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blog:sony_vaio_f_seria [2025/01/16 16:59] – [Power Board Failures] johnblog:sony_vaio_f_seria [2025/01/28 17:11] (current) – [Table] john
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 ====== Sony Vaio PCG-F807K/F808K/F809K ====== ====== Sony Vaio PCG-F807K/F808K/F809K ======
  
-{{:blog:pentium:vaio:img20250109130444.jpg?400|}} {{:blog:pentium:vaio:img20250109130609.jpg?225|}}+I bought these two laptops; a PCG-F807K (sold as working) and a PCG-F809K (sold as non-working) in January 2025 as potential candidates for a top-end DOS gaming laptop, to compare with the [[blog:ibm_tp_240|Thinkpad 240]], which whilst a great machine, is not quite perfect (mono sound, less-than-perfect scaling of low res games). 
 + 
 +**PCG-F809K** 
 + 
 +{{:blog:pentium:vaio:img20250109130609.jpg?225|}} {{:blog:pentium:vaio:img20250109130444.jpg?400|}} 
 + 
 +**PCG-F807K** 
 + 
 +{{:blog:pentium:vaio:img20250115121727.jpg?225|}}
  
    * Intel Pentium III Mobile    * Intel Pentium III Mobile
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    * Failure from some unknown component on the board which is **not** related to battery leakage and therefore not visible    * Failure from some unknown component on the board which is **not** related to battery leakage and therefore not visible
  
-Therefore, the only sure way to get a replacement power board, or to restore a faulty PCG-Fxxx machine is to remove the power board from a known-working machine.+Therefore, the only sure way to get a replacement power board, or to restore a faulty PCG-Fxxx machine is to remove the power board from a known-working machine. Unfortunately, without a solid diagnosis of the underlying issue, it is possible that other //known working// machines/power board //may// also fail in the future, irrespective of CMOS battery leakage.
  
 //Note: In addition, the laptop lid sensor board at the front of the power board can be damaged by battery leakage.// //Note: In addition, the laptop lid sensor board at the front of the power board can be damaged by battery leakage.//
 +
 +=== Testing With Replacement Power Board ===
 +
 +With the power board from the //working// PCG-F807K fitted into the PCG-F809K, the system works normally:
 +
 +{{:blog:pentium:vaio:img20250115123055.jpg?400|}}
 +
 +
 +
 +===== Power Board Failure - AGAIN! =====
 +
 +Despite fitting a known-good power control board, the restored Vaio PCG-F809K did not last long. After 2 days of use (installing the new hard drive, setting up drivers and getting Windows 98SE ready to install) the machine spontaneously shut down and it shows no signs of life any more:
 +
 +{{:blog:pentium:vaio:img20250123132035.jpg?800|}}
 +
 +   * No standby indicator
 +   * No battery charging indicator
 +   * No response to power button
 +
 +This is //exactly// the same behaviour observed when the PCG-F809K first arrived. I believe this to be an actual failure of the power control board in //real time//.
 +
 +Unfortunately, at this point in time I have no other sources of alternative power control boards, nor do I think it is worth the risk of replacing it only to have it possibly fail again after a short period of use.
 +
 +{{:blog:pentium:vaio:sonyvaio_fxxx_powerboard_lower.jpg?800|}} {{:blog:pentium:vaio:sonyvaio_fxxx_powerboard_upper.jpg?800|}}
 +
 +^ Part Number(s)           ^ Surface  ^ Quantity  ^ Pins  ^ Manufacturer       ^ Description                                              ^
 +| 355A                     | Lower    | 2x        | 3     | ?                  | MOSFET                                                   |
 +| A00B                     | Lower    | 1x        | 5     | ?                  | ?                                                        |
 +| LT 1621                  | Lower    | 1x        | 16    | Linear Technology  | Rail-to-rail current sense amplifier                     |
 +| LT 1435A                 | Lower    | 1x        | 16    | Linear Technology  | Synchronous step-down switching regulator controller     |
 +| I?R 024H / 4U3E / f7413  | Lower    | 2x        | 8     | ?                  | ?                                                        |
 +| A00B                     | Upper    | 2x        | 5     | ?                  | ?                                                        |
 +| E2LD                     | Upper    | 1         | 5     | ?                  | ?                                                        |
 +| 4925 / ?EUA / W048       | Upper    | 2         | 8     | ?                  | ?                                                        |
 +| ?415A / T07BAN           | Upper    | 1         | 8     | ?                  | Power control transistor                                 |
 +| ???                      | Upper    | 2         | 8     | ?                  | Tiny: 2.5-3mm wide. Almost impossible to read markings.  |
 +
 +
 +**[Update - Jan 28th 2025]** I tried powering both laptops and all three power boards with a bench PSU, with voltages from 12-20V DC. No change in behaviour; the laptop acts as if there is no power applied and there is no visible power draw from the bench PSU. Unless someone figures out what component(s) fail on these power boards, any Sony Vaio Fxxx series laptop is running on borrowed time until it fails.
 +
 +**Therefore, I cannot recommend any of the Sony Vaio PCG-Fxxx models for retro computing use**, despite the really nice hardware specifications.
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