XP or Windows 7 on SZ?

My SZ120P has one foot in the grave and I'm thinking of getting higher end SZ model. I know I don't want Vista but I can't decide whether to go with XP or Windows 7.

Is the performance with Windows 7 as good as with XP? I imagine 7 uses a lot more resources. I don't want to sacrifice performance for UI.

A lot of people seem to be going through a lot of trouble to get Windows 7 installed on these things. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

 

I did find this mini review on tom's hardware:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-7-notebook,2485.htm

Basically, they are saying there isn't a huge difference in performance and what difference there is, is just a result of power management policy. But, the test system they use has 4GB of memory, one of those crazy momentus hybrid drives, and a newer Core 2 Duo (2.6GHz + 6MB L2 cache) than what any of the SZs have. I'm thinking the difference may be more pronounced with an SZ than in their setup. Most models I'm seeing on ebay come with 2GB memory, which I think the bare minimum for Windows 7 64bit. I'm trying to keep it cheap, so if I score one off ebay I don't want to be doing tons of upgrades.

P.S. Is there any reason to go with the 32bit Windows 7? I know Core 2 is a 64bit architecture so I imagine not.

 

64bit does seem to run better on the SZ, though it is more difficult to get running, particularly on older SZ's. 32bit Windows 7 is simple to install, just use the Vista software as if it was Vista. Do not use ANY of the Windows 7 stuff Sony posted, it leaves you with a crippled system.

As for Xp versus Windows 7, with a clean system and 1-2gigs of ram, XP is only a touch faster, it's not really noticeable, however as you start to install printers and software, Windows 7 pulls ahead. The same happens as you open more and more windows. Windows 7, manages memory much better. Beyond 2 gigs and Windows 7 pulls away further and further and once you pass 3.2gigs and switch to 64, forget Windows XP or Vista, 7 trumps them both in every way in 64bit.

Besides all of that, XP is a bit long in the tooth at this point.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I guess I'll give 7 a try. Now I just have to wrangle up a license and actually get a new SZ.

As an aside, do you know why the SZs ship with memory running at a lower transfer rate than the FSB. For example, the SZ6XX ships with PC2-5300 which runs 667 MT/s while the FSB runs 800 MT/s? Can you pop in 800 memory?

 

You can put the 800 in, but I'm not sure if it will improve anything noticeable.
I prefer to focus on more memory rather than the speed of it.

I will say that a 6 or 7 series, with 4gigs and Win7 64bit rocks and will handle anything you throw at it other that graphics heavy games. Realistically, so long as you aren't gaming, the newer SZ's (especially with some memory) still hold their own quite well and let's face it, they're a nice system to use. Just stay off that Nvidia card as much as possible.

 

Why stay off the Nvidia?

 

We are seeing some fail.
This could be a matter of thermal compound drying out and allowing it to overheat, or a short life span, it could be bad gpu's, or maybe they were just unlucky. We don't have enough info yet. What we do know is that those who used them a lot are seeing their 8400s die. Those who didn't seem to still be working fine. When the 8400 dies, the system works fine in Intel mode.

Depending on who you ask, the 8400 in the SZ series is bad. Sony says it's fine, Nvidia says only some are effected, and some websites say all are effected. As far as I know, no one has had an engineer look into it to verify it.

The thing to remember is that we have no proof one way or another. With enough systems, you are bound to have some failures, and this being an enthusiast site, chances are that people here push their equipment more than the average person. Even then, there are lots of us who haven't had a problem. Trying to draw a an accurate statistic here would lead to flawed numbers for sure.

The best advice seems to just use the Intel unless you need the Nvidia. There is very little the Nvida can do that the Intel cannot.

 

Hmm, since I'm buying used anyway maybe I should get a model with the 7400 and avoid the worry. Though, 7400 is what I'm running now so it hardly seems like an upgrade. The only bump I'd get would be from Core Duo to Core 2 Duo. It's interesting that the 7400 in my SZ120P/B has 128mb dedicated memory and later models have shared memory.

But I do really like the SZ6XX!

decisions, decisions.

 

Older system:
2gigs of memory max.
fastest cpu supported?
older wireless
Better(?) graphics in speed mode
Fragile CCD lamp (also drains battery)


Newer System:
Up to 4 gigs (maybe 6 or 8)
Handle faster cpus
Better efficiency (longer battery, I can get 5 hours of web browsing)
Better wireless (stronger signal, better for battery)
Better graphics in stamina mode, more efficient
LED display lamp (more durable, adds to battery)
Better CPU cooler
Better battery


Really the only thing bad on the newer is that you may have a bad GPU.