Sony VAIO VGC-RA710G Desktop PC (3.2 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW/DVD Drives)

by Sony

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 57 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00029YSUC
• Item model number: VGC-RA710G
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 28, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Sony's new RA Series of multimedia desktop PCs combine the style and attraction of VAIO with new and unique next-generation features. With an i915P Grantsdale chipset, x16 PCI Express for graphics, and four serial-ATA ports, the RA Series is equipped for a hardware challenge. The stylishly black VGC-RA710G comes complete with a DVD+/-RW drive and a variety of Sony digital media software that makes it easy to burn your home movies and digital audio collections to disc. It also comes preloaded with Sony's GigaPocket software, which enables you to watch and record TV programs right on your PC. Other features include a massive 250 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a hyper-threaded 3.20E GHz hyper-threaded Pentium 4 processor.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The included 250 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive (7200 RPM) is one of the largest installed drives found on the PC market. It will provide more than enough space to store your favorite TV shows as well as room for recording old VHS tapes.
• Processor: The 3.20E GHz Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology (which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system) is one of the fastest processors currently available on the market. It's based on Intel's next generation 90 nm process technology, which delivers faster transistors and increases performance. It also has a 1 MB L2 cache and a fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed.

  A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.

• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (PC-3200 400MHz DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1 GB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes with two optical drives: a DVD+/-RW and CD-RW combo drive and a 16x DVD-ROM for playing music and movie discs. The combo drive offers 8x write, 4x rewrite, and 8x read speeds for both +R/RW and -R/RW discs and a 40x write/read and 24x rewrite speed for CD-R/RW discs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a Sony Vaio keyboard and optical mouse (with PS/2 connector).

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
You get excellent range of connectivity options befitting the multimedia tasks associated with the PCV-RS630G, such as three PCI expansion slots (two available), one 8x AGP (accelerated graphics port, available) slot, two 5.25" half-height bays (both occupied), one external 3.5" bay (occupied), two internal 3.5" bays (one occupied), and the following external ports:

• 7 USB 2.0 ports (3 in front, 4 in rear) for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 1 4-pin in front and 1 6-pin in back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 2 composite video/audio inputs (front and rear)
• Coaxial input (VHF/UHF)
• 2 S-Video (1 front)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) digital optical connector
• 1 line input/output

It also has a 3.5" 1.44 MB floppy disk drive, integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Preloaded System and Software
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows--even pause or rewind (up to 7 seconds) FM radio broadcasts. Sony's Giga Pocket built-in software converts TV signals to digital MPEG2 format and lets you watch and record TV programs right on the PCV-620G, watch while you record with the Slip Playback feature, and burn shows directly to DVD. It's also loaded with Sony's Vaio Creative suite of multimedia applications, which includes PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), Sony MovieShaker, DVGate Plus (digital video), VAIO Media (network file sharing), and Click to DVD (for burning DVD discs). Other preloaded titles include a 60-day trial of Microsoft Office, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, Quicken 2004, Norton Internet Security (with 90-day trial subscription), InterVideo WinDVD, and a 90-day trial of AOL.

Dimensions and Weight
This desktop PC measures 8 x 16 x 16 inches (WxHxD).

More Technical Features
The heat pipe advanced cooling system pulls heat away from the CPU, dissipating it through an exchanger, ensuring ultimate performance without the noise or hassle of alternative cooling systems. Noise reduction is at the core of the RÕs design. With impovements in the optical, hard drive, power supply and graphics card, youÕll hardly know it's on.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio VGC-RA710G desktop PC, IR remote control, keyboard, mouse, and set of two speakers.

More About Microsoft Windows XP Media Center

What sets this PC apart is that it is powered by Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, which offers the features, reliability, and power of Windows XP Professional, plus advanced digital entertainment capabilities. The Media Center interface offers you more types of entertainment to enjoy: TV, Personal Video Recording (PVR), Movies, Music, Photos, Videos, Radio, and DVD. Use the remote control to enjoy from anywhere in your room.

TV & Movies
Watch TV when and how you want, and never miss a moment of your favorite programs. Pause and rewind live TV. Record a TV episode, series, or category. Automatically record a personalized selection of TV programs using Keyword Record. Media Center downloads the latest program listings for you and even wakes up from power-saving standby mode to record programs, so you can watch shows on your schedule.
	Photos & Video
	Easily edit your digital pictures and digital videos, and then launch a dynamic slideshow complete with animated transitions and your favorite soundtrack. While viewing a picture, zoom in to see more detail. You can rotate, correct red-eye, and print your pictures using the remote. Play slide-shows straight from digital storage devices.
Music & Radio
All your music is stored in one digital jukebox and using the remote, shuffle your entire music collection according to artist or genre or listen to your tunes through playlists that learn what you like. Tune in FM stations and pause live radio. Full-screen visualizations pulse to the beat of the music. Cool on-screen effects show music information, such as track title, track time, and artist.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Just Doesn't get Any Better Than This!, August 7, 2006

By 

J. Seidell "Gunny" (Richmond, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGC-RA710G Desktop PC (3.2 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW/DVD Drives) (Personal Computers)

I have owned this system for about 2 years. I purchased it in Aug of 2004. I have since performed some minor upgrades: I have bumped the RAM to 2 GIG, I have replaced the weak Nividia 5200 Graphics card (IMHO this was the only weak link in the system) twice - First with the ATI 9600 XT with 256 VRAM - The card currently installed is a [...] kicker - The ATI X1600 with 512 VRAM! I have also added an internal 500 GIG hard drive bringing my total Hard Drive space to over 750 GIG. This system has run flawlessly since purchase. I don't know what everyone is complaining about regarding the MCE 2005 upgrade. I got mine from Sony about 1 months after MS released it. I paid $10.00 for shipping and this was a quick deal. Only problem, hiccup, if you will was due to MS not getting the copies out as quickly as demand ordered them, surprise, surprise right. How many times has MS done that in the past. Again, NO fault to Sony, its hard to deliver what you don't have. I did notice upon purchase that they did not include the recovery disc's, but instead you had to create them. Well I don;t know about you, but I like those important disc's too be from Sony. So I called them (about 2 weeks after purchase) and they did not even have them created yet since system was so new. However, the rep said he would mail me a copy once in stock. About 2 weeks later I received a Sony package via overnight mail (NO cost to me) with the two SONY System Recovery Disc's included! Now that is customer service! I have the Sony SDM-HX73 Digital 17" LCD. I am using the DVI connection and it is sweet! I am also using the Logitech G15 (Keyboard illuminated with a nice blue light) Keyboard, perfect for those night time games where you don;t want to bother anyone while your kicking done the doors in COD 2! So, in summation, with the upgrades, this system will kick the stuffing out of the best retail system (In stores inventory) out today. Two years old and performing like a NEW System! Bye one and don;t look back, you'll love it!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Media Ctr. 2005 Upgrade for $10!, June 6, 2005

By 

R.D. (Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGC-RA710G Desktop PC (3.2 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW/DVD Drives) (Personal Computers)

This is a great PC! Have had it for about a year, now, and have not had a problem with any of the unique software and hardware features. If it is anything like a previous VAIO I owned, a Pentium II, it will long outlive the rapid advancements in computer hardware technology.

Just to set the record straight regarding Media Center 2005, I have no idea what previous reviewers are referring to, but I suspect that they must be talking to un/mis-informed sales clerks. Living in Japan, I ordered and received the $9.95 Media Center 2005 upgrade from the Sony Web site in less than 2 weeks, which is great response time!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars May 2006 - quiet, good PC, May 3, 2006

By 

David Bird "more info - less noise" (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony VAIO VGC-RA710G Desktop PC (3.2 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW/DVD Drives) (Personal Computers)

For months Sony was not supporting an upgrade to MCE 2005. I was shocked, complained, ignored by Sony and MS, and then - Sony changed its mind and for $10 the upgrade was on its way. In the last few months I've added a 1GB RAM, 400GB drive and an ATA HDTV tuner card, all have worked well. For a monitor I use a 21 inch CRT and Sony WEGA TV. I really, really appreciate the liquid cooling. The lack of fan noise - Priceless! The SD and other card readers, and firewire ports work well - I'd almost give it a five stars, but a Mac G5 does video editing and Linux live-CD iso burning better, so when an equally powerful and quiet PC shows up, it will get the five star rating.