ReadyBoost on a Sony Vaio SZ notebook

Recently, I was researching trying to find the best option for adding flash memory to my Sony VAIO VGN-SZ381p notebook to take advantage of the Vista ReadyBoost feature.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any good information on which flash memory options were best for the Sony SZ. With flash memory being so cheap these days, it’s conceivable to get a 2GB USB or SD card for ~$40 and ideally leave it in my notebook fulltime.

According to the ReadyBoost information, you need flash memory that has at least 2.5 MB/sec for 4kb random reads and 1.75 MB/sec for 512kb random writes.

The Sony SZ series notebook have a few different options for connection flash memory.

First it has the conventional USB 2.0 ports so you can use simple USB keys. I don’t like this option since all USB keys would protrude from my laptop forcing me to remove it every time I shut it it down.

Second connection option is through the ExpressCard slot through a 5-in-1 memory card adaptor which supports Memory stick, Memory stick Pro, SD, xD and MMC.

The third option is through a dedicated Memory Stick DUO port on the left side of the notebook.

To do my tests, I used the built in Vista tool winsat which can be run from the command-line as follows:

Read speed:

winsat disk –read –ran –ransize 4096 –drive <drive_letter>

Write speed:

winsat disk –write –ran –ransize 524288 –drive <drive_letter>

Notes:

Substitute <drive_letter> with your drive letter without the colon. So ‘D:’ would be ‘D’.
You have to run the command line as administrator in order to use the winsat to measure read and write speeds.

Here are the tests I’ve done so far:

Sony VAIO VGN-SZ381p
Card	Size	Port	Read speed	Write speed	Notes
Sony Microvault	2GB	USB 2.0	3.25 MB/sec	3.76 MB/sec	This card is freakin’ tiny. I bought one of these just to keep in my wallet and it has come in handy so many times it’s not even funny.
Sandisk Ultra II SD Plus	2GB	USB 2.0	3.31 MB/sec	3.77 MB/sec
Sandisk Ultra II SD Plus	2GB	Sony 5-in-1 card reader through ExpressCard	1.25 MB/sec	1.37 MB/sec	Same card as the one used in the USB 2.0 port (previous row). The Sandisk SD Plus cards have built-in USB 2.0 connection.
Sandisk Ultra II Memory Stick Pro Duo	2GB	Native Memory Stick Pro Duo	3.97 MB/sec	3.16 MB/sec	Plenty fast for ReadyBoost and it integrates well with the Sony SZ. Pop it into the Memory Pro Duo slot and you don’t even know its there.
Transcend 150x SD	4GB	Sony 5-in-1 card reader through ExpressCard	1.19 MB/sec	1.14 MB/sec	I previously tested this card on a few other notebooks and this one was a rocket. The card reader thru the ExpressCard port is to blame for these results.On a Toshiba Tecra M4 the results were 4.35 MB/s and 5.72MB for read and write respectively.

For the Sony SZ laptops, the clear winner in my tests were the Sony 2GB Microvault and the Sandisk Ultra II Memory Stick Pro Duo. The ExpressCard port was just too freakin’ slow which can be clearly seen on the impact of testing the Sandisk Ultra II SD Plus card in both ExpressCard and USB 2.0 ports and seeing 2.5x performance increase in the latter.

I ended up sticking with the Sandisk Ultra II Memory Stick Pro Duo since it inserts into the notebook without any part of the card sticking out. I can now keep the card in there full-time and enjoy all the ReadyBoost loving.

If you have ReadyBoost working with any other cards on your Sony SZ, help others out by running the 2 winsat commands I listed above and leave the results for read and write speeds in the comments.

Update: Found a great ReadyBoost compatibility site by Grant Gibson. It’s not specific to the Sony SZ so the tests I’ve done above will still be useful to Sony SZ owners. For everyone else, check out Grant’s site.

Written by Trevin

March 6th, 2007 at 6:14 pm

Posted in Technology

Tagged with ready boost, readyboost, sandisk, sony microvault, sony sz, sony vaio, Technology, usb, vaio, Vista

Michelle

Really, the easiest thing to do is have someone else do all the research, order the memory, and have them deliver it to your office.

Thanks, Trevin!
Michelle

Really, the easiest thing to do is have someone else do all the research, order the memory, and have them deliver it to your office.

Thanks, Trevin!
doozer

confirm on my sz-430n the stock sony 5-1 ready is not up to snuff. i took a micro sd chip and used in usb thumb reader and was able to get readyboost to work, but it did not work in the sony 5-1 express card reader. going to go the mem stick pro route to get the internal out of the way and speed benefit. thought i was crazy thanks for verifying with your research
doozer

confirm on my sz-430n the stock sony 5-1 ready is not up to snuff. i took a micro sd chip and used in usb thumb reader and was able to get readyboost to work, but it did not work in the sony 5-1 express card reader. going to go the mem stick pro route to get the internal out of the way and speed benefit. thought i was crazy thanks for verifying with your research
Eric

I have a sz-48gp and for some reason it won’t work. First i bought i Sony 4gb memory card and it says it was to slow, then i bought the sandisk ultra2 pro duo and it also doesn’t work!

Did you have to do anything else?
Eric

I have a sz-48gp and for some reason it won’t work. First i bought i Sony 4gb memory card and it says it was to slow, then i bought the sandisk ultra2 pro duo and it also doesn’t work!

Did you have to do anything else?
http://www.trevinchow.com/ Trevin

Eric: Make sure you format the card. I recall reading that the filesystem type will affect the perf a considerable amount.

Try formatting to FAT32 with the smallest block size possible (4kb I believe). The actual transfer rate won’t matter as the test that Vista does is just reading 4KB blocks various parts of the usb key.

Let me know how it goes!
http://www.trevinchow.com Trevin

Eric: Make sure you format the card. I recall reading that the filesystem type will affect the perf a considerable amount.

Try formatting to FAT32 with the smallest block size possible (4kb I believe). The actual transfer rate won’t matter as the test that Vista does is just reading 4KB blocks various parts of the usb key.

Let me know how it goes!
Eric

Hi Trevin

Thanks for your help. Yes that worked. Strange that the card was formatted using FAT16 rather than FAT32 from the beginning.

Thanks for you help
Eric

Hi Trevin

Thanks for your help. Yes that worked. Strange that the card was formatted using FAT16 rather than FAT32 from the beginning.

Thanks for you help
http://www.astroroach.com/ Randy Roach

I just bought myself an SZ for my birthday, and this information is incredibly useful. I’m off to pick up a Sansdisk Ultra II right now. Thanks!
http://www.astroroach.com Randy Roach

I just bought myself an SZ for my birthday, and this information is incredibly useful. I’m off to pick up a Sansdisk Ultra II right now. Thanks!
David Reuben

Yea Trevin, I have found that also. It is always a great practice to format the memory card, that way it has the correct filesystem for your Sony Vaio laptop.
David Reuben

Yea Trevin, I have found that also. It is always a great practice to format the memory card, that way it has the correct filesystem for your Sony Vaio laptop.
Hot Computers Dude

A very nice article, thanks for the info – saves me time deciding which type of memory card I should get for my own laptop..
Hot Computers Dude

A very nice article, thanks for the info – saves me time deciding which type of memory card I should get for my own laptop..
Jasper

Short, detailed, useful analysis – thanks!
Jasper

Short, detailed, useful analysis – thanks!
http://www.twipe.de/blog/ Mr. Twipe

Ready boost doesn’t help anything. It definitely won’t speed up your laptop!
http://www.twipe.de/blog/ Mr. Twipe

Ready boost doesn’t help anything. It definitely won’t speed up your laptop!
http://www.branchen-domain.de/ Branchenbuch

Hello Trevin,

I found this page through the google search, thank you for the test you provide here – thank you for that!
http://www.branchen-domain.de/ Branchenbuch

Hello Trevin,

I found this page through the google search, thank you for the test you provide here – thank you for that!
Eric

This is a great page, thanks! Unfortunately it didn’t help. I have a SONY MS DuoPro 2GB, formatted by Vista FAT32 with 4KB block size. The SZ still says the MS DuoPro is too slow! I guess I’ll try using the SanDisk Ultra II as in above and see if that works. Thanks for the info anyway!
Eric

This is a great page, thanks! Unfortunately it didn’t help. I have a SONY MS DuoPro 2GB, formatted by Vista FAT32 with 4KB block size. The SZ still says the MS DuoPro is too slow! I guess I’ll try using the SanDisk Ultra II as in above and see if that works. Thanks for the info anyway!
http://www.trevinchow.com/ Trevin

Eric: I never tested the Sony branded DuoPro cards so not able to comment. Try the Sandisk Ultra II brand (or even III or IV) and you should be good to go.
http://www.trevinchow.com Trevin

Eric: I never tested the Sony branded DuoPro cards so not able to comment. Try the Sandisk Ultra II brand (or even III or IV) and you should be good to go.
Eric

Thank you Trevin, I will go get one today. An interesting note: the winsat score on the SONY card came out to 2.92, which should have worked!? At any rate, it’s an Ultra II for me. Thanks again!
Eric

Thank you Trevin, I will go get one today. An interesting note: the winsat score on the SONY card came out to 2.92, which should have worked!? At any rate, it’s an Ultra II for me. Thanks again!
Eric

Purchased the Ultra II card as recommended and it worked perfectly! Don’t use the SONY Pro cards, they don’t seem to work.
Eric

Purchased the Ultra II card as recommended and it worked perfectly! Don’t use the SONY Pro cards, they don’t seem to work.
card

very ineresting site will add to my favourites for further reading..
card

very ineresting site will add to my favourites for further reading..
Adam Hoff

Great Site, after reading I performed a test on my low speed, cheapo, San Disk Mem.Stick Pro Duo (512Mb). The read 3.93mb/s; write 3.41mb/s on my SZ460, native memory card reader.
Surprised it was fast enough, and ready boost worked no problems. But I don’t know how much a 512mb ready boost helps.
Adam Hoff

Great Site, after reading I performed a test on my low speed, cheapo, San Disk Mem.Stick Pro Duo (512Mb). The read 3.93mb/s; write 3.41mb/s on my SZ460, native memory card reader.
Surprised it was fast enough, and ready boost worked no problems. But I don’t know how much a 512mb ready boost helps.
Phenom

the sony notebook is a really good computer compared to most lines in the same price range.
Phenom

the sony notebook is a really good computer compared to most lines in the same price range.
WebComp Analyst

I really wish manufacturers would do the tests and publish Readyboost on the packaging and on their websites.

Thanks for your ersults and the other link.
WebComp Analyst

I really wish manufacturers would do the tests and publish Readyboost on the packaging and on their websites.

Thanks for your ersults and the other link.
Kenny

Sony Vaio VGN-FZ21M

Sony MemoryStick Pro Duo Mark2 4GB
Read 3.39 MB/s
Write 1.63 MB/s
Vista reports this device is NOT OK for ReadyBoost

Sandisk Ultra II SDHC 4GB
Read 2.87 MB/s
Write 2.32 MB/s
Vista reports this device is OK to use for ReadyBoost

//Kenny
Kenny

Sony Vaio VGN-FZ21M

Sony MemoryStick Pro Duo Mark2 4GB
Read 3.39 MB/s
Write 1.63 MB/s
Vista reports this device is NOT OK for ReadyBoost

Sandisk Ultra II SDHC 4GB
Read 2.87 MB/s
Write 2.32 MB/s
Vista reports this device is OK to use for ReadyBoost

//Kenny
Kenny

I was using the built in PRO and SD slots during my test. //Kenny
Kenny

I was using the built in PRO and SD slots during my test. //Kenny
Atila

I think ReadyBoost only works with Sony’s Memory Stick PRO Duo when labeled ‘High Speed’.
Atila

I think ReadyBoost only works with Sony’s Memory Stick PRO Duo when labeled ‘High Speed’.
elli

HELP! It tells me the I cannot use ReadyBoost because the system disk is fast enough!!!
What do I do?
elli

HELP! It tells me the I cannot use ReadyBoost because the system disk is fast enough!!!
What do I do?
http://PoptropicaInsider.com Ppptropica Cheats

nice job on the readyboost support and even updating your article to give us a link on the compatibility of readyboost for other systems. thank you so much.

Trevin Chow

ReadyBoost on a Sony Vaio SZ notebook

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