studio 1749 fan noise/temperature problems

Cool, I hope you'll be happy with it. Please let us know if it meets your expectations when you get it !

Yeah. So weird. I thought of sony right away when i was thinking about replacing the 1749, but when i looked, the e-series didn't have a custom build option (at least not here in the US). But I just looked, and the custom build is an option again! Price is definitely right. I think I'm going to put one together tonight (hopefully i can find an online coupon to help with the price even more) and then return the hairdryer!

I'm having the same fan problems with mine. Also, a HDMI port is so tight I have to turn the laptop on it's side to insert a cable. Can't find out how to disable the touchpad when the mouse is connected, no HD indicator, and I can't figure out how to turn off the top indicator lights, (where the tools through disc eject display is). It's pretty to look at and I love the screen, but I'm calling to return it tomorrow.

I buy most of my stuff from Dell, one or two things a year, but they are major buys to me. It's upsetting to box it up and start the search all over again. I'd ask Dell to recommend something else, but  I'm pretty afraid of a repeat performance. I don't have any confidence in  this 1749.

This was a refurb too and I picked it up for 470, so I really want to like it.

Hmm.. don't see any coupons for the Sony. Reviews for the sony look good so far. The only issue being possibly tinny-sounding speakers (the speakers on the studio 17 are pretty good). Anyone else read anything about the 17" EC series laptops? I'm having trouble finding reviews, and I'm wondering how the 1920x1080 display compares to the studio 17 RGB 1920x1080 display.

In the end, it will cost me about $300 more shipped. Very slightly faster processor (i5 460 vs i5 450), adding a blu-ray drive, backlit keyboard, blutooth, and of course it's brand new instead of refurbished. :emotion-42:

The speakers aren't too tinny on the EC. Not as good as the 1749s JBLs maybe but not too tinny to live with. Bizarre coincidence maybe but the salesguy in the Sony centre where I looked at the EC 17" last Sunday said he owned a 1749 himself and,guess waht? Yup.He said it was the noisiest laptop he'd ever heard but at least it had a good soundsystem to drown it out!! lol.

There's a dedicated thread on the Eseries in general Here

It's 220 pages long but does have quite a lot of info on SSD drive installation, overclocking etc etc.

hth

Pete

Thanks Pete,

How did the display look in person and compared to the 1749?

Haha, did you ask the salesguy why he got a studio 17 instead of the sony, considering he's a sony employee?

Dell just update the bios already! Make the fan run all the time at a slower/less noisy speed, or anything.  I don't want the hassle of returning and buying something else, but really? no fix?

Here's a newer review of an E-series Vaio : http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Sony-Vaio-VPC-EF2S1E-BI-Notebook.37100.0.html

A little less powerful than the 1749, same GC, and "The fairly low noise development is one of the Vaio VPC-EF2S1E/BI's strengths".

Notebookcheck.net reviews are definitely the best I've ever seen.

The display looked - lush. I'm a big fan of Sonys LED screens anyway so it looked just perfect. A bit weak on viewing side angles granted but i don't care about that much.

I've never actually seen a 1749 in the flesh - just read every review and test I could find out there (to an unhealthy borderline OCD level ;-) but, again the salesguy who owned a 1749 said there wasn't that much in it regarding quality (he was just the Sunday stand in btw and a confirmed Dell Fanboy - he also agreed that Dell are losing it with regards to customer service these days)

Anyway.

  A comprehensive review of the EC 17" - here This was an early model though and i think the specs have been improved slightly since

Pete

Yeah comments on the e-series forum (wish they had a dedicated forum to the ec) suggests that it's pretty quiet. Going to have to go down to the sony store to see it in person. Too bad the only option in the us is the black color.

Funny, I was looking for some reviews where I could compare screen quality between the two and found this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1t1e-8yPuY and the guy in it is demo says "people say the fan is loud, but it's really not. it's quiet" and then proceeds to start showing off his laptop, then he starts a program to show off the sound at 5:45 and the hairdryer comes on. haha.

Taken from elsewhere. But handy to know if you're doing a demo

Simple Steps to 'DrAsTiCaLLy' Improve Speakers on E Series

1. Click Speakers Symbol from Control panel on right bottom side (Near System Clock) and then Click on 'Speakers' icon on Top.

a. Go to Enhancements tab and make sure to CHECK 'Loudness Equalization' checkbox.

b. Go to Dolby Tab and Check 'Audio Enhancer' and 'Surround Sound'

c. Go to Advanced Tab and Select the Default Format as Last option in the Drop Down

yeah so i went to check out the Sony EC series in person. 

it was hard to tell in the store because it was a loud and bright environment.

The Sony is downright silent compared to the Dell. This is likely due to the fact that it simply runs much much cooler. An EC series running all day in the store was jcool to the touch, even on the bottom area, where the Dell gets pretty hot. 

Screen quality is about the same with a slight edge towards the Dell i'd say. Again, hard to tell in a bright store.  the Sony chiclet keyboard is actually slightly easier to type on. The sound is definitely better on the Dell, which is to be expected, since it has a subwoofer. I tried playing some videos on hulu and I could barely hear it with all the store noise.

Bios A07 is out! Someone tried it?

Bios A07 is out! Someone tried it?

Oops! double click :emotion-10:

Trying it now, the fan still kicks in every few minutes.

Problem NOT resolved.

@Steve_le Thanks for notifying us about the bios by the way.

Dear Studio 1749 owner! Just shortly!! Download a benchmark program named : Prime95 (available many places on ex. google) The download the program : Furmark (also available on google) Then execute both programs and notice the speed of the processor, the heat on computer and supply and then make a report in here - then hopefully Dell will take action if it shows lack of promisses!!!!   Peter