VGN-SZ (XP): Difference between revisions

VGN-SZ
	Regular XP SZ from multiple angles
Series	SZ Series
Release	2006 (SZ1, Core Duo), 2007 (SZ3, Core 2 Duo)
Processor	Intel Core Duo T2300/T2400/T2500 or Intel Core 2 Duo T5600/T7200
Graphics	Intel GMA 950 (Stamina) + NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 256MB (Speed) – switchable Hybrid Graphics
Chipset	Intel 945GM
Memory	DDR2-667, 2 slots, max 4GB (3.5GB usable)
Display	13.3" 1280x800 WXGA; CCFL backlit (Regular) or LED backlit (Premium)
Storage	2.5" SATA HDD
Audio	Intel High Definition Audio, stereo speakers
Networking
OS	Microsoft Windows XP Home/Professional; some later models with Vista
Battery	~3–5h depending on model and GPU mode
Weight	1.67kg (Premium, carbon fiber) – 1.86kg (Regular, magnesium)
Dimensions	315 x 234 x 22.8–32mm
MSRP	€1,400 – €2,500

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VisualWikitext

Latest revision as of 15:51, 29 August 2025

The Sony VAIO VGN-SZ Series is a high-end notebook computer range from Sony, released in 2006 with Windows XP. The SZ Series was known for its sleek and light design, being compact but also delivering good performance when needed thanks to its new Hybrid Graphics System, which allows the user to select between two graphics processors. Stamina being the Intel GMA 950 integrated into the chipset, or Speed which is a discrete NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 GPU, meaning this was the first laptop to feature a switchable GPU. Although, one drawback of this function was that you needed to restart the computer to switch graphics cards, which was later fixed in the VGN-Z.

These first VAIO VGN-SZs were delivered with Windows XP Home or Professional, and CPUs ranged from the Intel Core Duo T2300 to the T2500. The newer SZ3s featured the newer Core 2 Duo processors from Intel, the T5600 for the lower-end and the T7200 for higher-end models.

With features such as WWAN, fingerprint sensor, powerful hardware, and a light and compact casing, it's no wonder that the VGN-SZ Series was a successful lineup. Also, the SZ was featured in James Bond: Casino Royale, in which Bond uses the SZ to resign from the service.

Differences between Regular and Premium versions

Regular SZs have magnesium bodies, and weigh 1.86 kg (4.1 lbs). They come in a silver finish.
Premium SZs have carbon-fiber bodies, and weigh 1.67 kg (3.7 lbs). They come in a gray finish. They use a different type of LCD screen and a LED backlight instead of CCFL, resulting in an ultrathin screen that looks much better than the displays on Regular SZs. They also have a slightly different type of keyboard, but the difference is minor. They also included a fingerprint sensor, whereas on the regular model it was an optional extra. Lastly, some of them come with an integrated EDGE antenna. They costed around 600€ more than the Regular models.

Problems

The XP SZ Series don't have any major issues beside overheating chipsets due to worn out thermal pads. This can be avoided by replacing old ones with good quality new pads. See VGN-SZ (Vista) for informations on the Vista SZ Series major problem.

Daily Usage Today

Even though the VGN-SZ Series is from 2006-08, it still offers a good web browsing and text editing experience, when complimented with a modern lightweight operating system such as Lubuntu or an older version of Windows, like Vista or 7. The laptop will technically run on Windows 10, with working GPU drivers, however none of the function keys will work and the laptop will be quite sluggish, even with an upgraded CPU.

We would recommend upgrading to the maximum of 4GB ram and also upgrading to the Core 2 Duo if you have a Core Duo model which will get you extra performance and also enable 64-bit support. We would recommend the T7400, as it is a lot cheaper than the T7600 yet offers around the same performance. The standard Intel GPU driver can be installed and works perfectly, however the Nvidia driver will not, you will need to use the Sony drivers.

Downloads

VGN-SZ (VGN-SZ3XP) Recovery Discs VGN-SZ (VGN-SZ3VWP/X) (English) Recovery Discs VGN-SZ (VGN-SZ3VWP/X) (German) Recovery Discs VGN-SZ (VGN-SZ38GP) Recovery Discs

NOTE: These will work on only the specified model, for example, VGN-SZ4XMN recovery discs won't work on a VGN-SZ1XP. Please see the Compatibility Problems section on the Recovery Discs page for more informations.

It is unknown if these discs are compatible with SVRP.

Follow our guides to download and install drivers.

Sony has also released the following 4 driver packs with all of the original drivers designed for Windows XP 32-bit (partly working on 2000 32-bit as well): Official SZ1 Driver pack Official SZ2 Driver pack Official SZ3 Driver pack Official SZ4 Driver pack

Sources

NotebookCheck, Sony, Notebookreview, xdevice.blogspot and Newegg

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==Summary==
+{{Infobox Specs
-[[File:Sony Vaio VGN-SZ XP .jpg|thumb|349x349px|A standard XP VGN-SZ from multiple angles]]
+| name = VGN-SZ
-[[File:Sony Vaio VGN-SZ Vista Premium.jpg|thumb|307x307px|A premium Vista VGN-SZ from multiple angles]]
+| image = Sony Vaio VGN-SZ XP .jpg
-The Sony Vaio VGN-SZ Series is a Portable Notebook from Sony, being released in 2006 with Windows XP as the Operation system. The SZ Series was known for its sleek and light design, being compact but also delivering good performance when needed thanks to its Hybrid graphics System, which allows the user to select between two options of Graphics processor. Stamina being the Intel GMA integrated into the CPU or Speed, which involves a discrete NVIDA GeForce Go 7400 GPU. These first Vaio VGN-SZs were delivered with Windows XP Home Premium or Professional, the CPU in the XP Models a wide array of Core Duos, ranging from the T2300 to the T2500. The later SZ3 featured the newer Core 2 Duo Processors from Intel. Those being used were the T5600 for lower range and the T7200 for higher end models. With features such as WWAN, a fingerprint sensor, powerful hardware, Windows Vista Business, and a compact casing, it was no wonder, that the VGN-SZ became a favorite of traveling businessmen and -women. Also, the SZ was featured in James Bond: Casino Royale, in which Bond uses the SZ to resign from the service.
+| subtitle = Regular XP SZ from multiple angles
-Premium SZs replaced the standard black and silver plastic casings with dark-brown ones. The nicer looking monochrome design and thinner Lid made for a more expensive and VIP-like look, which complimented the highly increased price tag of up to 1000€ from the standard version.
+| series = SZ Series
+| rel = 2006 (SZ1, Core Duo), 2007 (SZ3, Core 2 Duo)
+| cpu = Intel Core Duo T2300/T2400/T2500 or Intel Core 2 Duo T5600/T7200
+| gpu = Intel GMA 950 (Stamina) + NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 256MB (Speed) – switchable Hybrid Graphics
+| chipset = Intel 945GM
+| memory = DDR2-667, 2 slots, max 4GB (3.5GB usable)
+| display = 13.3" 1280x800 WXGA; CCFL backlit (Regular) or LED backlit (Premium)
+| storage = 2.5" SATA HDD
+| audio = Intel High Definition Audio, stereo speakers
+| ports = VGA, Ethernet, modem, 2x USB 2.0, FireWire (i.Link), ExpressCard/34, PCMCIA, headphone/microphone, optional WWAN
+| connectivity = Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, optional EDGE antenna (Premium)
+| os = Microsoft Windows XP Home/Professional; some later models with Vista
+| weight = 1.67kg (Premium, carbon fiber) – 1.86kg (Regular, magnesium)
+| size = 315 x 234 x 22.8–32mm
+| battery = ~3–5h depending on model and GPU mode
+| msrp = €1,400 – €2,500
+}}
-==Detailed Specs==
+[[File:SZXPPremium.jpg|thumb|Premium XP SZ|351x351px]]
-Processor: Intel Core Duo T2300/T2400/T2500 / Intel Core 2 Duo T5600/7200 (on SZ3)
+The Sony VAIO VGN-SZ Series is a high-end notebook computer range from Sony, released in 2006 with Windows XP. The SZ Series was known for its sleek and light design, being compact but also delivering good performance when needed thanks to its new Hybrid Graphics System, which allows the user to select between two graphics processors. Stamina being the Intel GMA 950 integrated into the chipset, or Speed which is a discrete NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 GPU, meaning this was the first laptop to feature a switchable GPU. Although, one drawback of this function was that you needed to restart the computer to switch graphics cards, which was later fixed in the [[VGN-Z]].
-Graphics: NVIDIA Geforce Go 7400 256MB/ Intel GMA 900 (945 on SZ3) 128MB
+These first VAIO VGN-SZs were delivered with Windows XP Home or Professional, and CPUs ranged from the Intel Core Duo T2300 to the T2500. The newer SZ3s featured the newer Core 2 Duo processors from Intel, the T5600 for the lower-end and the T7200 for higher-end models.
-Display: 13.3" 16:10 1280x800
+With features such as WWAN, fingerprint sensor, powerful hardware, and a light and compact casing, it's no wonder that the VGN-SZ Series was a successful lineup. Also, the SZ was featured in ''James Bond: Casino Royale'', in which Bond uses the SZ to resign from the service.
-RAM: 1GB/2GB DDR2 (4GB max)
+== Differences between Regular and Premium versions ==
-Weight: 1.7kg - 1.9kg
+* Regular SZs have magnesium bodies, and weigh 1.86 kg (4.1 lbs). They come in a silver finish.
+* Premium SZs have carbon-fiber bodies, and weigh 1.67 kg (3.7 lbs). They come in a gray finish. They use a different type of LCD screen and a LED backlight instead of CCFL, resulting in an ultrathin screen that looks much better than the displays on Regular SZs. They also have a slightly different type of keyboard, but the difference is minor. They also included a fingerprint sensor, whereas on the regular model it was an optional extra. Lastly, some of them come with an integrated EDGE antenna. They costed around 600€ more than the Regular models.
-OS: Windows XP Home Premium/Professional
+== Problems ==
+The XP SZ Series don't have any major issues beside overheating chipsets due to worn out thermal pads. This can be avoided by replacing old ones with good quality new pads. See [[VGN-SZ (Vista)]] for informations on the Vista SZ Series major problem.
-Release year: 2006/07
+== Daily Usage Today ==
+Even though the VGN-SZ Series is from 2006-08, it still offers a good web browsing and text editing experience, when complimented with a modern lightweight operating system such as Lubuntu or an older version of Windows, like Vista or 7. The laptop will technically run on Windows 10, with working GPU drivers, however none of the function keys will work and the laptop will be quite sluggish, even with an upgraded CPU.
-/07 MSRP: 1,400€ - 2,500€
+We would recommend upgrading to the maximum of 4GB ram and also upgrading to the Core 2 Duo if you have a Core Duo model which will get you extra performance and also enable 64-bit support. We would recommend the T7400, as it is a lot cheaper than the T7600 yet offers around the same performance. The standard Intel GPU driver can be installed and works perfectly, however the Nvidia driver will not, you will need to use the Sony drivers.
-==Daily Use==
+== Downloads ==
-Even though the VGN-SZ Series is from 2006-08, it still offers a good web browsing and text editing experience, when complimented with a modern lightweight operating system such as Lubuntu or an older Version of Windows, like Vista or 7. A problem users will face with the latter is the possibility of a failing GPU, be it the 7400 or 8400, due to insufficient cooling, on the Versions that offer a dedicated GPU. This can cause performance issues with Windows 7 and Vista. Other than that, especially the later SZ6 and SZ7 models are perfectly adequate for web browsing and text editing. Even older 3D Games such as GTA: San Andreas run fine on the 8400M GS models, though only if the GPU is not broken.
+[https://archive.org/details/VGN-SZ3XP VGN-SZ (VGN-SZ3XP) Recovery Discs]
+[https://archive.org/details/sony-vaio-vgn-sz3vwp_x-recovery-discs VGN-SZ (VGN-SZ3VWP/X) (English) Recovery Discs]
+[https://archive.org/details/vgn-sz-3-vwp-x-system-sicherheitskopie_202407 VGN-SZ (VGN-SZ3VWP/X) (German) Recovery Discs]
+[https://archive.org/details/sony-vaio-vgn-sz38gp-restore-media VGN-SZ (VGN-SZ38GP) Recovery Discs]
-==Downloads==
+'''NOTE: These will work on only the specified model''', for example, VGN-SZ4XMN recovery discs won't work on a VGN-SZ1XP. Please see the Compatibility Problems section on the [[Recovery Discs]] page for more informations.
-currently unavailable
-==Sources==
+It is unknown if these discs are compatible with [[Sony VAIO Recovery Patcher (SVRP)|SVRP]].
-[https://www.notebookcheck.com/ notebookcheck] and [https://www.sony.com/en/ Sony]
-Pictures:[https://xdevice.blogspot.com/2009/06/sony-vaio-sz-series.html xdevice.blogspot]
+Follow our [[Drivers Downloading Guides|guides]] to download and install drivers.
+Sony has also released the following 4 driver packs with all of the original drivers designed for Windows XP 32-bit (partly working on 2000 32-bit as well):
+[http://dose.0wnz.at/ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/ORIGINAL/SZ1_DRIVERS.ZIP Official SZ1 Driver pack]
+[http://dose.0wnz.at/ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/ORIGINAL/SZ2_DRIVERS.ZIP Official SZ2 Driver pack]
+[http://dose.0wnz.at/ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/ORIGINAL/SZ3_DRIVERS.ZIP Official SZ3 Driver pack]
+[http://dose.0wnz.at/ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/ORIGINAL/SZ4_DRIVERS.ZIP Official SZ4 Driver pack]
+== Sources ==
+[https://www.notebookcheck.com/ NotebookCheck], [https://www.sony.com/en/ Sony], [http://www.notebookreview.com/notebookreview/sony-vaio-sz-review-pics-specs/ Notebookreview], [https://xdevice.blogspot.com/2009/06/sony-vaio-sz-series.html xdevice.blogspot] and [https://www.newegg.com/sony-vaio-sz-series-vgn-sz360p-c/p/N82E16834117402 Newegg]