Dell Inspiron 1520 User Manual Pdf

Jul 11, 2007  The update of Dell's popular E1505, the Inspiron 1520 has generated a lot of interest in the notebook community. It features a complete design update, the new Intel Santa Rosa platform, and the. Jul 23, 2007  The Dell Inspiron 1520 is a 15.4' screen mainstream consumer notebook recently released. The Inspiron 1520 is highly configurable, offering up.

Buy Direct From Manufacturer

By Laura Rushing

Overview

The update of Dell’s popular E1505, the Inspiron 1520 has generated a lot of interest in the notebook community. It features a complete design update, the new Intel Santa Rosa platform, and the best graphics card Dell has ever offered in a laptop of this size. With this notebook, Dell is making a solid entrance into the 15” performance market. The 1520 has tangible benefits over other 15” notebooks that only offer the 8400M and 1280×800 resolution like the HP dv6500t, and it tends to be less expensive than similarly featured notebooks like the Asus G1S.

As with all of Dell’s computers, the pricing and options for the 1520 can vary greatly depending on your region. Here are the specifications for the system as reviewed:

  • Microsatin Finish in Spring Green
  • Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz, 800MHz FSB, 4MB Cache)
  • 2GB RAM at 667MHz
  • 160GB 7200 RPM HD
  • 256MB Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT
  • 8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
  • Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini Card
  • 15.4” WSXGA+ Display with TrueLife
  • Integrated 2.0 MP Webcam
  • 9 Cell Battery
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • “DellCare Plus” Warranty (three year warranty with Complete Care and a few “extras” like 10 GB of online storage)

My final cost was $1,640.55. I chose not to include internal Bluetooth or Bluray, but they are offered as options in most markets. I placed the order over the phone as I have found that is the best way to ensure a quick confirmation. Of course, the order confirmation was the only quick and convenient thing about dealing with Dell’s customer support.

Reasons for Buying

The 1520 is a new direction for me in laptops. My last two have been 12.1” ultraportables—the Dell 700M and the XPS M1210. While I prefer the smaller size in most cases, I’m traveling much less now and have really been feeling the need for more powerful graphics and more screen real estate when gaming. I seriously considered the Asus G1S, but could not justify the cost. When Dell announced their new Inspirons, I was sold immediately. I loved the ability to customize the exterior and must admit that choosing the color was the hardest decision I had to make. The price was definitely right for me.

First Impressions

The 1520 arrives in a very boring brown box in a very boring white Styrofoam shell. The following items were included in the box:

  • CDs including all preinstalled software and drivers
  • Product Information Guide
  • Contacting Dell Guide
  • Dell Inspiron 1520 Owner’s Manual
  • Creative Ear Buds
  • A/C Adapter

The ExpressCard remote control mentioned in other reviews is not included by default; you must request it when you order your system and may be charged for it. When I first unwrapped the laptop, I was shocked by how vibrant the color actually is—it is brighter and richer than it appears in pictures. I had been using an M1210 and an E1505 and the 1520 looked much larger even than the E1505 due to the absence of white bumpers to break up the outline. The design is truly sleek and beautiful—I spent several minutes admiring the exterior before I even powered it up.

Build and Design

This is the first computer I just enjoy touching. The finish on the lid has a pleasant, almost rubbery tactile surface. Dell’s term for it is “Microsatin,” and I have to agree with that description. My first concern was that the material would scratch, but after some vigorous scratching with my thumbnail I was unable to produce a mark.


Top view of the Inspiron 1520 (left) compared to the E1505 (right). (view large image)

Because of the lovely rounded edges, the notebook does not appear overly thick, especially while open. However, at 14.12” x 10.59” x 1.47”, it is rather large for a 15.4” laptop. With the 9-cell battery, it weighs slightly less than seven pounds. While it is great for occasional traveling, at this size it is probably a poor choice for people who are frequently on the move, such as business travelers or students who want to carry their laptops to class. At the same time, the 1520 does feel sturdy enough to handle being bounced around daily.

In the 1520, the hard drive, battery, and power indicator lights are located to the top right of the keyboard. The lights extend to the side of the computer and can be viewed while the laptop is closed. This is a pretty nifty feature for some, but may be irritating to those who keep their laptops in their bedrooms and like to sleep in complete darkness as the power indicator light alone is pretty bright.


Right side views of the Inspiron 1520 (bottom) and the E1505 (top). (view large image)

One disappointment for me is that the 1520 retained a similar latching system to the E1505. It does not feel especially strong, and the release is a little awkward. There is a little play while the laptop is closed; the latch does not hold it firmly shut. The media buttons along the front are also not as aesthetically pleasing as the rest of the laptop. While functional, they are hard to press and the blue backlight shines through in such a way that imperfect paint on the buttons is highlighted.

Style note: Dell is currently offering really chic-looking Belkin bags in colors to match the new Inspirons. I personally did not purchase one because they are not yet offering the sling bag in the Dove/Tarragon color to match my computer.

Screen and Camera

The screen on the 1520 is solid with very little screen flex. I was unable to produce any rippling of the LCD even with some decent twisting. The WSXGA+ resolution is a great fit for me—I have plenty of room to work with but text doesn’t seem too small. This particular screen does seem a little grainy, though. There is about 1/4” of light leakage along the bottom of the screen, but I have not found any dead or stuck pixels.


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The 2.0 MP camera and the integrated microphone are located above the screen, just under the latch release. They are very unobtrusive—there’s just a tiny square for the camera lens and three small holes for the microphone and indicator lights. The picture quality is markedly improved over the last generation of Dell integrated webcams. The performance is adequate even in lower light situations.

Speakers

In the 1520, the speakers have been moved from in front of the palm rests in the E1505 to under the front edge of the computer. I would have preferred for them to be above the keyboard somewhere, but at least where they are now you are less likely to block them with your hands than you were on the E1505. The speakers get surprisingly loud without too much distortion, and sound quality is quite good. I will add a caveat here that I am used to M1210 speakers, so my definition of good sound is probably going to be less demanding than some others.

If you opt for the webcam and integrated mic option, you will also receive a pair of Creative ear buds. These provide really nice sound reproduction and even include three different sizes of rubber earpieces for comfortable in-ear use.

Benchmarks

Super Pi:

NotebookTime
Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.00GHz Core 2 Duo Intel T7300)1m 0s
HP dv2500t (2.00GHz Core 2 Duo Intel T7300)58s
HP dv2000t (1.83GHz Core Duo)1m 22s
Lenovo ThinkPad T61 (2.00GHz Core 2 Duo Intel T7300)59s
Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (2.00GHz Core 2 Duo T7200)1m 03s
Toshiba Satellite P205-S6287 (1.73 GHz Core 2 Duo Intel T5300)1m 24s
Toshiba Satellite A205 (1.66GHz Core 2 Duo)1m 34s
HP Compaq 6515b (1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52)2m 05s
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T2400)59s
Dell Inspiron e1705 (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo)1m 02s
Samsung X60 (1.66GHz Core Duo)1m 29s

3DMark06:

Notebook3DMark06 Score
Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.00GHz Core 2 Duo Intel T7300, Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT 256MB)2,906 3DMarks
Samsung Q70 (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 and nVidia 8400M G GPU)1,069 3DMarks
Asus F3sv-A1 (Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz, Nvidia 8600M GS 256MB)2,344 3DMarks
Alienware Area 51 m5550 (2.33GHz Core 2 Duo, nVidia GeForce Go 7600 256MB 2,183 3DMarks
Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Xi 1526 (1.66 Core Duo, nVidia 7600Go 256 MB)2,144 3DMarks
Samsung X60plus (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7200, ATI X1700 256MB)1,831 3DMarks
Asus A6J (1.83GHz Core Duo, ATI X1600 128MB)1,819 3DMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)827 3DMarks
Sony Vaio SZ-110B in Speed Mode (Using Nvidia GeForce Go 7400)794 3DMarks
Samsung R20 (1.73GHz T2250 and ATI 1250M chipset / GPU)476 3DMarks

3DMark05:

Notebook3D Mark 05 Results
Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.00GHz Core 2 Duo Intel T7300, Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT 256MB)5,316 3DMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad R61 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)728 3DMarks
HP Compaq 6510b (2.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, Intel X3100)916 3DMarks
HP Compaq 6515b (1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52, ATI x1270)871 3DMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)2,013 3D Marks
Dell Inspiron e1705 (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400)1,791 3D Marks
Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1600 256MB)4,236 3DMarks
Alienware Aurora M-7700(AMD Dual Core FX-60, ATI X1600 256MB)7,078 3D Marks
Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400 128MB)2,092 3D Marks
Asus V6Va (2.13 GHz Pentium M, ATI x700 128 MB)2,530 3D Marks
Dell XPS M1210 (2.16 GHz Core Duo, nVidia Go 7400 256MB)2,090 3D Marks

Rivatuner:

Ntune:

Processor and Performance

The 1520 is based on the new Santa Rosa platform which features an 800 MHz frontside bus, improved integrated graphics, and new incorporated wireless n capabilities. With this system as configured with discrete graphics and a Dell wireless card, the only potential improvement is in the bus speed. Still, the comparable original Core 2 Duo T7200 provided excellent performance and the T7300 is no slouch. It shows a slight performance increase in Super Pi, but at this point I do not think there is a practical difference between this generation of processor and the last generation for the average user.

The computer is very responsive and load times are brief or instant, as is expected with this configuration. I would recommend a minimum of 2GB of RAM for getting the best performance out of Vista.

Graphics and Media

As with many other Dell laptops, the 1520 features MediaDirect which allows you to boot directly into MediaDirect without loading your operating system. This helps you extend your battery life and allows you faster access to your media files.

The graphics card has been hotly debated on the NotebookReview.com forums. The 8600M GT is in theory the most powerful mobile card currently available, but it comes in a few different configurations with different RAM speeds and different factory clocks so the performance can vary between different models of computer. For the more experienced user, I have included screenshots of factory performance with both Rivatuner and Ntune so you can draw your own conclusions. For the less experienced user, you can expect to run all current games on this card with medium to high settings and next generation DX10 games with at least medium settings, depending on the resolution you choose.

I have not had time to do much real world testing of the graphics performance, but I did load Command and Conquer 3 and play around with it a little bit. I averaged about 20 FPS at native resolution with everything on high except anti-aliasing. To get a truly playable RTS, the resolution and possibly a few other settings might need to be reduced.

Please note that all benchmarks were done with Vista and factory settings (except for uninstalling Google tool bar and changing the computer to High Performance mode). It definitely may be possible to get much better graphics performance with XP or by overclocking the card, but I will leave that testing to the really experienced gamers.

Heat and Noise

Noise is about average for a laptop computer. There is a soft hum, but nothing that I find offensive. Even when the fan is on, it is not really any louder than ambient room noise.

I have really been impressed by the heat dissipation. Even while running graphics-intensive benchmarks the computer remains cool enough to actually be used on my lap. The wrist rests are cool or just slightly above room temperature to the touch, and even the actual vents are not uncomfortably warm.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard material seems to be the same as that used for the M1210 and it has a nice grip to it, unlike the smoother keyboards of the previous generation Inspirons. Key placement is excellent—far superior to either the M1210 or the E1505. The Delete key is in the upper right corner and the Page Up, Page Down, End, Home, and arrow keys are all full-sized. Typing on it is very comfortable even for extended periods.


The Inspiron 1520’s keyboard and touchpad. (view large image)


The Inspiron 1520 (left) compared to the E1505 (right). (view large image)

Input and Output Ports

  • (4) USB 2.0 Ports
  • Integrated 10/100 LAN and 56K Modem
  • IEEE 1394a
  • 8-in-1 Card Reader
  • VGA Video Output and S-Video
  • Stereo In, Headphone/Speaker Out and Dual Digital Mics
  • ExpressCard 54mm Slot


Left side view with lock slot, Wi-Fi 'catcher' switch, headphone and microphone jacks, and ExpressCard 54 slot. (view large image)


Right side view with optical drive, card reader, firewire, VGA-out, Ethernet, and two USB ports. (view large image)


Front view with media keys and screen latch. (view large image)

Wireless

My wireless choice is pretty unexciting. I went with the basic Dell g card because I do not expect to be upgrading to wireless n before I replace this laptop. The largest benefit of the Intel card over the Dell card appears to be better driver support, which does not affect me since I am sticking with Vista. It is functional and unremarkable.

One interesting thing to note is that my wireless did not work out of the box. After playing with the advanced settings for the card, I found one for Bluetooth Collaboration that was enabled. I disabled that as I did not opt for Bluetooth and the wireless card immediately began to correctly detect networks. I hope this does not happen to other users that might be less tech savvy (or just less lucky) as I can see it taking quite a while to diagnose this over the phone with tech support.

Battery

Effective battery life under heavy processor load with high performance settings appears to be about three hours with the 9-cell battery. You could probably extend that to four hours or more by disabling wireless, turning down screen brightness, and using less intensive applications. The 9-cell battery does extend about 3/4” from the back of the laptop, but this does not seem especially noticeable given the already larger size of the notebook.

Operating System and Preinstalled Software

I opted for Vista Home Premium as I have been using it for about a month now with no incidents. The many reasons for choosing one operating system over another are discussed ad nauseum elsewhere.

I was very impressed by the lack of preinstalled bloatware. I had opted out every time I was given the option, and all I received was Dell’s basic software, Roxio Creator DE, and the dreaded (at least by me) Google Toolbar and Desktop.

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Something to note for users that also opted for a package that includes Datasafe is that it will not actually be active until July 15th per a tech support rep I spoke with on July 9th. I was told that my one year of storage would not start until the site goes live, but we will see how that actually works out.

Customer Support

Without going into too much detail about all of the hassle I went through with this particular order, I will say that I have come to the conclusion that the problem with Dell’s support is the complete lack of consistency. Like many others, when purchasing this computer I found the extensive options for pricing and frequently changing specials to be both irritating and impractical. Even the sales reps rarely know the current specials. Representatives also frequently contradict each other and the website, to the point that I spoke with one rep who told me he could not correct my order because it had been invoiced and then proceeded to transfer me to a different rep who told me that he could not correct my order because it had NOT been invoiced. I also had one rep offer me a $100 compensation for an issue with my taxes only to be told later by an escalations manager that the rep did not in fact have the authority to issue any sort of credit. I was offered an upgrade to overnight shipping and my shipping was listed as next day on my order status page, but when my laptop was actually mailed it was shipped via ground. Luckily DHL was able to expedite my package and deliver it on time. I have now received the credit from Dell, but they still have not responded about the shipping error or price matching.

Conclusion

The Dell Inspiron 1520 is a beautiful and functional computer. The performance is really unmatched for this price, especially in such a sturdy and attractive package. However, the ordering process can be very unpleasant and can sour the fun and excitement of ordering and receiving a new laptop.

Pros:

  • Gorgeous design
  • Great specs
  • Low cost
  • Solid build

Cons:

  • Confusing and complicated to order at the best possible price
  • Larger and heavier than some other laptops in its class
  • Flimsy latch
  • Unattractive media buttons detract from overall appearance
  • Silver interior may show wear more quickly

by Kevin Giberson

The Dell Inspiron 1520 under review here is the latest 15.4? in an ever-growing succession of what can be categorized as ?consumer mainstream? notebooks offered by Dell?s Home & Home Office division. Since the release of the 1520, Dell has also made available a very similar machine, the Vostro 1500, which can be purchased from the Small Business site. Unlike the Inspiron 1520, which can be configured with any one of eight different colors, the Vostro 1500 is solid black. The Vostro also provides a Windows XP option, which is unavailable in the Inspiron 1520.

It should also be noted, for the benefit of anyone who is somewhat new to this website, that there is plenty of additional information on the 1520, including an excellent full-featured review by someone who actually purchased the 1520, as well as a side-by-side comparison of the 1520 and the HP dv6500t; this comparison includes a video that is definitely worth watching for anyone considering the Inspiron 1520, the HP dv6500t or any other 15.4? consumer notebook.


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Dell Inspiron 1520 Specs:

  • Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (2.0 GHz/4MB L2 Cache)
  • OS: Microsoft Vista Home Premium
  • Hard Drive: 160 GB SATA @ 5400RPM
  • Screen: 15.4″ WSXGA Widescreen (1680 x 1050)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 256MB
  • RAM: 2.0GB DDR2 SDRAM @667 MHz (2 x 1GB)
  • Optical Drive: 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/Double Layer Support
  • Battery: 9-cell lithium ion
  • Wireless: Intel 4965AGN
  • Weight: 6.4 lbs
  • Dimensions: 1.47-1.65? (H) x 14.12 ? (W) x 10.59″ (D)
  • Ports/Slots: 1 IEEE 1394 (FireWire); 4 Universal Serial Bus (USB 2.0); 8-in-1 Memory Card Reader; VGA Out; S-Video; RJ-45 Ethernet LAN; RJ-11 Modem; ExpressCard 54mm; stereo in, headphone/speaker out and dual digital mics

Initial Impressions


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This Inspiron 1520 weighs about six and a half pounds and is considered a mainstream consumer notebook. Though Dell allows customization of the lid in up to eight different colors, our model has a conservative looking black lid. Because of that our machine lacks some of the consumer flair a ?Flamingo Pink? lid would have offered. Nonetheless, my first impressions had to do with a couple of things that distinguish the 1520 from its predecessors:

  1. The overall look is very different, in a good way.
  2. The hardware, particularly in the form of graphics processing, will allow the 1520 to perform about as well as any notebook on the market, with the exception of outlandishly expensive gaming machines that lack any concessions with respect to size, battery life and cost.

These two characteristics are what make the 1520 such an impressive achievement. I actually briefly owned the previous Inspiron generation’s e1705 model, and reviewed the prior-generation e1405 thin-and-light notebook. I must say, the look of the current lineup is immeasurably more appealing. The old silver-and-white style always got me thinking of things like shag carpet and popcorn ceilings: sure, one can make a case for these innovations, just as one can make a case for thick white plastic trim around a notebook, but in the end (which usually comes within a matter of weeks if not months), the style grows tired, the initial promise hollow. The new Inspiron series design is cleaner, simpler and more tasteful. A cousin of the 1520, which shares its look, is the AMD-based Inspiron 1521.

Purchasing Considerations

Though this notebook was sent by Dell for review purposes and not purchased, I wanted to touch on the above topic, simply because there is something of an art to purchasing a Dell consumer notebook. There are many decisions to make, and like all decisions, they carry with them the opportunity for regret or satisfaction. I heartily endorse this web site?s forums for a little glimpse into the thought, action and subsequent level of satisfaction of other buyers.

As of this writing, deliberately moving along the Dell purchasing highway results in:

  1. An Inspiron 1520 with a fairly basic configuration, but one more than adequate for general media and office tasks, for just over $900.
  2. A deluxe performance configuration, virtually identical to this review machine, for just over $1500.

These prices reflect no special discounts or coupons, just today?s standard upgrades and reductions, which are plainly available to anyone who orders a 1520 today. In any case, at the high end particularly, these prices strike me as very competitive, and a savvy shopper who finds coupons, buys their own memory and times the Dell marketing promotions can do better on price.

One thing I found interesting while configuring a couple of 1520s on the Dell site was the price of a RAM upgrade from 2GB to 4GB: $850. Had I selected a higher-priced starting point, meaning a more full-figured set of warranty and support options, the cost of these 2 gigabytes of RAM would have moved away from the direction of a cool grand, but not by much. I saw no mention of this upgrade including a complimentary iPhone or round-trip flight to London, but it is there and available. That said, I would definitely opt for the T7300 CPU and the 8600M GT graphics included in this review model, if at all possible. While these enhancements will probably add three or four hundred dollars to the final price, they are well worth the cost and will almost certainly give the 1520 a longer useful life.

Design


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As noted, I like the look of the Inspiron 1520 and see it as a vast improvement over the Inspiron e1505, the 1520?s predecessor. However, one thing I?ll mention is that my own preference is the black lid of this review model because I find, in pictures at least, that the machines with colored lids have too much color for me. Two distinct colors, in this case silver and black, are just about right. I also like the aforementioned Vostro 1500, very similar to this 1520 and available at the Dell Small Business site, because of the all-black look, including a black keyboard, and the possibility of Windows XP. Though many won?t, I see a black keyboard and XP as decided advantages.

Also a welcome change is the placement and position of the keyboard and touchpad. The prior line of Inspirons featured a somewhat odd shaped keyboard that was set very close to the LCD, and a rather large touchpad placed in the middle of a vast sea of silver plastic. While this did allow the palm rests to accommodate even the most monstrous palms, the new Inspiron line, as represented by this review 1520, has a slightly smaller touchpad and a more centered keyboard; this redesign makes for more comfortable typing and touchpad operation, besides being more aesthetically harmonious.

Dell Vostro 1520 User Manual


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Build

The Inspiron 1520 feels very solid. The only issue, which has been mentioned elsewhere, is the screen latch, which does have some play. Aside from this lack of a nice, snug fit, the latch did not bother me, and I found nothing in the build quality that would make me hesitant to purchase a 1520. Firm but gentle pushing and prodding revealed no flex or weakness.

Input and Output Ports

The Inspiron 1520 has the following ports selection:

  • (4) USB 2.0 Ports
  • Integrated 10/100 LAN and 56K Modem
  • IEEE 1394a
  • 8-in-1 Card Reader
  • VGA Video Output and S-Video
  • Stereo In, Headphone/Speaker Out and Dual Digital Mics
  • ExpressCard 54mm Slot


Left view of Inspiron 1520 ports (view large image)


Right view of Inspiron 1520 ports (view large image)


Front view of Inspiron 1520 with buttons (view large image)


Rear view of Inspiron 1520 with ports and battery (view large image)

The screen


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Color and brightness were both good on the WSXGA glossy LCD. While I like and would myself choose this option, other resolutions are available: 1280×800 WXGA, in both glossy and non-glossy, and 1440×900, glossy only. This represents improved LCD variety and is a major selling point of the 1520; there is something for nearly everyone. Careful scrutiny revealed only one utterly trivial imperfection in the screen: an eighth of an inch or so of uneven backlighting at the bottom of the LCD, which was only visible when I looked very closely while running a screen saver with a dark background. There has been some discussion in this site?s forums about ?grainy? LCDs in the 1520, but I detected none of this. However, I am admittedly not a good cohort for those studying LCD perfection; generally (but not always) I?m okay with the screens I use. Everest Home lists the screen as an SEC3350, a Seiko Epson manufactured LCD.


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Graphics

The NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT is currently among the cream of the crop in notebook GPUs. Athough RivaTuner indicated that the 8600m in the Inspiron 1520 had DDR3 memory, in reality it is DDR2, which may be dissapointing to some. All the same, it’s a powerful card and there were no graphics-related problems during my time with the 8600M. For those interested in gaming considerations, there is plenty of real-world information in this web site?s forums.

Sound

As always, or almost always, when discussing notebook sound: more than adequate for getting the gist, feel and intent of what?s being played, but definitely lacking in bass. Headphones or external speakers will provide a much more lifelike experience.

Multimedia Features

This 1520 came with a remote, snugly ensconced in the ExpressCard slot, as well as an array of physical media buttons on the front of the notebook. Both the built-in buttons and the remote worked as expected, forwarding and pausing and muting in accordance with my wishes.

Processor and Performance

Thanks to the very strong components, performance was always good, regardless of the stress put on system resources such as RAM and CPU. The new Santa Rosa platform coupled with an Intel T7300 CPU, together with a stronger GPU, outperformed my ?old? T2400-based Dell Precision M65 by a wide margin on all benchmarks.

For prospective buyers, it may be worth adding that this review 1520?s configuration is worth considering if one is looking for excellent performance while keeping the price reasonably modest. The T7300 is the cheapest available CPU that comes with 4MB of Level 2 cache, the 8600M GT GPU will provide optimal graphics performance, and anything less than 2GB RAM will significantly hinder performance.

Benchmarks

Super PI, used as a CPU benchmarking tool by calculating pi to 2 million digits of accuracy:

Super Pi comparison results:

NotebookTime
Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.0GHz Intel T7300)0m 59s
Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300)0m 58s
Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300)1m 01s
Lenovo 3000 V200 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300)0m 59s
HP dv2500t (1.80GHz Intel 7100)1m 09s
Lenovo ThinkPad T61 (2.00GHz Core 2 Duo Intel T7300)0m 59s
Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (2.00GHz Core 2 Duo T7200)1m 03s
Toshiba Satellite P205-S6287 (1.73 GHz Core 2 Duo Intel T5300)1m 24s
Toshiba Satellite A205 (1.66GHz Core 2 Duo)1m 34s
HP Compaq 6515b (1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52)2m 05s
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T2400)0m 59s
Dell Inspiron e1705 (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo)1m 02s

PCMark05 comparison results:

NotebookPCMark05 Score
Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.0GHz Intel T7300, NVIDIA 8600M GT)4,616 PCMarks
Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS)4,591 PCMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)4,153 PCMarks
Lenovo 3000 V200 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)3,987 PCMarks
Lenovo T60 Widescreen (2.0GHz Intel T7200, ATI X1400 128MB)4,189 PCMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)4,234 PCMarks
Fujitsu N6410 (1.66GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400)3,487 PCMarks
Alienware M7700 (AMD Athlon FX-60, Nvidia Go 7800GTX)5,597 PCMarks
Sony Vaio SZ-110B in Speed Mode (Using Nvidia GeForce Go 7400)3,637 PCMarks
Asus V6J (1.86GHz Core Duo T2400, Nvidia Go 7400)3,646 PCMarks

3DMark05 comparison results:

Notebook3D Mark 05 Results
Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.0GHz Intel T7300, NVIDIA 8600M GT)5,348 3DMarks
Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)3,116 3DMarks
HP Compaq 6510b (2.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, Intel X3100)916 3DMarks
HP Compaq 6515b (1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52, ATI x1270)871 3DMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)2,013 3D Marks
Dell Inspiron e1705 (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400)1,791 3D Marks
Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1600 256MB)4,236 3DMarks
Alienware Aurora M-7700(AMD Dual Core FX-60, ATI X1600 256MB)7,078 3D Marks
Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (2.0GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400 128MB)2,092 3D Marks
Asus V6Va (2.13 GHz Pentium M, ATI x700 128 MB)2,530 3D Marks
Fujitsu n6410 (1.66 GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400 128MB)2,273 3DMarks
Dell XPS M1210 (2.16 GHz Core Duo, nVidia Go 7400 256MB)2,090 3D Marks

3DMark06 comparison results:

Notebook3DMark06 Score
Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.0GHz Intel T7300, NVIDIA 8600M GT)2,905 3DMarks
Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)1,408 3DMarks
Samsung Q70 (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 and nVidia 8400M G GPU)1,069 3DMarks
Asus F3sv-A1 (Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz, Nvidia 8600M GS 256MB)2,344 3DMarks
Alienware Area 51 m5550 (2.33GHz Core 2 Duo, nVidia GeForce Go 7600 256MB2,183 3DMarks
Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Xi 1526 (1.66 Core Duo, nVidia 7600Go 256 MB)2,144 3DMarks
Samsung X60plus (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7200, ATI X1700 256MB)1,831 3DMarks
Asus A6J (1.83GHz Core Duo, ATI X1600 128MB)1,819 3DMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)827 3DMarks
Sony Vaio SZ-110B in Speed Mode (Using Nvidia GeForce Go 7400)794 3DMarks
Samsung R20 (1.73GHz T2250 and ATI 1250M chipset / GPU)476 3DMarks

HDTune results:

Keyboard and Touchpad


Dell Inspiron 1520 keyboard (view large image)

Keys are responsive and have good travel. Overall, I?d say Dell has done an excellent job with the 1520?s keyboard, both in terms of the feel and the new placement that doesn?t err northward the way the last-generation Inspirons did, especially the e1505 and e1705. Individual key placement makes sense, being more or less standard, and the half-height function keys are consistent with, and just as comfortable as, their larger brethren. The touchpad, which is smaller than that of the e1505, is eminently usable and did everything I expected of it with no discomfort or untoward behavior.

BatteryLife

Under fairly heavy usage, e.g., a lot of hard drive activity, wireless going and the screen set to maximum brightness, I managed to run on the battery for almost three hours. Very light usage and a dim display, but wireless still running, yielded an additional hour or so. I expected a greater disparity, given that my usage for the two tests was at opposite ends of the spectrum, but I did have wireless enabled for the light-usage test, and both times seemed fairly strong for a machine with this power. With a little tweaking, I?m sure others could squeeze more life out of the 9-cell battery.

Heat and Noise

The 1520 was remarkably quiet (virtually silent, in fact) the whole time I had it, and heat was never a problem. The bottom of the unit became a little warm after protracted heavy activity, but not unusually so.

Service and Support

I have used Dell support in the past and have always been satisfied, in the end, with the experience, but I had no reason to contact support regarding this 1520.

Software

Being a creature of habit, I removed most of the ?trialware,? along with some other common programs I loathe, as soon as I received the notebook. I was barely paying attention while doing this, but the whole process for this review notebook seemed to go very quickly. There were no apparent software issues, though I do find myself longing for Windows XP whenever I use a Vista machine. The availability of XP is reason #2 for my seriously considering the Vostro 1500 if I were in the market for a high-powered 15.4? notebook at a reasonable price.

Conclusion

Much of what I found while using the Inspiron 1520 is consistent with (to the point of being almost identical to) what has been written elsewhere. There was really only one thing about this notebook that bothered me, my preference for the all black Vostro 1500 notwithstanding: the play in the screen latch mechanism when the notebook is shut. Is this a big deal? I would say no, not at all.

There are so many positives, including the overall build quality, and so much flexibility in terms of configuration, the 1520 would seem to make a lot of sense for a wide range of notebook users, and a little bit of latch looseness should not be a determining factor. There are many fine notebook deals in the Sunday ads, as well as online, but there is often something about these machines, such as the keyboard, the graphics or the resolution, that would make me reluctant to purchase one of them. The 1520, or the Vostro 1500, for that matter, can be configured just right. If I weren?t already happy with my two laptops and in no hurry to get a replacement, I?d definitely consider the Inspiron 1520 or its nearly identical sibling, the Vostro 1500.

Pros:

  • Excellent performance with the right configuration
  • Solid, inexpensive multimedia notebook with more basic hardware
  • Good screen
  • Wide variety of LCD resolutions, configurable by user
  • Well built
  • Nice appearance, with user-selectable colors
  • Very good keyboard
  • Good battery life
  • Runs quiet
  • Stays cool

Dell Inspiron 1520 User Manual Pdf 2 10

Cons:

Dell Inspiron 1520 User Manual Pdf 2 8

  • Dual LCD latch does not hold as firmly as it should
  • Window XP is not an option (though it is with the Vostro 1500)