Dell Inspiron 1520 User Review

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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 1280x800 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.

(view large image)

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:

Notebook	Time
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:

Notebook	3DMark06 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:

Notebook	3D 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 &quot;catcher&quot; 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.

Something to note for users that also opted for a package that includes Datasafe is that it will not actually be active until July 15^th per a tech support rep I spoke with on July 9^th. 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

 

This is definitely going to be a really popular laptop considering its price for very powerful configurations. Thanks for finally getting a review out there!

 

I was actually excited about this new line, until I read the dimensions and saw the weight - it's nearly 7 pounds. I need a laptop in the next month, so I'm doing a lot of research, and I'm glad that Dell has finally started putting some good video cards in their laptops, but as I'll be traveling a lot, this is just too heavy. So far I'm still going with the MBP.

Very good and informative review though, thank you very much.

 

Nice review.. I see that you got the date issue resolved..

 

Wow, shame about the keyboard.

I really hate when the run keys down the right side like that...

 

Great review. And it is good to see that I am not the only one who ordered the olive green lid. This laptop sounds good except for its size and latch (which I disliked as well when I saw it at Dell store). RAM on 8600GT is rather slow, though. What was your resolution setting when you run 3DMark06?

Mine was supposed to arrive tomorrow, but it was pushed back to 26 - probably because I got 1440x900 LCD.

 

Frankly, the keyboard highly resembles that of DV6XXX series, and has a way better lay out than prior 1505 model. Btw, nice review.

 

atleast this time dell put their optical drive where its supposed to be
at least thats wot i feel
i acctually like the older media buttons as opposed to the new ones which as many have said....dont fit in
other than that great laptop
as usual dell keeps to its price : performance ratio once again
i somehow have the feeling that this may jus drag the hp 6500 series down but yet that remains to be seen as is just my speculation

 

I guess this confirms the GDDR2 in the 1520 from the 3dMarks06 does it ?

900 marks difference between the 8600M GT in the G1s and the 1520

 

Great, Finally someone seems to be getting their 1520's. Nice of you to put up a review of it. Also some nice comparative pictures you got there I do have to agree with woodgypsy, the RAM on the card seems rather slow. Since the laptop stays quite cool it should hopefully be possible to speed em' up a bit without too much trouble

 

nice review!

 

I ran 3DMark05 and 3DMark06 at all default settings since I downloaded the free version. I'm attaching a screenshot of my results. Thanks for the kudos everyone!

 

Hi,


I must say very good review.
Atlast there is a review available.
I just wanted to know whether you selected the default sound option or went for the HD premium option.

Now i am waiting for the review of the new inspiron with amd processors, as they are bit cheaper and i am tight on budget as being a student.

 

Mine JUST got in through the door!!!! <3

The photos really don't do these machines enough justice, they look absolutely AMAZING. Mine is ruby red *drools*

 

I got my Dell at my personal configurations for the price I was looking for....no pricing was confusing for me....

I thought the site was more helpful then Hp's..

 

do we know if dell is going to reserve the 8800 for the xps only?

 

Thanks Stella!

Looks like a great laptop for anyone. Awesome 3DMark06 scores...not overclocked, I hope

 

Hey maybe you could take a photo of yours ruby red Inspiron? cause I can't decide in which colour I would like to have my new Inspiron: blue, green, yellow or red?

 

Nope, not a bit. When I get back from vacation I'm gonna try playing around with some overclocking; it stays so nice and cool with factory settings though!

 

what about the noise ?

do you hear any noise come from CPU ?

 

I believe that the only thing that the HP Dv6500T has over the Dell's 1520 is that the HP has a HDMI port - while I dont see that HDMI is going to be widely used, it still is a nice feature, especially since you can use it to hook up to a HDTV and use the laptop as a media center. Also, isn't the HP thinner / lighter also?

 

Excellent ~ thanks for the review. I see the 3Dmark06 levels are comparable to a 7800gs - that's an impressive machine.

 

…complete lack of consistency…in support

Good for you for telling it like it is! I appreciate the tone of your review, very neutral. You didn't heap unnecessary praise on your new toy, unlike some reviewers. (I'm not casting aspersions, in any case.)

I hope Dell reads this stuff and streamlines the process for customers. Lately I've started refering to Dell as a marketing company, not as a computer company. (Now I *am* casting aspersions.) Certainly they have the ability to reduce sourcing costs. Now simplify what you put your customers through, Mr. Dell!

 

Hmm, with this kind of performance and price, the cheaper and better looking (imo) Vostro 1500 is an insane value for the money.

Nice review!

 

Thanks for the great review and pictures.

 

Hi Stella, thanks for the review! I would like to ask you a question:

As another reader found out through here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=139932&page=4

it appears to have 2 different number for the 8600m GT... 320-5639 and 320-5468. The one I have is 320-5639... what about yours?

Thanks!


-Vaitte

 

The one thing that I don't understand is that you said that the status lights run along the right side of the keyboard and can be viewed with the lid closed - it doesn't look like they can be easily viewable while they are closed - is there a considerable gap in between the laptop and the lid when its closed so that you can see it? or are you referring to something such as the LEDs glowing and going from the "glow" to tell if its on or off?

EDIT: nevermind, I see the little LEDs on the side now from the pictures. It would help if they were labeled though

 

No, there are three little squares on the outside that are lit by the same LED as the lights along the top (I hope that makes sense).

Edited to add: if you look closely at the second pic, the one with the 1505 on top of the 1520, you can just see the blue power light lit up towards the back of the 1520.

 

Ah ok. Thanks.

I think that Dell should take a page from IBM/Lenovo and put LEDs on the top of the lid - they would be slightly more easier to see and notice.

 

320-5639 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 1

 

What is the difference between the two 8600GTs?

 

As far as I know no one has received and benchmarked the one with the other item number yet. Hopefully there's no difference and the item number disparity is just an administrative thing.

Edited to add: Now it looks like the different item numbers might be for the 1720 vs. the 1520? We'll know more when more people start to receive their computers.

 

thank you for the nice review
u mentioned about a soft hum in the noise section is it similar to the high frequency noise that is prevalent on the m1210s?

thank you very much

 

I know what you're talking about just from several people complaining, but I never had a problem with CPU whine with my M1210 or this computer. However, I may just not be that picky.

 

if your computer has that problem you will most certainly notice it because the pitch so high that it is enough to drive ppl insane. Or maybe you are just lucky.. :*(

 

I believe what you are referring to is the CPU whine / buzz that is generated by the CPU changing power states. I had this on my T60, but was able to fix it by the procedure below:
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showthread.php?p=56509

Hope this helps.

 

i had this problem 4 months ago on my m1210 i tried the Rmclock and everything, including reverting back to xp. nothing seems to help, in the end i just returned it

 

well all i can say is that it works on my T60.

 

Nice review. Thanks for the heads up about the lights shining even when powered off.

Even with all the bad news about the GPU's ram speed, the things still considerably faster then my old gaming desktop(P4c 3.0ghz, 2 gigs of ram, 9800pro. 3dmark05 score of 2700)

Still torn between getting this and selling my M70 laptop, or getting a desktop and keeping my current laptop for mobile use.(both will end up costing me around 1200cnd)

 

yeah thank you anyway the RmCLock did work but i didn't think it was a good idea to run a third party software 7/24; just didn't make sense to me

 

quick question on noise.
Compared to the Inspiron 1505 you had in the shots, is the 1520 noisier or quieter?
My wife has an Inspiron 6000 (older version in the same chassis (its a 1.6 Pentium M I believe) and it's fairly quiet. My old A64 based HP was the noisiest laptop i ever heard

 

Does the Microstain finsh apply to non-lid areas as well? I had a 1505 and the palmrest was bare plastic in 5 months.

If the whole paintjob is indeed Microstain, would that take care of the palmrest paint wearing off? Does that make it more durable?

Thanks!

 

Fantastic review. Thanks. It took Dell what seemed like forever to update the Inspiron notebooks, but so far it seems like they've done an excellent job.

 

To add a bit to the confusion about the DDR2 vs DDR3 8600M GT's i can tell you that my order states DDR3 while my friends (ordered 5 days later) states DDR2. I do live in denmark so it might be different here. I just noticed, but this is strange...

Hmm...guess it'll be interesting to wait and see...

(Edit: Have since spoken to a Dell representative who claims that it is 100% certain that they use GDDR3 memory for the 8600M GT's, at least in Denmark)

 

yea that is really confusing the he[[ out of everyone... i have my fingers crossed for ddr3

 

anyone have a pic of the back of the laptop? is that where the svideo port is?

 

egriffine, you do know it's microsatin, not microstain, I hope. Or are you jest bean funny?

 

Nice review.

BTW, I am not sure if you used DELL coupon or not ($350 value that time). You just choose a machine without any "$xxx off" to customize and than apply the coupon at the check-out time. One of my friends bought almost same machine as yours, but paid a lot lot less... Anyway, don't be mad at me

 

I bought it the day it was released--the coupons were not released until several days later.

Even considering the coupon, though, I doubt your friend got a much lower price for the same computer. Consider hard drive speed, screen resolution, warranty, etc.

 

congratulations stella.

Can you download the free version of everest and tell us the lcd model?

I would watch out for discoloring your keyboard, the paint will wear off very quickly in this design.