Windows XP on Sony VGN-P530H

I decided to pickup the Vaio VGN-P530H from MicroCenter for $500; It is about $100 more than a good NetBook while being much smaller and having a kick-ass (1600×768) LCD display.

The System comes pre-loaded with Windows Vista Basic- add in the Sony bloatware and it ran like a square wheel. I tried Windows 7 Ultimate, but it was still a little sluggish with Aero turned on.

I decided to go back to good ‘ole Windows XP, but Sony (as usual) does not offer drivers for XP; only Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Once I downgraded to XP, the unit works fairly well for a 1.33Ghz atom (and I have been able to overclock to 1.6Ghz with SetFSB). The screen is incredible and the wireless connectivity (WiFi, BlueTooth, EVDO, GSP) almost makes up for the meager 60GB (1.8” PATA) hard drive and the 2GB of RAM that is hard-soldered to the system board.

Even more important is the unit is small enough to fit in a jacket pocket and carry around- everwhere…

There is a tread on Pocketables on How to install XP on a Vaio P, but the links are to Japanese sites (i.e. no English version) to download the drivers and some others are now dead links.

Luckily, there is a ‘XP Downgrade’ folder on the Sony Vaio-Link FTP site that contains drivers for the Sony P series.

Another link on Pocketables Forum points to a file in the root of the above FTP Folder which will download all of the Vaio P Windows XP drivers and create a Windows XP Driver CD.

I ordered a screen protector from eBay and I am considering upgrading to the 4 cell extended battery -and possibly later replacing the 1.8” PATA 60GB drive with a SSD Drive.

Sony Vaio VGN-P530H/Q

I sold my Gateway LT3103u a few weeks ago and I have been looking for a replacement ‘carry-around’ notebook (my Gateway P-6860FX is a great laptop, but it is also a 9.3lb device with a 17” screen –and not something I want to keep in my backpack all the time).

I looked at some of the new CULV laptops, but their price vs. performance isn’t where it needs to be yet. The lower end (SU3500; Core2 Solo 1.4Ghz) is has about 160% the processing power of a 1.6Ghz Atom N270 (488 vs. 304 on Passmark), it is sells for $100-$200 more (using $300 as the current average price for a NetBook).

The high-end CULV (SU9700, Core2 Duo 1.6Ghz) is almost four times as fast (1106 vs. 304), but most models sell for 2 to 4 times the price of an average NetBook.

CPU Type	Passmark Score
Intel Atom Z520 @ 1.33GHz	251
Intel SU1300 @ 1.06GHz	264
Intel Atom Z530 @ 1.60GHz	295
Intel Atom N270 @ 1.60GHz	304
Intel Atom Z540 @ 1.86GHz	306
Intel Atom 230 @ 1.60GHz	315
Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz	315
Intel Core2 Solo U2100 @ 1.06GHz	323
Intel Atom Z550 @ 2.00GHz	346
Intel SU2700 @ 1.30GHz	438
Intel Core2 Solo U3500 @ 1.40GHz	488
Intel Core2 U7500 @ 1.06GHz	571
Intel SU2500 @ 1.20GHz	581
Intel Atom 330 @ 1.60GHz	624
Intel Core2 Duo U7500 @ 1.06GHz	637
Intel Core2 U7600 @ 1.20GHz	664
Intel Core2 U7700 @ 1.33GHz	696
Intel Core2 Duo U7600 @ 1.20GHz	709
Intel Core2 Duo U7700 @ 1.33GHz	748
Intel Core2 Duo U9300 @ 1.20GHz	768
Intel SU2300 @ 1.20GHz	930
Intel Core2 Duo U9400 @ 1.40GHz	947
Intel SU4100 @ 1.30GHz	971
Intel SU7300 @ 1.30GHz	1005
Intel Core2 Duo U9600 @ 1.60GHz	1106
Intel Core2 Duo T8300 @ 2.40GHz	1476
Intel Core2 Quad Q9650 @ 3.00GHz	4456
Information obtained from Passmark Website

The big benefit in the CULV systems is that they are very thin & light and can have between 8 to 12 hours of run time on a single battery charge. All of the systems I looked at were 12” to 14” screens with 1366×768 resolution (for 720p capability)- which is the same resolution that most of the newer NetBooks feature.

I had resigned to lugging around my old faithful Gateway, but I decided to keep looking in case a good deal caught my eye.

This afternoon I was making my normal weekend rounds (Fry’s, MicroCetner, GameStop, etc) and I came across the Sony VGN-P530H/Q at MicroCenter- on sale for $499. This device launched at $899 and the current lowest online price I can find is $634.99 (for a refurb unit from Geeks.com).

It is a lowly Atom Z520 (1.33Ghz) but it comes with 2GB of RAM (hard-soldered to the board), a 60GB hard drive, WiFi b/g/n and an integrated webcam. What sets this apart from other ‘NetBooks’ is the integrated Bluetooth, GPS, Verizon EVDO and (wait for it) an 8” LED backlit screen with 1600×768 resolution!

The system ships with Vista Home Basic and it runs like crap; If I decide to purchase it would immediately be formatted and loaded with Windows 7.

Still debating if I can handle a 1.33Ghz CPU, but it is a pretty damn good buy for a micro-sized 1.5lb laptop!

Research Notes:

• Engadget: Vaio P with Windows 7
• Pockatbles: Vaio P Disassembly
• UMPCFever: Vaio P13 Dissected
• Viao P Disassembly Manual (in Japanese)
• Pocketables: Sony Vaio P Forum