VGN-SZ (Vista)

Summary

A standard XP VGN-SZ from multiple angles

A premium Vista VGN-SZ from multiple angels

Please see VGN-SZ (XP) for more details about the original Windows XP SZ.

With the release of Windows Vista in 2007 Sony updated the VGN-SZ Series to include the new Operating System on their high-end laptop range, which was known for its sleek and light design. Despite being compact, the SZ Series also delivered good performance when needed thanks to its Hybrid Graphics System, which allows the user to select between two graphics processors. Stamina being the Intel GMA integrated into the CPU, or Speed which is a discrete NVIDA GeForce 8400M GS GPU. Unfourtunatly, these GPUs are a major problem (see the Problems section below).

The later versions of the SZ, from the SZ4 up to the SZ7, where delivered with Windows Vista Business, and despite the upgrade in operating system, the SZ continued to feature similar Core 2 Duo processors that their XP counterparts had, such as the T7200 or T7500. Only the last revision, the SZ7, was available with faster CPU, the T8100, which was offered as standard, and the T9300, being an optional upgrade. Thanks to this Hybrid Graphics System, battery usage was very efficient which played well with the VAIO VGN-SZ's business-orientated target audience.

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.

Premium SZs replaced the standard black and silver casings with dark-brown ones. The nicer looking monochrome design and thinner lid made for a more expensive and exclusive look, which made it around 1000€ more expensive than the standard SZ models.

Detailed SZ4 to SZ6 Specs

Processor : Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 (SZ4) / T7200 (SZ4&SZ5) / T7500 (SZ6)

Graphics : NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS 256MB / Intel GMA X3100 (GMA 950 on SZ5, 945 on SZ4)

Display : 13.3" 16:10 1280x800

RAM : 2GB DDR2 (4GB max)

Storage : 2.5" SATA

OS: Windows Vista Business 32-Bit

Weight : 1.8kg

Release year : 2007

2007 MSRP : 2299€

Detailed SZ7 Specs

Processor : Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 / T9300

Graphics : NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS 256MB / Intel GMA X3100

Display : 13.3" 16:10 1280x800

RAM : 4GB DDR2 (4GB max)

Storage : 2.5" SATA

OS : Windows Vista Business 32-Bit

Weight : 1.9kg

Release year : 2008

2008 MSRP : 1,400€ - 2,500€

Problems

The Vista SZs all have a very unfourtunate problem. The XP SZs do not have this problem, as they have a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400. They contain a NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS GPU. The NVIDIA 8 series of GPUs are known for their 100% failure rate because of a manufacturing problem from NVIDIA, and the SZ is not an exception to that. All NVIDIA 8 series chips on every single Vista SZ is affected by this problem. Then you might say, why not just use the IGP (Stamina) ? After the GPU completly failed, this is in most cases impossible, and it will result in a black screen when you turn on the device.

Symptoms of this problem are :

• black screen when turning on the device (device is not booting up, it has not passed the power-on self-test)
• artifacts on the display
• not being able to successfully install GPU drivers
• unable to boot into Linux (distros with proper GPU drivers)

There is no real permanent solution to this problem. One temporary solution would be a reflow (see our upcoming SZ reflow guide), one more permanent but still temporary solution is a reball or chip replacement. However, both of these methods requires a precise hot air station, BGA No-Clean flux, and some experience (practicing on a junk board is a good start).

Daily Use

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 due to insufficient cooling and manufacturing problems from NVIDIA. This can cause performance issues with Windows 7 and Vista, or cause artifacts or a black screen. Other than that, especially the later SZ6 and SZ7, they 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.

Sources

NotebookCheck and Sony

Pictures : xdevice.blogspot