s360 question

Hi everyone,

Newbie here and I have a question with regards to the vgn-s360. I recently purchased one (after returning my a460 and tracking down an open unit - the two seem like different machines in terms of usability) and I love the machine except for the the fan noise it generates, and the sporadic nature of the fan. I know that its a dynamic fan that runs according to cpu load but is there any way to really minimize it. I have my power options set to adaptive cpu and level 1 on the fan setting but it still runs all the time. However in the battery mode, the settings are identical (except screen is dim) and it runs less frequently. Can anything else be done?

If not, has anyone found a physical hardware fix, i.e. openning it up and replacing the fan with a high quality liquid bearing unit. That would probablly limit noise.

Thanks

 

just a question.. do you find significant difference in heat s360 provides compare to s460?

 

Yes i noticed a big difference between the two models. Definetly track down a 360 or consider a different machine, the 460 is a let down from sony.

460 is better in that it has a sonoma chip (10% +), 5400rpm HD, and dvd-rw

However,

The sonoma chip takes 30% more power and rquires running 19v as opposed to the 16v of the 360 (donathon chip) This means the battery life of the 460 is 1.5 hrs versus the 4-5 for the 360. Also the new HD is blazingly hot. Not a few degrees but closer to a few dozen. After using the 460 on my lap i was simply astonished that sony would let such a product thru. I beleive somebody measured surface temerpatures at over 100 deg F. The 360 doesnt approach this, and is only slightly warm to the touch. Also the video car in the 360 is better. Althou the 460 claims to have a 128mb nvidia, 96mb of this is shared with the ram, The ati card in the 360 runs on a dedicated 64mb video memory. Also becuase of the voltage change the power brick in the 460 is 2.5x larger than that of the 360.

Go for a 360, the 460 is a bit of a lemon. If you want a portable notebook the heat and battery issues of the 460 are unacceptable for something that costs $3k (cdn) with tax.

Best of luck

 

I wish i did have 360. Although by the time i was purchasing my S-series (a month ago), the futureshop didnt have any new s360 although the display model was avaiable, the condition was certainly unberable because it had been touched by so many, the scratches were all around. The store manager only offered me 100 dollar discount for certainly used unit. -.-
Well i am stuck with 460 and I do regret purchasing s460 for such high price.. 2500 cdn plus tax? close 3000.

I consider longer battery life and less heat more important than s460's dvd-rw (i barely use.. ), 10% boost performance and ddr2 etc..

I m just jealous