Sony VAIO Z Series (2011) review

Performance and Battery life

Even without the aid of the Power Media Dock, the VAIO Z is highly competent. Our review unit – the lower specified of Sony’s two VAIO Z models – came with a mid-range Core i5-2410M processor, and the overall result of 0.66 in our benchmarks proves there’s more than enough oomph for any application. The 128GB SSD helps create a wonderful feel of responsiveness too: with Sony’s Fast BIOS boot enabled, a cold boot to the Windows desktop takes just 20 seconds.

Push the Z flat-out for any length of time, and you’ll soon hear the whine of the cooling fan as it ramps up to full speed. But even after several hours of looping our benchmarks, the Sony kept its cool: the hottest point on the keyboard, on its left-hand edge above the main cooling vent, measured 46c.

While the disappearance of switchable graphics will cause some consternation, it’s not the critical loss it might look at first glance. Where the older VAIO Z models needed to partner Intel’s first generation Core processors with an Nvidia GPU to boost performance, the GPU built-in to the second generation of Intel Core processors is much more capable. Where the original Nvidia-equipped model, the Sony VAIO Z13, averaged 55fps in our old Low quality Crysis test – run at 1,024 x 768 resolution – the new model running on integrated graphics managed 39fps at the same settings (in our new tests, run at 1,366 x 768 it achieved 32fps). There isn’t much in it.

The loss of dedicated graphics also allows the VAIO Z to survive impressive stretches away from the mains. Sony claim seven hours of battery life with the internal 4,000mAh battery, and our testing bore this out. It achieved 7hrs 48mins in our light use battery test, with the screen brightness set to 75cd/m2, wireless off, scrolling through a selection of offline web pages. Add the optional battery slice, and those figures should double.

Get back within reach of the Power Media Dock, however, and there are multiple benefits. The first is gaming performance, which improves quite considerably. Using the integrated Intel GPU the Z managed 13fps at 1,600 x 900 and Medium quality; connected to the dock it breezed to a playable 28fps. It doesn’t quite transform the VAIO Z into a desk-bound gaming monster, but it’s good enough for all but the most demanding of games enthusiasts. The second benefit is that it’s possible to power four displays simultaneously: two connected to the laptop, and two more to the Power Media Dock.