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Sony Vaio VGN-FZ31Z

Specifications

Sony Vaio VGN-FZ31Z
Sony Vaio VGN-FZ31Z (Vaio VGN-FZ Series)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS - 256 MB VRAM, Core: 540 MHz, Memory: 1080 MHz, NVIDIA GeFORCE 8600M GS (256 MB), 7.15.11.128
Memory
2 MB 
, Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 T8300, 2380 MHz (12 x 198)
Display
15.40 inch 16:10, 1280 x 1024 pixel, PnP-Monitor (Standard), glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel PM965
Storage
300 GB - 4200 rpm, 300 GB 
, 4200 rpm, FUJITSU MHX2300BT
Soundcard
SigmaTel STAC9271D High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
0 PC-Card, 1 Express Card 34mm, 0 Express Card 54mm, 3 USB 2.0, 1 Firewire, 1 VGA, 0 DVI, 1 HDMI, 1 S-Video, 1 Modem, 1 Kensington Lock, 0 Serial Port, Audio Connections: 1, Card Reader: 1 MemoryStickreader, 1 SD Cardreader, TV Card: 0, 0
Networking
Marvell Yukon 88E8036 (10/100MBit/s), Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 1
Optical drive
Matshita BD-MLT UJ-220S
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 34.5 x 355.8 x 254.4 ( = 1.36 x 14.01 x 10.02 in)
Battery
58 Wh Lithium-Ion, Li-Ion 11.1V 5200 mAh
Operating System
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 32 Bit
Additional features
Microsoft Works 8.5, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.8 kg ( = 98.77 oz / 6.17 pounds), Power Supply: 0 g ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
1799 Euro

 

Pricecompare

Average Score: 75.5% - good
Average of 4 scores (from 4 reviews)
price: 50%, performance: 68%, features: 75%, display: 89% mobility: 51%, workmanship: 79%, ergonomy: 78%, emissions: 65%

Reviews for the Sony Vaio VGN-FZ31Z

70% Sony VAIO VGN-FZ31Z 15.4in Blu-ray Notebook
Source: Trusted Reviews English Archive.org version
Despite initially impressing with smart design and good features, the FZ31Z is let down by poor battery life and appalling integrated speakers. It's still a good machine in many respects, but other 15.4 inchers offer a better balance for less money, while larger notebooks can boast stronger multimedia credentials.
(von 10): 7, Ausstattung 8, Leistung 7, Mobilität schlecht, Preis schlecht
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/20/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 40% performance: 70% features: 80% mobility: 40%
67% Sony VAIO VGN-FZ31Z
Source: PC Pro English Archive.org version
With the memory of HD DVD rapidly fading into obscurity, consumers can now buy into Blu-ray with new confidence. And fresh from the format's recent victory, Sony has also gone about refreshing its entire range of laptops with Intel's latest Penryn 45nm processors. A Blu-ray writer and Penryn processor simply can't mask the disappointing battery life and high price.
4 von 6, Mobilität schlecht, Preis schlecht
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/22/2008
Rating: Total score: 67% price: 40% mobility: 40%

Foreign Reviews

85% Test Sony Vaio VGN-FZ31Z Notebook
Source: Notebookcheck German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/30/2008
Rating: Total score: 85% performance: 84% display: 87% mobility: 74% workmanship: 87% ergonomy: 85% emissions: 89%
80% Sony Vaio VGN-FZ31Z
Source: Notebookjournal German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/26/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% performance: 50% features: 70% display: 90% mobility: 50% workmanship: 70% ergonomy: 70% emissions: 40%

Comment

NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS is the DirectX 10 capable successor of the GeForce Go 7600 / 7700 for laptops and technically a higher clocked 8400M GT. The performance is slightly above the 7600 / 7700 and, therefore, it can represent DirectX9 games fluently. For DirectX 10 effects, the power of the card is not sufficient.

Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.


Intel Core 2 Duo: This is the Core Duo and Core Solo successor with a longer pipeline and 5-20% more speed without more power consumption. As an addition to the Core Duo design there exists a fourth decoder, an amplified SSE-unit and an additional arithmetical logical unit (ALU).

The Core 2 Duo for laptops is identical to the desktop Core 2 Duo processors but the notebook-processors work with lower voltages (0.95 to 1188 Volt) and a lower Frontside bus clock (1066 vs 667 MHz). The performance of equally clocked notebooks is 20-25% lower than Desktop PCs because of the lower Frontside bus clock and the slower hard disks.


T8300: The Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 was at the time of announcement a fast dual-core CPU for laptops with 3 MB level 2 cache.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.


15.40":

15-inch display variants are the standard and are used for more than half of all laptops.

The reason for the popularity of mid-sized displays is that this size is reasonably easy on the eyes, often allows high resolutions and thus offers rich details on the screen, yet does not consume too much power and the devices can still be reasonably compact - simply the standard compromise.

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.


2.8 kg:

With this weight, a laptop is rather heavier than average. Devices in this range shine more with screen size and performance than with mobility.


Sony: Sony Corporation is one of the largest Japanese electronics companies. The company was founded in 1946 under a different name and initially produced rice stoves. The company launched the first transistor radio. In 1958, the company was renamed Sony. Sony is a combination of the Latin word sonus (sound) and the English word sonny (little boy). Today, its core business is consumer electronics. The company is engaged in the development, design, manufacture and sale of electronic equipment, instruments, devices, game consoles and software. Sony operates in the following segments: Gaming and Network Services, Music, Images, Home Entertainment and Sound, Imaging Products and Solutions, Mobile Communications, Semiconductors, Financial Services and Others.


75.5%: This rating is not earth-shattering. This rating must actually be seen as average, since there are about as many devices with worse ratings as better ones. A purchase recommendation can only be seen with a lot of goodwill, unless it is about websites that generally rate strictly.


» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

 

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Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Sony Vaio VGN-FZ31S
GeForce 8600M GS, Core 2 Duo T8100
Packard Bell Easynote MB88
GeForce 8600M GS, Core 2 Duo T5500
Medion MD96520/MIM 2260
GeForce 8600M GS, Core 2 Duo T5450
Sony Vaio VGN-FZ21Z
GeForce 8600M GS, Core 2 Duo T7500
Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Xi2428
GeForce 8600M GS, Core 2 Duo T7700

Devices with the same GPU

Acer Aspire 7520G
GeForce 8600M GS, Turion 64 X2 TL-64, 17.10", 3.7 kg

Devices with Same Screen Size and/or Weight

Sony Vaio SV-F1521K1EB
GeForce GT 740M, Core i3 3227U, 15.60", 2.3 kg
Sony Vaio SV-F1521S2EB
GeForce GT 740M, Core i5 3337U, 15.60", 2.7 kg
Sony Vaio SV-F1521C6EW
GeForce GT 740M, Pentium 2117U, 15.60", 2.5 kg
Sony Vaio SV-F15A1M2ES
GeForce GT 735M, Core i5 3337U, 15.60", 2.6 kg
Sony Vaio SV-F1521V6EB
GeForce GT 740M, Core i7 3537U, 15.50", 2.5 kg
Sony Vaio SVE14A2V1E
Radeon HD 7670M, , 14.00", 2.3 kg
Sony Vaio SV-F1521F4EB
GeForce GT 740M, Core i5 3337U, 15.60", 2.7 kg
Sony Vaio SV-F15A1S9R
GeForce GT 735M, Core i5 3337U, 15.60", 2.6 kg
Sony Vaio SV-F15A1M2E
GeForce GT 735M, Core i5 3337U, 15.60", 2.3 kg
Sony Vaio SV-F1521H1EW
GeForce GT 740M, Core i3 3227U, 15.60", 2.5 kg
Sony Vaio SV-F1521Z1EB
GeForce GT 740M, Core i7 3537U, 15.50", 2.5 kg
Sony Vaio SV-F1421V1EW
GeForce GT 740M, Core i3 3227U, 14.00", 2.4 kg
Sony Vaio SV-F15A1Z2EB
GeForce GT 735M, Core i7 3537U, 15.60", 2.6 kg
Sony Vaio SV-E14A2M6EB
Radeon HD 7670M, Core i3 3110M, 14.00", 2.2 kg
Sony Vaio SVE1512Y1E
Radeon HD 7650M, Core i7 3632QM, 15.50", 2.7 kg
Sony Vaio SVE14A2V2RS
Radeon HD 7670M, Core i5 3210M, 14.00", 2.3 kg
Sony Vaio SV-S1513L1EW
GeForce GT 640M LE, Core i5 3320M, 15.60", 2 kg
Sony Vaio SV-E14A2S7C
Radeon HD 7670M, Core i7 3632QM, 14.00", 2.3 kg
Sony Vaio SV-S1512S1ES
GeForce GT 640M LE, Core i5 3210M, 15.50", 2 kg
Sony Vaio SV-E1412CCXB
Radeon HD 7550M, Core i5 3210M, 14.00", 2.4 kg
Sony Vaio SV-E1512W1EB
Radeon HD 7650M, Core i5 3210M, 15.50", 2.7 kg
Sony Vaio SVS1511X9R
GeForce GT 640M LE, Core i7 3612QM, 15.50", 2 kg
Sony Vaio SVS1511V9E
GeForce GT 640M LE, Core i7 3612QM, 15.50", 2 kg
Preisvergleich

Reviews and price comparison on Sony Laptops at Ciao

Sony Vaio VGN-FZ31Z
Sony Vaio VGN-FZ31Z
Stefan Hinum, 2008-05- 1 (Update: 2012-05-26)