But how much power does this performance growth require? Let’s check it out.

Well, the battery life isn’t too much shorter when the discrete graphics core is activated (but the notebooks couldn’t last for more than 3 hours in the Classic mode). So, the owner of a VAIO VGN-SZ1HRP/B or a VAIO VGN-SZ1XRP/C can choose between extra half an hour of battery life or higher performance in 3D applications.

Here are the battery discharge diagrams for the different operation modes:

Sony VAIO VGN-SZ1HRP/B

• Classic mode (graph)
• Reader’s mode (graph)
• DVD mode (graph)

Sony VAIO VGN-SZ1XRP/C

• Classic mode (graph)
• Reader’s mode (graph)
• DVD mode (graph)