tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post8020365763897146988..comments2023-06-14T08:06:06.621-07:00Comments on Jon Nazario: SONY VAIO - SVE14A390X Premium Plus - Review and EnhancementsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445603144209159908noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-68975352503211290072014-06-25T08:16:48.761-07:002014-06-25T08:16:48.761-07:00John:
I am sure you have moved on beyond this syst...John:<br />I am sure you have moved on beyond this system, but I should tell you that following your useful review I bought a refurbished SVE14a390x to use aas a portable development machine, and I just last week installed a large SDD as the main drive, with the original HItachi HDD in the same caddy you recommended. The re-installation of the original WIN8 version and subsequent upgrades (to Win 8.1 etc>) all went smoothly. However, I have one major problem, and many attempts to re-install etc have not solved it. Although the diagnostics that Sony provides (as well as other tools, e.g., the Acronis disk imaging tools) all find and correctly identify the HDD in the caddy when they boot outside of Windows, Windows 8 itself canNOT find or recognize the HDD in the caddy. I suspect a CMOS problem, since the Vaio BIOS reports (incorrectly) that the HDD has a 750GB capacity (which was that of the original Hitachi main drive), although Windows has no trouble correctly identifying and using the new 1TB SSD. However, inside Windows the HDD in the caddy remains completely invisible. Has no one else reported this problem with the caddy-mounted HDD? Any suggestions?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10737315672855094703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-11056376043575169342013-04-29T06:43:18.966-07:002013-04-29T06:43:18.966-07:00Hi John,
I wonder what you call the "base&qu...Hi John,<br /><br />I wonder what you call the "base" model if it doesn't have the AMD graphics card. Might not be even the same screen then what you look at. Just because is Series E, there could be some significant differences. Focus in the Model number: SVE14A390X.<br /><br />This laptop comes with either 1 or 2 GB Video card besides the Intel graphics. If you see my benchmarks there are two sections for graphics. Desktop mode uses the Intel chip graphics for saving battery while Gaming will use the AMD Video card (which honestly haven't tested yet).<br /><br />I am happy with the laptop screen, except the glossiness. But I don't need anything WOW! for screen besides the touch capabilities for development.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445603144209159908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-1572879886629375982013-04-28T07:13:51.957-07:002013-04-28T07:13:51.957-07:00Hi Jonathan,
I am also considering this laptop. I ...Hi Jonathan,<br />I am also considering this laptop. I went to Best Buy to see a base model so I can get a feel for what this would look like and I had a concern about the graphics. The colors looked really dull even with the brightness set at 100%. The base didn't have the AMD graphics card so I wasn't sure if this made the difference. Do you find the colors and graphics good? <br /><br />Here are the specs I am looking at:<br /><br />3rd gen Intel® Core™ i7-3632QM quad-core (2.20GHz / 3.20GHz with Turbo Boost)<br />Windows 8 Pro 64-bit <br />No Fresh Start<br />Microsoft® Office 2013 trial version<br />14" LED backlit display (1600 x 900)<br />Touch screen<br />AMD Radeon™ HD 7670M (2GB) hybrid graphics<br />256GB (256GB x1) solid state drive <br />8GB (8GB x1) DDR3-1600MHz<br />Blu-ray Disc™ player<br />Large lithium-ion battery (7950mAh) <br /><br />Thanks <br />JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-40562526297490119972013-04-15T12:52:17.634-07:002013-04-15T12:52:17.634-07:00Awesome! We got to love the toys! :)Awesome! We got to love the toys! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445603144209159908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-27340832467573168632013-04-15T11:17:57.261-07:002013-04-15T11:17:57.261-07:00I'm definitely enjoying it. I can run multipl...I'm definitely enjoying it. I can run multiple, high powered virtual machines at the same time for developing and it's FAST. While not technically an ultrabook, it travels well.<br /><br />All in all, I'm very happy with my decision. Thanks for all your help!Trayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03620496821792036252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-55045588985107514142013-04-13T08:17:36.158-07:002013-04-13T08:17:36.158-07:00Tray! How you like the new machine?
I can say I...Tray! How you like the new machine? <br /><br />I can say I am very happy with it. Happier that is not an ultrabook and is actually a good all around machine. Developing has been amazing fast too compile and load tools. But the best part is doing system images to the 2nd HDD. My current image is ~250GB and takes less than 30mins to complete. I probably have to clock it next time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445603144209159908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-62688625569581368022013-04-03T18:43:55.472-07:002013-04-03T18:43:55.472-07:00Thanks! Enjoy the new machine!Thanks! Enjoy the new machine!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445603144209159908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-46233520498892240192013-04-03T13:12:44.338-07:002013-04-03T13:12:44.338-07:00I can confirm Jon's setup. I did the exact sa...I can confirm Jon's setup. I did the exact same thing myself (with Jon's blog as guidance) and it rocks.<br /><br />The only thing I would add is don't over-think removing the DVD. There is a single screw that holds the caddy in place. It's marked with 3 dots on the bottom. Remove that screw and use a paperclip in the DVD face. The whole thing pops right out.<br /><br />Thanks again Jon for putting this together.Trayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03620496821792036252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-23544046703394279172013-03-31T20:08:49.341-07:002013-03-31T20:08:49.341-07:00All right Jonathan!!
Thank you so much for postin...All right Jonathan!!<br /><br />Thank you so much for posting the how-to. I hope my upgrades go as well as yours did. I've done this sort of thing before, but there is always a pucker factor when dealing with new equipment. <br /><br />:-)Trayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03620496821792036252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-18311775339131319822013-03-29T20:53:10.746-07:002013-03-29T20:53:10.746-07:00Post updated. Have fun!Post updated. Have fun!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445603144209159908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-70602392136376581962013-03-29T15:36:02.339-07:002013-03-29T15:36:02.339-07:00Fyi, becareful with the faceplate swap. Is fragil...Fyi, becareful with the faceplate swap. Is fragile and tricky. I will post better notes later but to get it out you need to follow some instructions AND USE A ROTATIONAL PULL to disconnect.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445603144209159908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-22241044800824314072013-03-28T14:45:05.546-07:002013-03-28T14:45:05.546-07:00Nice! Thank you Jonathan for posting this. Infor...Nice! Thank you Jonathan for posting this. Information about this model and upgrades is non-existent. You made me feel much better about my recent purchase.<br /><br />I look forward to your info on the caddy change. If I get all my stuff delivered and installed before you post, I'll let you know how it goes.Trayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03620496821792036252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-14311155339368968332013-03-28T12:52:37.628-07:002013-03-28T12:52:37.628-07:00Awesome! I will report back and update with the c...Awesome! I will report back and update with the caddy change. Honestly the SSD is such a big difference. My system felt really slow with the original 5400RPM disk. Now even with all the dev servers and things I have installed, the machine still only takes 10-13 secs to boot from restart. From sleep mode is just 2 seconds.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445603144209159908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3872443124478444419.post-65916108993349174382013-03-28T11:09:20.053-07:002013-03-28T11:09:20.053-07:00Wow. I just purchased this exact setup and I'...Wow. I just purchased this exact setup and I've already ordered all the same customizations. I would love to see how the CD/HDD caddy installation went!Trayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03620496821792036252noreply@blogger.com