela_ > You're Welcome.
    Jessica Kumar > Have a great day.
    Angela_ > Pleasure is mine.
    Angela_ > Good-bye and thank you for contacting Sony Online Support.
    Angela_ > Analyst has closed chat and left the room
     
  6. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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  7. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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    Well, I installed Steam and TF2 on it last night. It recommended leaving all of the settings at medium/high, but being an FPS whore, I turned it all down to get better gameplay.

    Runs smooth at the regular resolution 1280 x 800 ws, high texture and graphics / low shaders / no aa. Holds 30-40 fps steady.

    ATI CCC will not recognize the 4500 as an ATI chip, which makes sense because Intel decided to hide it. I hope with a driver update the ATI chip will be visible, as I prefer using ATI CCC to tweak the performance of the card.

    Overall, two thumbs up for this laptop for mild gaming.

    Lack of HDMI / eSata are major minuses for me, but it's not my laptop so whatever, it was only $700.
     
  8. WILLY S

    WILLY S I was saying boo-urns

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    Have you tried installling updated drivers for the 3430? There should be plenty of places to find modded ones aswell.
    Can you see it in:
    Control panel > Hardware & sound > device manager and under the display adapter tab?
     
  9. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah. It's all explained above. Sorry if there's tmi.

    Basically I believe the Radeon chip is integrated into the Intel chipset. So the intel driver actually controls it. I tried CCC but it doesn't work. The laptop performs fine in TF2 though, so I'm not concerned. Plus it's my GF's laptop so w/e she never plays much beyond Bloons Tower Defense 3.. not exactly demanding.
     
  10. WILLY S

    WILLY S I was saying boo-urns

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    There's no intel driver for ATI gpu's. The gpu is soldered onto the mobo which is what the rep must have been refering to as it being integrated with the intel gm45 express chipset... I could be wrong but i wouldn't like to say so :D

    Download GPU-Z and see what it says.
     
  11. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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    Would GPU-Z say anything different than device manager? If GPU-Z could detect my video card why couldn't ATI CCC? Also when I started steam it said "Unrecognized video hardware, please transmit to steam", however the game run smooth with relatively medium to high settings.

    I'll try it when I get home.
     
  12. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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    [​IMG]

    There's two options in GPU-Z and both say Intel GM45
     
  13. WILLY S

    WILLY S I was saying boo-urns

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    Their both the 4500mhd. I'd get onto sony support again and see what they say then possibly see about sending the thing back.
     
  14. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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    SiSoft Sandra says one of the two has DDR3...
     
  15. WILLY S

    WILLY S I was saying boo-urns

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    ... Try running "dxdiag". See what it says on the display page.
     
  16. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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    Still just intel.

    I am wondering if this could be a hybrid graphics notebook, and that I need to use some key combo at boot up in order to enable the ATI? .. Like the Speed/Stamina buttons. I don't see those buttons on this laptop though.
     
  17. WILLY S

    WILLY S I was saying boo-urns

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  18. fmp_chidori

    fmp_chidori Newbie

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    Interesting. I'm not entirely familiar with all this, but since I just bought the same model, you can imagine my interest in the topic.

    So basically, there is a way to switch over to the ATI graphics card? I read the other forum post, but I have to admit that I'm still a bit confused.

    Can anybody enlighten me? Thanks.
     
  19. WILLY S

    WILLY S I was saying boo-urns

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    Me too :confused: Maybe start a thread in the gaming section; you'll get alot more attention than at the back of this thread.
     
  20. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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    LiveAssist Transcript
    [Print] Print Email [Close] Close
    chat id : 0e378ba0-b5b6-4805-8c9a-b0d88c01a279
    Problem : ATI Radeon 3430 Not working

    Jessica> Sony Vaio v

    Randy_ > Hi Jessica. Welcome to Sony Online Support. I’m Randy. Please allow me a moment to review your concern.

    Jessica> Okay thanks

    Randy_ > Thank you for waiting, Jessica. I'm sorry for the inconvenience you are experiencing as the Video card of the Computer is not working normally. I'll be glad to assist you with this.

    Randy_ > Could you please explain your concern in detail so that I can assist you better? Thank you.


    Jessica> Okay I have a Sony Vaio VGN ns240e, which was supposed to include an ATI Radeon 3430.

    Jessica> There is no sign of that gpu in device manager or anywhere else.

    Jessica> I've run GPU-Z and dxdiag

    Randy_ > Jessica, your Computer is supplied with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3430 Video Card.

    Jessica> Yeah supposedly

    Randy_ > Could you please explain your concern in detail so that I can assist you better? Thank you.


    Jessica> Okay.. my concern is that either the card is not working or it's not there at all.

    Randy_ > Are you getting any error messages?

    Jessica> No

    Randy_ > Could you please confirm if you have ever changed the preinstalled Operating System? Thank you.

    Jessica> Nope

    Jessica> it's as it came from the brand new sealed box from bestbuy just about 2 weeks ago

    Jessica> and it was not configured by geeksquad

    Randy_ > Is the Display working normally?

    Jessica> It's working normally for an Intel GMA 4500

    Jessica> But not for a Radeon 3430.

    Jessica> Which should show up in Device manager, GPU-Z, or dxdiag.

    Jessica> The only driver available from Sony's site is the one it came with.

    Randy_ > Yes, that's correct.

    Jessica> Is there a Sony approved driver which includes support for the Radeon 3430?

    Jessica> Perhaps for another laptop with the same platform/motherboard/northbridge, etc..

    Randy_ > Jessica, all the Sony Computers are supplied with model specific hardware configuration.

    Jessica> Of course

    Jessica> So...

    Jessica> Is there any way to get this computer working or is it defective or missing the ATI part?

    Randy_ > Jessica, as per the information available online your Computer is supplied with the Intel GM 45 chipset.

    Jessica> Yeah, and an Ati Radeon 3430

    Jessica> That's right on your site.

    Randy_ > The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3430 Video Card is integrated on the Motherboard of the Computer.

    Jessica> That may be but it would still require a driver.

    Randy_ > Hence the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3430 Video Card is not listed in the Device Manager.

    Jessica> Is it switchable?

    Jessica> or is it supposed to be Automatic

    Randy_ > It is automatic, the Video card cannot be switched.

    Jessica> That's not what I meant

    Jessica> Let me explain how it works..

    Jessica> The Intel GM 45 Chipset + ATI Radeon 3430 Graphics is actually two GPU's

    Jessica> The Intel GM45 Chipset itself utilizes its own 4500MHD or 4500HD GPU

    Jessica> it can also switch, either manually or automatically depending on the sony model

    Jessica> to a different video card

    Jessica> this would be in this case an ATI Radeon 3430

    Jessica> The reason that Sony/Intel/AMD did this is to save power when the computer does not require the higher performance and higher wattage ATI GPU

    Jessica> That is the reason I purchased this laptop.

    Jessica> However the Radeon 3430 is either not present or not working.

    Jessica> or it needs to be manually switched and there were no instructions on how to do so in the manual which was provided.

    Randy_ > Thanks for taking time to provide all these detailed information.

    Randy_ > Jessica, as we have exhausted all possible avenues to resolve this issue right now, the best option at this stage would be to contact our next level of support team. I am sure they will resolve your issue quickly and efficiently.

    Jessica> Okay

    Jessica> How do we do that.

    Jessica> ?

    Randy_ > It was a pleasure to walk you through the troubleshooting steps and direct you to the appropriate resource center.

    Jessica> Sure thanks

    Randy_ > I suggest that you contact our Telephone Support team at 1-888-476-6972 to get further information on this issue.

    Randy_ > They're our next level of support.

    Randy_ > They're available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

    Jessica> Thanks.

    Randy_ > I suggest you to contact our Telephone Support Team as the unit requires some extensive care for the issue.
     
  21. pinkismycolor

    pinkismycolor Newbie

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    I find this all very interesting. This is the exact model I plan to order from Best Buy only in pink. It is currently on backorder but will order as soon as it is available. Thanks for sharing all of this info.
     
  22. Hoy

    Hoy Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks no problem. It's a great laptop but I'm very annoyed about the GPU not working. Of course in the long run any actions taken will have to run past my girlfriend because it's her laptop. And she doesn't care about the GPU as long as it works..
     
  23. fmp_chidori

    fmp_chidori Newbie

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    Wow - I thought this thread was dead. Thank goodness it's not. Would this be false advertising? Because I've noticed that Best Buy has removed the ATI remark from their website. =(. Hoy, thanks for keeping us all updated.
     
  24. ferrarista

    ferrarista Notebook Consultant

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  25. fmp_chidori

    fmp_chidori Newbie

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    You're right. How weird.
     
  26. ferrarista

    ferrarista Notebook Consultant

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    hey Hoy, did you try to test the gpu in 3dmark tests? Do it and see the results it gives you.

    This way you will know if it only has the intel 4500. if you have a higher score it will mean the gpu is switching automatically.

    i don't know why they would put ati in the specs unless the guy from sony writing the specs made a mistake lol