PCG-FX: Difference between revisions

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The Sony VAIO PCG-FX are a series of mid and high-range notebooks released by Sony between February 2001 and November 2002.
The Sony VAIO PCG-FX are a series of mid and high-range notebooks released by Sony between February 2001 and November 2002.


Evolution of the [[PCG-F]], it was one of the best models of the 2001-2002 lineup, they have a 14.1" or a 15" XGA TFT display.
Evolution of the [[PCG-F]], they were some of the best models of the 2001-2002 lineup, and they have a 14.1" or a 15" XGA TFT display.


Made mostly of brushed aluminum and plastic, in grey and light blue, it was acclaimed upon its release because of its style and portability.
Made mostly of brushed aluminum and plastic, in grey and light blue, they were acclaimed upon its release because of their style and portability.


On the other hand, many reviewers complained because of the difficulty in accessing the internal parts, especially the hard drive, so that the less experienced users were obliged to send the notebook back to the vendor in order to change or swap those parts.
On the other hand, many reviewers complained because of the difficulty in accessing the internal parts, especially the hard drive, so that the less-experienced users were obliged to send the notebook back to the vendor in order to change or swap those parts.


They had one of the most powerful CPUs and GPUs of the market, that made them a true replacement to a desktop, a true evolution for those years. In fact, they were shipped with many audio and video editing programs, like Adobe Premiere and Sonic Foundry Sound Forge, and also some photo editing applications like Adobe Photoshop Elements.
They had one of the most powerful CPUs and GPUs of the market, that made them a true replacement to a desktop, keeping them in the same category of the predecessor [[PCG-F]]. In fact, they were shipped with many audio and video editing programs, like Adobe Premiere and Sonic Foundry Sound Forge, and also some photo editing applications like Adobe Photoshop Elements.


They were very expensive to buy outside the United States and Japan, because they were imported from those countries, increasing an already very high price (around 1500-2000 US$ in the United States).
They were very expensive to buy outside the United States and Japan, because they were imported from those countries, increasing an already very high price (around 1500-2000 US$ in the United States).


The battery quality and duration were very good for those years, and they supported dual-battery operation.
The battery quality and duration were very good for those years, and they supported also dual-battery operation.


They were made for two years, the main difference between those was that the 2001 ones had Intel processors, while the 2002 versions had AMD ones.
They were made for two years, the main difference between those was that the 2001 ones had Intel processors, while the 2002 versions had AMD ones.


Sony made many some variations of it, changing the CPUs' models and clock speed.
Sony made many some variations of it, changing the CPUs' models and clock speed.[[File:PCG-F180.png|thumb|PCG-F180 from 1999|link=https://vaiolibrary.com/index.php/File:PCG-F180.png]]
 
 
HERE[[File:PCG-F180.png|thumb|PCG-F180 from 1999|link=https://vaiolibrary.com/index.php/File:PCG-F180.png]]
==Detailed Specs==
==Detailed Specs==
'''Processor''' : Pentium II 300 MHz, 333 MHz, 366 MHz (1999 version); Pentium III 500 MHz, 600 MHz, 650 MHz, 750 MHz (2000 version)
'''Processor''' : Pentium III 900 MHz, 1 GHz (2001 versions); AMD Duron 800MHz, AMD Athlon 4 1 GHz, AMD Athlon XP 1400+ 1.4 GHz, 1500+ 1.5GHz (2002 versions)


'''Graphics''' : NeoMagic MagicMedia 256AV with with 2.5 MB VRAM
'''Graphics''' : Intel 815EM graphics chip with up to 11 MB SDRAM (2001 versions); ATI 3D RAGE Mobility-M1 8 MB SDRAM (2002 versions)


'''RAM''' : 32 or 64 MB (expandable respectively to 160 MB and 192 MB, 1999 version); 128 MB SDRAM (expandable to 256 MB, 2000 version)
'''RAM''' : 32 or 64 MB (expandable respectively to 160 MB and 192 MB, 1999 version); 128 MB SDRAM (expandable to 256 MB, 2000 version)


'''Display''' : 13" or 14.1" or 15" XGA 1024x768 with HPA or TFT LCD screen
'''Display''' : 14.1" or 15" XGA 1024 x 768 (SXGA 1400 x 1050 for the 2002's top-range) with TFT LCD screen


'''Storage''' : 2.5" ATA
'''Storage''' : 2.5" ATA


'''Battery''' : Lithium-Ion battery that supports dual battery operation when the floppy drive is removed
'''Battery''' : Lithium-Ion battery that supports dual battery operation


'''Weight''' : 3.3 kg / 116.4 oz / 7.3 pounds
'''Weight''' : 2.9 kg / 102.2 oz / 6.3 pounds for 14.1", 3.4 kg / 119.9 oz / 7.4 pounds


'''Original OS''' : Windows 98; Windows 2000 (models with "K" suffix)[[File:Pcgf540k data sheet.png|thumb|Data sheet of a PCG-F540K, shipped with Windows 2000|link=https://vaiolibrary.com/index.php/File:Pcgf540k_data_sheet.png]]
'''Original OS''' : Windows XP Home Edition; Windows XP Professional (models with "P" suffix); Windows 2000 Professional (models with "K" suffix)[[File:Pcgf540k data sheet.png|thumb|Data sheet of a PCG-F540K, shipped with Windows 2000|link=https://vaiolibrary.com/index.php/File:Pcgf540k_data_sheet.png]]
==Daily Usage Today==
==Daily Usage Today==
These devices, due to their specs, cannot handle web browsing or running modern programs today.
These devices, due to their specs, cannot handle web browsing or running modern programs today.
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They can be used, on the other hand, to write text (they were shipped with Microsoft Office), play old games, or to import, convert, and edit very old photo, video, or audio footages, maybe in order to convert them into a more modern format.
They can be used, on the other hand, to write text (they were shipped with Microsoft Office), play old games, or to import, convert, and edit very old photo, video, or audio footages, maybe in order to convert them into a more modern format.
==Resources==
==Resources==
[https://download.vaiolibrary.com/manuals/pcg-f/ Sony VAIO PCG-F Series user manuals and specifications]
[https://download.vaiolibrary.com/manuals/pcg-fx/ Sony VAIO PCG-FX Series user manuals and specifications]
==Recovery Discs==
==Recovery Discs==
PCG-F recovery discs are available on the [https://archive.org/details/sony-vaio-pcg-f-630-recovery-cd-1 Internet Archive].
PCG-FX150 recovery discs are available on the [https://archive.org/details/SonyPCGFX150Recovery Internet Archive].
 
PCG-F540 drivers are available on the [https://archive.org/details/sony-vaio-pcg-f-540-drivers Internet Archive].
==Downloads==
==Downloads==
Follow our [https://vaiolibrary.com/index.php/Drivers_Downloading_Guides guide] to download and install the drivers (as Sony removed Windows 7 drivers and older).
Follow our [https://vaiolibrary.com/index.php/Drivers_Downloading_Guides guide] to download and install the drivers (as Sony removed Windows 7 drivers and older).
==Sources==
==Sources==
[https://sony.com/ Sony] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia]
[https://sony.com/ Sony]
 
 
WIP

Revision as of 16:40, 1 June 2022

PCG-F590K from 2000, the top of the range

Summary

The Sony VAIO PCG-FX are a series of mid and high-range notebooks released by Sony between February 2001 and November 2002.

Evolution of the PCG-F, they were some of the best models of the 2001-2002 lineup, and they have a 14.1" or a 15" XGA TFT display.

Made mostly of brushed aluminum and plastic, in grey and light blue, they were acclaimed upon its release because of their style and portability.

On the other hand, many reviewers complained because of the difficulty in accessing the internal parts, especially the hard drive, so that the less-experienced users were obliged to send the notebook back to the vendor in order to change or swap those parts.

They had one of the most powerful CPUs and GPUs of the market, that made them a true replacement to a desktop, keeping them in the same category of the predecessor PCG-F. In fact, they were shipped with many audio and video editing programs, like Adobe Premiere and Sonic Foundry Sound Forge, and also some photo editing applications like Adobe Photoshop Elements.

They were very expensive to buy outside the United States and Japan, because they were imported from those countries, increasing an already very high price (around 1500-2000 US$ in the United States).

The battery quality and duration were very good for those years, and they supported also dual-battery operation.

They were made for two years, the main difference between those was that the 2001 ones had Intel processors, while the 2002 versions had AMD ones.

Sony made many some variations of it, changing the CPUs' models and clock speed.

PCG-F180 from 1999

Detailed Specs

Processor : Pentium III 900 MHz, 1 GHz (2001 versions); AMD Duron 800MHz, AMD Athlon 4 1 GHz, AMD Athlon XP 1400+ 1.4 GHz, 1500+ 1.5GHz (2002 versions)

Graphics : Intel 815EM graphics chip with up to 11 MB SDRAM (2001 versions); ATI 3D RAGE Mobility-M1 8 MB SDRAM (2002 versions)

RAM : 32 or 64 MB (expandable respectively to 160 MB and 192 MB, 1999 version); 128 MB SDRAM (expandable to 256 MB, 2000 version)

Display : 14.1" or 15" XGA 1024 x 768 (SXGA 1400 x 1050 for the 2002's top-range) with TFT LCD screen

Storage : 2.5" ATA

Battery : Lithium-Ion battery that supports dual battery operation

Weight : 2.9 kg / 102.2 oz / 6.3 pounds for 14.1", 3.4 kg / 119.9 oz / 7.4 pounds

Original OS : Windows XP Home Edition; Windows XP Professional (models with "P" suffix); Windows 2000 Professional (models with "K" suffix)

Data sheet of a PCG-F540K, shipped with Windows 2000

Daily Usage Today

These devices, due to their specs, cannot handle web browsing or running modern programs today.

They can be used, on the other hand, to write text (they were shipped with Microsoft Office), play old games, or to import, convert, and edit very old photo, video, or audio footages, maybe in order to convert them into a more modern format.

Resources

Sony VAIO PCG-FX Series user manuals and specifications

Recovery Discs

PCG-FX150 recovery discs are available on the Internet Archive.

Downloads

Follow our guide to download and install the drivers (as Sony removed Windows 7 drivers and older).

Sources

Sony