Have I been robbed?!??!?!

[inectarios]

Dear everyone,
I have recently bought a VAIO A117S laptop. As anyone with a little-more-than-average interest in computer stuff would do, I downloaded some stuff to test my new machine..just to make my self feel that my money was well/worth-spent.

The A117S is supposed to be carrying the ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9700. From what I've read this graphics card is based on ATI's M11 chip which is basically identical to its predecessor the M10 chip which is found on the ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600. However, performance wise, the M11 chip should be better..I suppose...since from some specs I found on the web the MR9700 is running from 390Mhz to 450Mhz core speeds while the MR9600 runs at 300Mhz.

The thing is, I have downloaded some utility software from ATI's web site (ATI Inspector) that can identify the card and give you some good details including the type of chip, the product code and so on..

What I get is this:
------------------------
ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600 SERIES AGP
64 MB DDR SGRAM/SDRAM

In ATI Info utility I get the following:
----------------------------------------------
Graphics Chipset (ASIC) : M10<3D

But in the display section in the 'System Information' utility of windows XP I get this:
-----------------------
Name: ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9700
PNP Device ID:
PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E50&SUBSYS_818A104D&REV_00
\4&20FB2818&0&0008
Adapter Type: ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9700 AGP
( 0x4E50), ATI Technologies Inc. compatible
Adapter Description:ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9700
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I also downloaded ATITool 0.0.22 overclocking utility which also identifies my card's chip as M10 but gives a core speed of 392MHz and a memory speed of 223MHz

P.S all of the above utilities report the card's AGP bus type as 1X,2X, and 4X.Both M10 and M11 are supposed to be 8X-capable cards.

What the f**k is going on here? Is this some expenditure-cutting fraud from Sony? Do they give you another chip and just customize the drivers to look like you have another?

[kee-lo_]

My advice would be to use your Vaio and enjoy it - Just don't play the latest games on your laptop  

Willaim

Well said

[TygerTyger]

In summary:

If you buy a Vaio you get looks and status and you becomes the envy of anyone interested in computers for a hundred miles around you.

What you DON'T get is a high performance graphics card. Sony are frankly moo excrement in this area, although their processors are top-notch.

If you are a gaming geek you will no doubt have noticed that while Dell's laptops are ugly bricks, they surpass the equivalently priced Vaio in terms of performance. So, in a perfect world you get both, but in the real world you get one or the other. Asus are actually pretty much in between the two, maybe they are a better choice.

I'm really quite suprised you didn't research this more intensely, I chose a Vaio after research because of the wonderful screen and beautiful styling, even though for the price the performance was well behind other manufacturers.

[jammold]

Well said TT!

I chose mine because of a Sony rep in my nans shop gave me a demonstation (of the GRT915MP Series) - and I also liked it for these reasons:

1. Its a Sony
2. Fantastically bright TFT LCD Screen (15.0")
3. Its a Sony
4. Superb audio from internal speakers, DVD playback
5. The styling of the unit
6. Memory Stick Slot
7. Its a Sony.:smileycool:

The list goes on and on. LOL - Not that I am biased or anything!

[kee-lo_]

Maybe you should look at Alienware if you want at top-f-the-range notebook for gaming.

[faithx]

I simply chose my VAIO because it was the best value for the spec compared with other machines ¿ and that¿s it really :smileynerd:

[kee-lo_]

Nothing wrong with that Faith...

[inectarios]

thanx 4 the help..

Although "I'm really quite surprised", that some ppl don't seem to get my point of opening this thread. When I said "IF I wanted a real gaming laptop I would buy a 5.0KG Dell, but then there would be other drawbacks..." that's what I meant...

The research I did was more than intense, since the money I wanted to spend was of an above-than-average budget. BUT because I truly believe that above all, whether or not you are brand-loyal, Sony-fanatic or whatever, you still are a customer and a consumer with rights, and its more than your right to have full knowledge of what you are buying.


thanx 2 those who listen..
:smileycoffee:

[kee-lo_]

BUT because I truly believe that above all, whether or not you are brand-loyal, Sony-fanatic or whatever, you still are a customer and a consumer with rights, and its more than your right to have full knowledge of what you are buying.

Totally agree with that statement, after all we are customers or consumers as the government would like us to be known as.