The Dell Inspiron series is a line of
laptop computers
A laptop, laptop computer, or notebook computer is a small, portable personal computer (PC) with a screen and alphanumeric keyboard. Laptops typically have a clam shell form factor with the screen mounted on the inside of the upper li ...
made by American company
Dell
Dell is an American based technology company. It develops, sells, repairs, and supports computers and related products and services. Dell is owned by its parent company, Dell Technologies.
Dell sells personal computers (PCs), servers, data ...
. The first Inspiron laptop model was introduced before 1999. Unlike the
Dell Latitude
The Dell Latitude series is a line of laptop computers manufactured and sold by American company Dell. It is a business-oriented line, aimed at corporate enterprises, healthcare, government, and education markets; unlike the Inspiron series, ...
line, which is aimed mostly at business/enterprise markets, Inspiron is a consumer-oriented line, often marketed towards individual customers as computers for everyday use.
Early models
This list is incomplete; the early Dell Inspiron models listed below went through a number of changes from 1999 to 2006, so the specifications on each model may be incomplete or incorrect. There are also some earlier models than these, but those have not been added to the list yet.
Inspiron 7500
Released in 1999, the Dell Inspiron 7500 was a speedy laptop that Dell branded as "A Mobile Desktop". Its starting price was $4,101.
*Processor: Intel Pentium III @750, 700, 650, 600, 500 or 450 MHz, Intel Celeron @433, 450, 466, or 500 MHz
*Memory: 32, 64, 128, 192, 256 or 512 MB of PC100 RAM
*Graphics: ATI Rage Mobility M (with 4 or 8MB of video memory)
*Display: 15" 1024x768, optional 1400x1050, 15.4" 1280x1024
*Storage: 4.8, 6, 10, 20 or 30 GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Inspiron 2100
Released in 1998, the Dell Inspiron 2100 was a lightweight laptop that Dell branded as "Ultra-Thin & Light" and "Ultra Mobile". Its starting price was $1,699.
* Processor: Intel Pentium III @700 MHz
* Memory: 128 or 256 MB of DDR RAM
* Graphics: ATI Rage Mobility M (with 4MB of video memory)
* Display: 12.1" 1024x768
* Storage: 10 or 20 GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Inspiron 3500
Inspiron 3800
Released in 2000, the Dell Inspiron 3800 was an affordable laptop that Dell branded as "Stylish and Affordable". Its starting price was $1,199.
* Processor: Intel Pentium III @700 or 600 MHz, Intel Celeron @600 or 700 MHz
* Memory: 32, 64, 96, 128, 192, 256, 384 or 512 MB of DDR RAM
* Graphics: ATI Rage Mobility (with 8 MB of video memory, 2x AGP)
* Display: 12.1" 800x600, or a 14.1" 1024x768
* Storage: 5, 6, 10, or 20 GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Inspiron 4000
Released in 2000, the Dell Inspiron 4000 was a lightweight laptop that Dell branded as "Ultra-Thin & Light" and "Light as a feather, strong as an ox". Its starting price was $1,499.
* Processor: Intel Pentium III @650, 700, 800 or 850 MHz, or an Intel Celeron @600 MHz
* Memory: 64, 128, 192, 256, 384 or 512 MB of DDR RAM
* Graphics: ATI RAGE Mobility 128 3D (with 8 MB of video RAM, 2x AGP)
* Display: 14.1" 1024x768, optional 1400x1050
* Storage: 5, 10, or 20 GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Inspiron 8000
Released in 2000, the Dell Inspiron 8000 was a mobile workstation that Dell branded as a mobile desktop. Its starting price was $1,649.
* Processor: Intel Pentium III @650, 700, 800, 833, 850, 900, 1000, 1113, or 1200 MHz.
* Memory: 64, 128, 192, 256, 384 or 512 MB of DDR RAM
* Graphics: ATI Mobility — M4 (with 8, 16 or 32 MB of video memory) or RADEON 7500 (with 64 MB of video memory), or NVIDIA GeForce2 Go (with 16 or 32 MB of video memory)
* Display: 14.1” 1400x1050, a 15” 1400x1050, optional 1600x1200.
* Storage: 5, 10, 20, 30, 32, 40, or 60 GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Inspiron 2600/2650
Released: 2002
The Inspiron 2600 and 2650 were clones of the Latitude V710 and V740, respectively.
* Processor: Celeron M @1.3 GHz or Pentium 4 M @ 1.6, 1.7, or 1.9 GHz
* Memory: 128, 192, 256, 384, or 512 MB @ 266 MHz (up to 512 MB)
* Graphics: Intel 3D AGP (32 MB Shared Memory), nVidia GeForce2 Go 100 16 MB or 32 MB
* Storage: 20, 30, or 40 GB HDD
* Display: 14.1 inch display, 15 inch display, or 15 inch SXGA+ display.
Inspiron 8500/8600
Released: 2003
The Inspiron 8500 and 8600 were mainstream notebooks that were clones of the Latitude D800 and D810. The Inspiron 8500 utilized am Intel Pentium 4 M processor, while the Inspiron 8600 was based on Intel's Centrino Platform and utilized an Intel Pentium M/Centrino Processor. Since they were clones of the D800/D810, they included many Latitude-specific features such as the Dell D-Dock and the D-bay (which allowed users to swap out the CD drive for a floppy drive or secondary battery). Like the Inspiron 1100/5100 series that was also released in 2003, the 8500 and 8600 were among the first Dell laptops to be offered in Venice Blue and Moonlight Silver. Additionally, snap-on faux-wood lid covers were an available accessory which allowed customers to customize the look of their Inspiron.
* Processor: Intel Pentium 4 Mobile @ 2 GHz or 2.4 GHz (8500), Intel Pentium M/Centrino @ 1.3 GHz, 1.4 GHz, or 1.7 GHz (8600).
* Memory: 128 MB @ 333 MHz (up to 2 GB)
* Graphics: Inspiron 8500: ATi Mobility Radeon 9000 32 MB, nVidia GeForce 4 4200 Go 64 MB.
Inspiron 8600: nVidia GeForce 4 4200 Go 64 MB, ATi Mobility Radeon 9600 128 MB, nVidia GeForce FX Go5650 128 MB.
* Storage: 30, 40, 60, or 80 GB HDD.
* Display: 15.4 inch display in 1680x1050 or 1920x1200 w/WUXGA.
Inspiron 1300/B130/B120
Released in late 2005, the Inspiron 1300/B130/B120 is the successor to the Inspiron 2200. The Inspiron B120 is 14-inch, B130 is 15-inch. The Inspiron 1300 is available in both screen sizes. It cost $599 for the base model.
* Processor: Intel Celeron or Pentium M
* Memory: 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB of DDR2 PC2-4200 RAM, upgradable to 2 GB.
* Graphics: Intel GMA 900 with 128 MB of shared graphics memory.
* Display: 14" or 15.4" WXGA display
* Storage: 40 or 60 GB Ultra ATA hard drive
* Battery: 29 Wh Lihium-ion, 4-cell (Optional 6-cell available)
Inspiron 2200
Released in 2005, the Inspiron 2200 is the successor to the Inspiron 1000. It was branded as "Notebook Essentials" and started at $799.
* Processor: Intel Celeron or Pentium M
* Memory: 256 MB or 512 MB of DDR RAM, upgradable to 2 GB
* Graphics: Intel Extreme 2 Graphics
* Display: 14" or 15" XGA display
* Storage: 30, 40, or 60 GB Ultra ATA hard drive
* Battery: 65 Wh Lithium-ion, 8-cell
Inspiron 1100 and 5100 Series
Released in 2003, Inspiron 1100 and 5100 series consisted of five models: the Inspiron 1100, 1150, 5100, 5150, and 5160. Additionally, there was a rebadged version of these models sold as the Latitude 100L. The Inspiron 1100 and 1150 were the budget line of this series, the 5100 and 5160 was the mainstream line, and the 5150 was aimed towards higher end users. This model line were among the first Dell laptops to be offered in Dell’s new color scheme: Venice Blue and Moonlight Silver (1100, 5100, 5150), or Moonlight Silver (1150, 5160, 100L).
This model line was infamous for several well documented problems, which resulted in numerous class action lawsuits against Dell. These issues included: overheating, faulty motherboards, and power supply failures.
Inspiron 1100:
Released: 2003
* Processor: 2 GHz Intel Celeron M or 2.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 M
* Memory: 256 MB @ 266 MHz (up to 1 GB)
* Graphics: Intel 82845G Graphics Controller 64MB
* Storage: 30 GB or 40 GB HDD
* Display: 14.1 inch or 15 inch XGA display.
Inspiron 1150:
Released: 2003
* Processor: 2.2 GHz Intel Celeron M, 2.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 M, 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 M
* Memory: 256 MB @ 266 MHz (up to 1 GB)
* Graphics: Intel 852MV Graphics Controller 64 MB
* Storage: 30 GB, 40 GB, or 60 GB HDD
* Display: 14.1 inch or 15 inch XGA display.
Inspiron 5100:
Released: 2003
* Processor: 2.4 GHz or 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 Northwood
* Memory: 128 MB @ 266 MHz (up to 1 GB)
* Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 Dedicated Graphics, 16 or 32 MB
* Storage: 30 GB or 40 GB HDD
* Display: 14.1 inch XGA display, 15 inch 1024x768 XGA display, 15 inch 1400x1500 XGA display.
Inspiron 5150:
Released: 2003
* Processor: 3.06 GHz Intel Pentium 4 M
* Memory: 256 MB @ 333 MHz (up to 2 GB)
* Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 Dedicated Graphics, 32 or 64 MB.
* Storage: 40 GB or 60 GB HDD
* Display: 15 inch XGA display or 15 inch
UXGA
The graphics display resolution is the width and height dimension of an electronic visual display device, measured in pixels. This information is used for electronic devices such as a computer monitor. Certain combinations of width and height ar ...
(1600x1200 resolution) display.
Inspiron 5160:
Released: 2004
* Processor: 2.8 GHz or 3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 M
* Memory: 512 MB @ 333 MHz (up to 2 GB)
* Graphics: Nvidia GeForce Go5200 Dedicated Graphics, 32 or 64 MB.
* Storage: 60 GB or 100 GB HDD
* Display: 15-inch 1024x768 XGA display or 15-inch 1400x1500 XGA display.
Inspiron Mini Series (2008-2010)
The Dell Inspiron Mini Series is a sub-line of
subnotebook
Subnotebook, also called ultraportable, superportable, or mini notebook, was a marketing term for laptop computers that are smaller and lighter than a typical notebook-sized laptop.
Types and sizes
As typical laptop sizes have decreased over t ...
/
netbook
Netbook was a commonly used term that identified a product class of small and inexpensive laptops which were sold from 2007 to around 2013. These machines were designed primarily as cost-effective tools for consumers to access the Inte ...
computers designed by
Dell
Dell is an American based technology company. It develops, sells, repairs, and supports computers and related products and services. Dell is owned by its parent company, Dell Technologies.
Dell sells personal computers (PCs), servers, data ...
. The series was introduced in September 2008 amidst the growing popularity of low-cost netbook computers introduced by competitors. This sub-line has since been discontinued.
Inspiron 3000 Series
Inspiron 11 3000 2-in-1(31##)
3147: — Released in 2014, The Inspiron 11 3000 Series 2-in-1 is a 2-in-1 notebook with an 11-inch touchscreen and Intel processors. It competes with
Acer Aspire R 11
Acer may refer to:
* ''Acer'' (plant), the genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples
* Acer Inc., a computer company in Taiwan
** Acer Laboratories Incorporated, a subsidiary company of Acer, Inc., that designs and manufactures integrate ...
,
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP200, HP Pavilion x360,
HP Stream x360,
Lenovo Yoga 2 11 and
Toshiba Satellite Radius 11.
* Processor: Intel Celeron or Pentium
* Memory: 4 GB
* Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
* Display: 11.6" LED Backlit Display, 1366x768 pixels
* Storage: SATA 500 GB (5400 RPM)
* Battery: 3-cell Lithium-Ion Battery
* Camera: HD 720p Web Camera
* Wireless: Wi-Fi: Intel Centrino Wireless-AC 3160; Bluetooth 4.0
* I/O ports: 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI port, 4-in-1 SD Card Reader, 1 Ethernet port, 1 combined headphone/microphone jack, 1 security lock, 1 power adapter port.
3148: — — this model features a HDMI port, 1x
USB 3.0
USB 3.0, released in November 2008, is the third major version of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard for interfacing computers and electronic devices. Among other improvements, USB 3.0 adds the new transfer rate referred to as '' ...
and 2x
USB 2.0
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables, connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply (interfacing) between computers, peripherals and other computers. A broad ...
Type-A ports, a headphone/microphone combo (headset) port, a media-card reader and a security-cable slot. Its processors are from the 4th generation of Intel Core i3 processors with one
SO-DIMM
A DIMM () (Dual In-line Memory Module), commonly called a RAM stick, comprises a series of dynamic random-access memory integrated circuits. These memory modules are mounted on a printed circuit board and designed for use in personal computers, ...
slot supporting DDR3L memory. It uses Intel HD graphics and the
Realtek
Realtek Semiconductor Corp () is a fabless semiconductor company situated in the Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan. Realtek was founded in October 1987 and subsequently listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in 1998. Realtek currently manufactu ...
ALC3234 audio controller and a 2.5-inch HDD with
SATA
SATA (Serial AT Attachment) is a computer bus interface that connects host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives, optical drives, and solid-state drives. Serial ATA succeeded the earlier Parallel ATA (PATA) standard to ...
3 Gbit/s capabilities. The laptop has an 11.6-inch HD WLED touchscreen display with a maximum resolution of and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The integrated webcam above the display has a camera resolution is 0.92 megapixel and its maximum video recording resolution is 1280x720 (HD) at 30 FPS. The battery of the laptop is a 3 cell battery with a voltage of 11.4 VDC. The power adapter bundled with the laptop is capable of 65w and outputs a 3.34 A.
3158: — —
3168: — this model features a HDMI port, 1x USB 3.0 and 2x USB 2.0 Type-A ports, a headphone/microphone combo port, a microSD card reader, and a security cable slot. It comes with a Intel Celeron N3060, Intel Pentium N3170 or Intel Core-m3 CPU, each supporting up to 4 GB of RAM. There are 2 models, one that comes with the Intel Celeron CPU, 2 or 4 GB of RAM and a 32 GB eMMC drive. As the RAM and eMMC are soldered in, you cannot upgrade this model. The other version comes with either the Pentium or Core-m3 CPU, 2 or 4 GB of RAM socketed, and a 500 GB 2.5 inch HDD, upgradable to any SATA based 2.5 inch drive. Both models are touchscreen and comes in Bali Blue, Tango Red, white and later, Fog Grey. Matching wireless mice and laptop sleeves in those colors were offered as accessories.
Inspiron 11 3000 (31##)
3162: — this model features a HDMI port, 1x
USB 3.0
USB 3.0, released in November 2008, is the third major version of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard for interfacing computers and electronic devices. Among other improvements, USB 3.0 adds the new transfer rate referred to as '' ...
and 1x
USB 2.0
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables, connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply (interfacing) between computers, peripherals and other computers. A broad ...
Type-A ports, a headphone/microphone combo (headset) port and a media-card reader. The laptop uses either dual-core Intel
Celeron
Celeron is Intel's brand name for low-end IA-32 and x86-64 computer microprocessor models targeted at low-cost personal computers.
Celeron processors are compatible with IA-32
IA-32 (short for "Intel Architecture, 32-bit", commonly called ...
or quad-core Intel
Pentium
Pentium is a brand used for a series of x86 architecture-compatible microprocessors produced by Intel. The original Pentium processor from which the brand took its name was first released on March 22, 1993. After that, the Pentium II and Pe ...
processors. The audio controller inside the laptop is a Realtek ALC3234 and the multi-car reader supports one SD card in the form factor of
micro SD
Secure Digital, officially abbreviated as SD, is a proprietary non-volatile flash memory card format developed by the SD Association (SDA) for use in portable devices.
The standard was introduced in August 1999 by joint efforts between SanDis ...
card of the type being SD, SDHC or SDXC. The laptop has an 11.6-inch HD WLED display with a maximum resolution of and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The integrated webcam above the display has a camera resolution is 0.92 megapixel and its maximum video recording resolution is 1280x720 (HD) at 30 FPS. The battery of the laptop is a 2-cell prismatic battery with a voltage of 7.6 VDC. The power adapter bundled with the laptop is capable of 45w and outputs a 2.31 A. The Dell Inspiron 3162 is available in three colours: red, white, and blue.
3180
Inspiron 14 3000 (34##)
14" laptops under the Inspiron 3000 branding and equipped with
Intel
Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. It is the world's largest semiconductor chip manufacturer by revenue, and is one of the developers of the x86 seri ...
processors.
* 3452: - Intel (Celeron dual core or Pentium quad core) processor, Intel integrated graphics and 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) non-touch display.
* 3467: - Intel (6th generation Core i3 or 7th generation Core i3/i5/i7) processor, Intel HD Graphics (520 or 620) or AMD Radeon R5 M430 and 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) non-touch display.
* 3473: - Intel (Pentium Silver N5000 or Celeron N4000) processor, Intel UHD Graphics (600 or 605) and 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) non-touch display.
* 3476: - Intel (8th generation Core i5/i7) processor, Intel UHD Graphics 620 and or AMD Radeon 520 and 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) non-touch display.
Inspiron 15 3000 (35##)
Intel
15" laptops under the Inspiron 3000 branding and equipped with
Intel
Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. It is the world's largest semiconductor chip manufacturer by revenue, and is one of the developers of the x86 seri ...
processors.
* 3552: — Intel Celeron processor N3060, 4 GB memory, 500 GB hard drive, integrated Intel HD graphics, DVD+/-RW drive, Wireless-AC/Bluetooth, 4-cell battery, media card reader, HDMI and USB 3.0 ports, 15.6" HD LED-backlit display
* 3558 — —
* 3573
* 3576
*3583 - Inspiron 3583 has Intel's 8th Gen Core i3-8145U and Intel's UHD 620 Graphics.
* 3584: — Fully customizable, with up to an intel Core i7, 16 GB memory, 2 TB HDD, 256 GB SSD, and AMD Radeon 535 graphics. Comes as standard with three USB 3.1 ports, one USB 2.0 port, a combination headphone/microphone 3.5 mm port, a HDMI 1.4 port, an SD card reader, a Noble wedge lock slot and a 10/100 Mbps RJ45 ethernet port.
AMD
15" laptops under the Inspiron 3000 branding and equipped with
AMD
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) is an American multinational semiconductor company based in Santa Clara, California, that develops computer processors and related technologies for business and consumer markets. While it initially manufactur ...
processors.
* 3555 —
* 3541 —
and the 3151
Inspiron 5000 Series
Inspiron 13 5000 2-in-1 (53##)
5368: —
* Processor: 6th gen Intel Core i5-6300u (2.4 GHz) or i7-6600U (2.6 GHz)
* Memory: 8 GB (Expandable up to 16 GB)
* Display: 13" LED-backlit, 1920 x 1080, 10 point multi-touch touchscreen
* Graphics: Intel HD 520
5378: —
* Processor: 7th gen Intel Core i3-7100U (2.4 GHz), i5-7200U (3.10 GHz) or i7-7500U (4M Cache, up to 3.50 GHz) Dual-core
* Memory: 4 GB or 8 GB (Expandable up to 16 GB)
* Graphics: Intel HD 620
* Storage: SATA 2.5" (500 GB, 1 TB HDD)
* Display: 13" LED-backlit, 1920 x 1080, Limited HDR support; 10 point multi-touch touchscreen
5379: —
* Processor: 8th gen Intel Core i5-8250U (3.40 GHz) or i7-8550U (8M Cache, up to 4.00 GHz)
* Memory: 8 GB (Expandable up to 32 GB)
* Display: 13" LED-backlit, 1920 x 1080, 10 point multi-touch touchscreen
* Graphics: Intel HD 620
Inspiron 14 5000 (54##)
5420: — 3rd Generation Intel Core i3, i5 or i7; or AMD A4-4300M, A6-4400M, A8-4500M, A10-4600M.
5457: — Intel Pentium or 6th gen Core i3/i5/i7.
5480: —
8th gen Whisky Lake Intel Core i3/i5/i7.
5490: — 2019's model with 10th gen i3, i5 and i7 with up to 16gb ram and 1tb ssd and graphics card up to Gtx 1650ti (4 GB)
5402: — 2020's model, Intel 11th gen up to i7-1165G7 processor; Up to 12 GB (one slot + 4 GB) DDR4, 3200 MHz. aluminium cover and palmrest, fingerprint reader option. 1920 x 1080 IPS screen.
Inspiron 15R N5000
N5110 - Predecessor model N5010. The N5110 released in 2011 with Intel
Sandy Bridge
Sandy Bridge is the codename for Intel's 32 nm microarchitecture used in the second generation of the Intel Core processors (Core i7, i5, i3). The Sandy Bridge microarchitecture is the successor to Nehalem and Westmere microarchitecture ...
platform, options for processors i3, i5 and i7.
*Processor: Intel Core i3-2310M, i5-2450M or i7-2670QM.
* RAM Memory: 1333 MHz DDR3 (2 slots), 2 GB up to 8 GB
* Graphics: Intel HD 3000 onboard or Nvidia GeForce GT 525M discrete card
* Display: 15.6" LED Backlit Display, 1366x768 pixels
* Storage: SATA, HDD (5400 RPM)
* Optical Drive: Yes
* Battery: 6-cell 4140 mAh
Li-Ion
A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery which uses the reversible Redox, reduction of lithium ions to store energy. It is the predominant battery type used in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It als ...
* Camera: HD 720p Web Camera
* Audio Controller: IDT 92HD87, speakers 2 x 2 Watt
* Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1030 + Bluetooth 4.0
* I/O ports: 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, 1 eSATA, 1 HDMI port, 1 VGA (D-Sub) port, 4-in-1 SD Card Reader, 1 Ethernet port, 1 headphone, 1 microphone jack, 1 security lock, 1 power adapter port.
* Dimensions and weight: 2.6 kg with battery, 376 mm width, 260.2 mm depth, 35.3 mm rear to 30.7 mm front height
Inspiron 15 5000 2-in-1 (55##)
5568
Inspiron 15 5000 (55##)
5502—
5520: — 3rd Generation Intel Core i3, i5 or i7; or AMD A4-4300M, A6-4400M, A8-4500M, A10-4600M.
5521: — 3rd Generation Intel Core i3, i5 or i7.
5537: — 4th Generation Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 with AMD Radeon Graphics.
5545: — AMD A8-7100 APU or AMD-7300 APU.
5547: — Laptop available in i5 (Non-Touch/Touch Screen), i7 (Non-Touch/Touch Screen), AMD 18 (Non-Touch) versions.
* Processor: Intel Core i5-4210U or i7-4510U, AMD A8.
* Memory: 8 or 12 GB, up to 16 GB DDR3L (2 slots)
* Graphics: Intel HD 4400
* Display: 15.6" LED Backlit Display, 1366x768 pixels
* Storage: SATA, HDD 1 TB (5400 RPM)
* Optical Drive: Yes
* Battery: 3-cell
Li-Ion
A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery which uses the reversible Redox, reduction of lithium ions to store energy. It is the predominant battery type used in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It als ...
* Camera: HD 720p Web Camera
* Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Intel Centrino Wireless-AC 3160 + Bluetooth 4.0
* I/O ports: 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI port, 4-in-1 SD Card Reader, 1 Ethernet port, 1 combined headphone/microphone jack, 1 security lock, 1 power adapter port.
5548: — Intel Core
5th generation i5/i7 processors.
5551: — Intel (Celeron or Pentium) processors.
5552: — Intel (Celeron or Pentium) processors. 1 DDR3L RAM slot (up to 8 GB).
5555: —
* Processor: AMD APU: E1-7010, E2-7110, A4-7210 @1.8 GHz, A6-7310 @2 GHz, A8-7410 @2.2 GHz, or A10-8700P @1.8 GHz
* Memory: 4, 8, 12, or 16 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz (2 slots)
* Graphics: AMD Radeon R2, R3, R4, R5, or R6 Integrated
* Display: 15.6" Dell TrueLife Non-touch or touch 1366x768
* Storage: Seagate Thin HDD SATA 500 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB (5400 RPM) or 128/256 GB SSD
* Optical Drive: TSSCorp DVD-RW
* Battery: 4-cell 40 WHr or 47 WHr
Li-Ion
A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery which uses the reversible Redox, reduction of lithium ions to store energy. It is the predominant battery type used in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It als ...
* Camera: HD 720p, with stereo microphones
* Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Dell Wireless 1707 Card (802.1b/g/n + Bluetooth 4.0, 2.4 GHz)
* I/O ports: 1 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI 1.4a port, SD Card Reader, 1 Ethernet port, 1 combined headphone/microphone jack, 1 security lock, 1 power adapter port.
* Keyboard: Full-size non-backlit or backlit spill-resistant keyboard w/ number pad
5557: —
6th generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processors.
5558: —
* Processor: Intel
Broadwell microarchitecture
* Memory: 4, 8, or up to 16GB DDR3L-1600 (2 slots)
5559: —
* Processor: Intel Core 6th generation i3/15/i7 or Celeron/Pentium processors
* Memory: 4, 6, 8, or up to 16 GB DDR3L-1600 (2 slots)
* Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphics 510 / 520 (integrated) or AMD Radeon R5 M335 (discrete)
* Display: 15.6" LED-backlit, 1366x768 or 1920x1080 pixels
* Pen/Touch: can be equipped with or without 10-point touch screen
* Keyboard: Full size keyboard (can be equipped with backlight)
5566: —
Features
Intel Kaby Lake Microprocessors.
* Processor: Intel Core i7-7500U, or i5-7200U.
* Memory: 8 GB, DDR4 (2 slots)
* Graphics: Intel HD 610 or 620
* Display: 15.6" LED-backlit, 1366x768 pixels
* Storage: SATA: 256/512 GB (SSD), 1 TB (5400 RPM HDD)
* Optical Drive: Yes
* Battery: 6-cell
Li-Ion
A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery which uses the reversible Redox, reduction of lithium ions to store energy. It is the predominant battery type used in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It als ...
* Camera: HD 720p Web Camera
* Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Intel Centrino Wireless-AC 3160 + Bluetooth 4.0
* I/O ports: 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI port, 4-in-1 SD Card Reader, 1 Ethernet port, 1 combined headphone/microphone jack, 1 security lock, 1 power adapter port.
5567: —
Features
Intel Kaby Lake Microprocessors
5570: — Released in 2017, and has a starting price of €599. Intel Celeron or Pentium, or
6th gen Core i3, or
7th gen Core i3/i5/i7, or
8th gen Core i3/i5/i7 processors.
5593: — Released in 2020, Up to 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1, integrated graphics, m.2 NVME SSD.
Inspiron 17 5000 (57##)
5720: -- Intel Core i3
5755: — AMD A8-7410 or AMD A10-8700P processors.
5758: — Intel (Pentium or
4th gen Core i3 or
5th gen Core i3/i5/i7) processors.
5759: — Intel
6th gen i3/i5/i7 processors.
5767: — up to Intel Core i7-7500U, 8 GB RAM and a Radeon R7 M445 (2 GB)
5770: — Intel (Celeron or Pentium or
6th gen Core i3 or
7th gen Core i3/i5/i7 or
8th gen i3/i5/i7) processors.
5775: — 2nd generation
AMD Ryzen
Ryzen ( ) is a brand of multi-core x86-64 microprocessors designed and marketed by AMD for desktop, mobile, server, and embedded platforms based on the Zen microarchitecture. It consists of central processing units (CPUs) marketed for mainst ...
U-series processors.
Inspiron 7000 Series
Inspiron 13 7000
* 7380: — 8th Gen Intel CPU; 16GB DDR4 memory.
Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1
Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is a
2-in-1 notebook line with a 13-inch touchscreen, Intel processors and aluminum case. It competes with
Acer Aspire R 14
Acer may refer to:
* ''Acer'' (plant), the genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples
* Acer Inc., a computer company in Taiwan
** Acer Laboratories Incorporated, a subsidiary company of Acer, Inc., that designs and manufactures integrat ...
,
Asus Transformer Book Flip,
HP Pavilion 13 x360
HP may refer to:
Businesses and organisations
* HP Inc., an American technology company
** Hewlett-Packard, the predecessor to HP Inc.
* HP Foods
** HP Sauce, formerly made by HP Foods
* Handley Page, an aircraft company
* Hindustan Petroleum
* ...
,
Lenovo Yoga 3,
Samsung Notebook 7 spin (13-inch),
Toshiba Satellite Radius 12
, commonly known as Toshiba and stylized as TOSHIBA, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Its diversified products and services include power, industrial and social infrastructure syste ...
and
14.
* 7348: — Late 2014 — 5th gen Intel Core i3/i5/i7 - 1600 MHz DDR3L memory 4 or 8 GB (1 slot)
* 7352: — Late 2014 - 5th gen Intel Core i5/i7 - 1600 MHz DDR3L memory 4 or 8 GB (1 slot)
* 7353: — Early 2015 - 6th gen Intel Core i5/i7 - 1600 MHz DDR3L memory 4 or 8 GB (1 slot)
* 7359: — Late 2015 - 6th gen Intel Core i3/i5/i7 or Pentium Dual Core processor - 1600 MHz DDR3L memory 4 or 8GB (1 slot)
* 7368: — Late 2016 - 6th gen Intel Core i3/i5/i7 or Celeron/Pentium Dual Core processor - 2133 MHz DDR4 memory (4/8/12/16 GB - 2 slots)
* 7375: — Late 2017 - AMD Ryzen 3 / 5 / 7 processor - 2400 MHz DDR4 memory (4/8/12/16 GB - 2 slots) - HD or FHD Display
* 7378: — Late 2016 / 2017 - 7th gen Intel Core i3/i5/i7 or Celeron/Pentium Dual Core processor - 2133 MHz DDR4 memory (4/8/12/16 GB - 2 slots) - HD or FHD Display
* 7373: — Late 2017 - 8th gen Intel Core i5/i7 processor - 2133 MHz or 2400 MHz DDR4 memory 8 or 16 GB (Soldered to motherboard) - FHD Display
* 7386: — Late 2018 / 2019 - 8th gen Intel Core i5/i7 processor - 2400 MHz DDR4 memory 8 or 16 GB (Soldered to motherboard) - FHD or UHD Display
* 7391: — Late 2019 / 2020 - 10th gen Intel Core i5/i7 processor - 2133 MHz LPDDR3 memory 8 or 16 GB (Soldered to motherboard) - FHD or UHD Display
Inspiron 14 7000
7420: — 12th Generation Intel Core i3, i5 or i7; or AMD A4-4300M, A6-4400M, A8-4500M, A10-4600M.
Inspiron 14 2-in-1
7420/7425 - Intel variant (7420) with 12th Gen i5-1235U/i7-1255U with Iris Xe Graphics, and AMD Variant (7425) with Ryzen 5 5625U/Ryzen 7 5825U with Radeon Graphics. 8 or 16 GB DDR4 3200 MHz RAM. FHD+ Display. Marketed as "New Inspiron 14 2-in-1" or simply "Inspiron 14 2-in-1".
Inspiron 15 7000
7520 SE: —
* Processor: Intel Core i7-3612QM or Intel Core i7-3632QM.
* Memory: Between 4 and 8 GB of DDR3 SODIMM (2 slots). 16 GB of memory is unofficially supported.
* Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 7730M dedicated GPU with 2GB integrated memory, and Intel HD 4000 integrated GPU.
* Display: 15.6" LED Backlit Display, 1920x1080 pixels
* Storage: 500 GB HDD or 1 TB HDD (SATA, 5400 rpm). Optional mSATA interface supporting up to 32 GB of additional SSD storage.
* Optical Drive: DVD-RW or Blu-Ray.
* Battery: 6-cell
Li-Ion
A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery which uses the reversible Redox, reduction of lithium ions to store energy. It is the predominant battery type used in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It als ...
* Camera: HD 720p Web Camera
* Audio: Conexant "SmartAudio HD" CX20672-21Z
audio codec
An audio codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream (a codec) that encodes or decodes audio. In software, an audio codec is a computer program implementing an algorithm that compresses and decompres ...
, two 2-watt Skullcandy speakers, microphone in camera assembly, headphone and microphone jacks.
* Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230.
* I/O ports: 4 USB 3.0 ports, 1 HDMI port, 1 VGA port, 1 8-in-1 SD Card Reader, 1 Ethernet port, 1 power adapter port.
7559: — 6th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors.
7566: — 6th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors.
7567: — 7th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors.
7577: — 7th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors (with USB Type-C).
7570: — 8th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors (with USB Type-C).
7580: — 8th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors (with USB Type-C).
7590: — 9th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors (with USB Type-C).
7501: — 10th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors (with USB Type-C).
7510: — 11th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors (with USB Type-C).
Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1
Released in 2015, The Inspiron 15 7000 Series 2-in-1 is a
2-in-1 notebook with a 15-inch touchscreen and Intel processors. It competes with
Acer Aspire R 15
Acer may refer to:
* ''Acer'' (plant), the genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples
* Acer Inc., a computer company in Taiwan
** Acer Laboratories Incorporated, a subsidiary company of Acer, Inc., that designs and manufactures integrate ...
,
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500,
TP550,
HP Envy x360,
Lenovo Flex 2 15,
3 15,
Samsung Notebook 7 spin (15-inch) and
Toshiba Satellite Fusion.
* 7558: — 5th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors.
* 7569: — 6th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors.
* 7579: — 7th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors (with USB Type-C).
* 7573: — 8th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors (with USB Type-C).
* 7586: — 8th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors (with USB Type-C)
* 7591: — 10th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors (with USB Type-C).
Inspiron 17 7000
* 7737: — 4th generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processors.
* 7746: — 5th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors.
Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1
The Inspiron 17 7000 series
2-in-1 Two in One or 2-in-1 or ''variant'' may refer to:
* ''Two in One'' (film), a 2007 Russian film
* "Two in One", a 2016 song by Sonja Vectomov
* '' Marvel Two-in-One'', an American comic book series
* Canon: Two in One, a musical term
* 2-in-1 PC, ...
is an convertible line with aluminum case. It uses a 17-inch display, and is the largest Inspiron 2-in-1 laptop.
* 7778: —
* 7786: — 8th gen Intel Core i5/i7 processor.
* 7790: — Up to 16 GB DDR4, Nvidia 250MX video.
Inspiron Gaming Series (Pandora) (2015-2018)
Inspiron 14 Gaming/Inspiron 14 7000 (7447)
The 2015 Dell Inspiron 7447 (Inspiron 14) is a gaming oriented laptop with a discrete 4 GB
Nvidia
Nvidia CorporationOfficially written as NVIDIA and stylized in its logo as VIDIA with the lowercase "n" the same height as the uppercase "VIDIA"; formerly stylized as VIDIA with a large italicized lowercase "n" on products from the mid 1990s to ...
GeForce GTX 850M. It has either an
Intel
Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. It is the world's largest semiconductor chip manufacturer by revenue, and is one of the developers of the x86 seri ...
i5-4210H or the Intel i7-4710HQ with up to 8 GB of
DDR3L
Double Data Rate 3 Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DDR3 SDRAM) is a type of synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) with a high bandwidth ("double data rate") interface, and has been in use since 2007. It is the higher-speed ...
RAM
Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to:
Animals
* A male sheep
* Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish
People
* Ram (given name)
* Ram (surname)
* Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director
* RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch
* ...
and expandable up to 16 GB.
Inspiron 15 Gaming/Inspiron 15 7000 (7559)
The Dell Inspiron 7559 (Inspiron 15) is a gaming-oriented laptop with discrete Nvidia
GeForce GTX 960M and comes in black with red trim plastic case. The RAM is standard at 8 GB of
DDR3L
Double Data Rate 3 Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DDR3 SDRAM) is a type of synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) with a high bandwidth ("double data rate") interface, and has been in use since 2007. It is the higher-speed ...
RAM
Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to:
Animals
* A male sheep
* Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish
People
* Ram (given name)
* Ram (surname)
* Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director
* RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch
* ...
and expandable up to 16 GB. It competes with the
HP Pavilion Gaming Series
HP may refer to:
Businesses and organisations
* HP Inc., an American technology company
** Hewlett-Packard, the predecessor to HP Inc.
* HP Foods
** HP Sauce, formerly made by HP Foods
* Handley Page, an aircraft company
* Hindustan Petroleu ...
and
HP Omen
HP Inc. is an American multinational information technology company headquartered in Palo Alto, California, that develops personal computers (PCs), printers and related supplies, as well as 3D printing solutions.
It was formed on November ...
.
Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming (75##)
7566 — The Inspiron 15 changes the styling from the Inspiron 15 7000 (7559) while retaining the Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M dedicated graphics card.
7567 — These model has the same design as the Inspiron 15 Gaming (7566) with the main difference being the replacement of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M with either an
GeForce GTX 1050 or GeForce GTX 1050Ti. The laptop uses
DDR4 RAM which can be upgraded to 32 GB and has one M.2 slot for an SSD and one M.2 slot for a wireless card. The screen was improved by switching from a
TN to
IPS
IPS, ips, or iPS may refer to:
Science and technology Biology and medicine
* ''Ips'' (genus), a genus of bark beetle
* Induced pluripotent stem cell or iPS cells
* Intermittent photic stimulation, a neuroimaging technique
* Intraparietal sulcus, ...
LCD.
7577 — The 2018's model changes the styling of the fan and speaker grills from the Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming (7567). The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card was replaced with a
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q for improved performance.
Inspiron 15 5000 Gaming (AMD) (5576)
The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Gaming (AMD) (5576) is a lower-priced gaming-oriented laptop using either 7th generation AMD (FX 9830P or A10 9630P) Quad Core processors. The integrated video controller is an AMD Radeon R5 or R7 with shared system memory and its discrete video controller is an AMD Radeon RX460 with 4 GB GDDR5 memory. Like the Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming series, the laptop uses
DDR4 RAM which can be upgraded to 32 GB and has one M.2 slot for an SSD and one M.2 slot for a wireless card. The
I/O includes one Ethernet port, one USB 3.0 port with PowerShare, two USB 3.0 data ports, one HDMI port, and one headset port. The audio controller used is a Realtek ALC3246 with Waves MaxxAudio Pro with two speakers and one subwoofer. The card reader is a 2-in-1 type supporting
SD card
Secure Digital, officially abbreviated as SD, is a proprietary non-volatile flash memory card format developed by the SD Association (SDA) for use in portable devices.
The standard was introduced in August 1999 by joint efforts between SanDis ...
and
MultiMedia card
The MultiMediaCard, officially abbreviated as MMC, is a memory card standard used for solid-state storage. Unveiled in 1997 by SanDisk and Siemens, MMC is based on a surface-contact low pin-count serial interface using a single memory stack subs ...
(MMC). The webcam is capable of 1 megapixel still images and 720p HD video at 30 fps. The display used is a 15.6-inch FHD non-touch screen with a refresh rate of 60 Hz.
The Inspiron Gaming Series (Pandora) was replaced by
Dell G Series
The Dell G Series is the successor to the Dell Inspiron Gaming Series (Pandora). It was launched in April 2018. This series is positioned below Alienware and competes with Lenovo's Legion, Acer's Nitro and Predator Helios, HP's Omen and Pavilion ...
in 2018.
Rebadging
In the past, Dell has modified some existing Inspiron machines to produce computers of higher or lower quality.
The first-generation Inspiron XPS and Inspiron 9100 (2004–2006) shared the same options in processors (Intel Pentium 4 HT "Prescott"), RAM (DDR 400 MHz), hard-drives (Ultra-ATA 5400/7200 rpm), wireless cards, LCD screens (at 15.4-inches; WXGA, WSXGA+, WUXGA) and graphics cards (ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 64 MB/128 MB), as well as the same chassis. Dell marketed the XPS as an "ultimate gaming machine", while marketed the 9100 as a "desktop replacement". The Inspiron 9100 is a rebadged XPS with the only difference between the two computers is the LCD Panel. Although both support a 15.4 Samsung LCD, only later models of the 9100 (3.2 GHz) use the identical LCD screen (Dell Part #s 7T774/W3866). The Samsung LCD Panel supports 1920×1200. Previous 2.8-3.0 GHz Inspiron 9100 use a lesser panel with resolutions of 1280×800 (Dell Part # Y0316).
In recent years, several
Dell Vostro
Dell Vostro is a line of business-oriented laptop and desktop computers manufactured by Dell aimed at small to medium range businesses. From 2013–2015, the line was temporarily discontinued on some Dell websites but continued to be offered ...
laptops share the same chassis with Inspiron laptops. For example, the Inspiron 14 5000 (5480) and Vostro 14 5000 (5481) uses the same chassis.
Problems
Overheating
In 2003, Dell released several lines of Inspiron notebooks that had overheating issues.
The systems would overheat and could cause damage to the microprocessor, video card, and motherboard. These systems would also randomly shut down due to overly-high internal temperatures. Overheating in these Inspiron systems is mainly caused by performance-consuming tasks and software. This problem was determined to be due to the design of the air-flow from the bottom of the system. It would draw in dirt/dust and clog the heat sink, making air unable to pass through in order to cool the system. Affected models include the Dell Inspiron 1100, 1150, 5100, 5150, and 5160. Also affected is the Latitude 100L, a near-clone of these models.
Dell acknowledged this problem and designed a new fan with a better heatsink and heatpipes to provide better cooling with less noise. Any repairs made at this point will include the redesigned parts.
On September 20, Inspiron 5150 owners in the US brought a
class action against Dell. The settlement included 100% cash reimbursement for certain repairs, and an extended limited warranty to cover those types of repairs that become necessary for one year.
Following the lawsuit detailed above, in October 2006 customers who had purchased Dell Inspiron 1100, 1150, 5100, 5150, and 5160 notebooks filed a class action lawsuit against Dell, alleging misconduct in connection with the design, manufacture, warranting, advertising and selling of these computers. A similar action started in Canada.
Overheating has been reduced by using compressed air duster spray. Spraying the keyboard, the Microprocessor Thermal-Cooling Assembly located under the "I" - "backspace" keys, rear air vent/exhaust, bottom air intake, and side air vent (all located on the right side of affected systems) have been effective in reducing the running temperature from a normal
operating temperature
An operating temperature is the allowable temperature range of the local ambient environment at which an electrical or mechanical device operates. The device will operate effectively within a specified temperature range which varies based on the de ...
of 77-87 °C to 45-55 °C under average load.
Alternately, some users of these affected models found relief by underclocking their processors.
Motherboard
On a number of Inspiron 5150 and Latitude 100L systems, a design flaw in the positioning of a tab on the C panel on the underside of the laptop has led to problems. Any pressure applied to the top left-hand corner of the laptop causes this tab to press against the motherboard and in particular against the "LVC14A" chip. This causes the
solder
Solder (; NA: ) is a fusible metal alloy used to create a permanent bond between metal workpieces. Solder is melted in order to wet the parts of the joint, where it adheres to and connects the pieces after cooling. Metals or alloys suitable ...
between this chip and the motherboard to break. This causes sudden shut-downs of the system as a result of any movement of the laptop; in certain cases the laptop will not re-boot at all. Dell has redesigned later models of the 5150 to avoid this problem. Some models reveal cases where someone has manually snapped off the tab from the C panel by hand during the manufacturing process. Dell covers this fault in the United States under the
Lundell Settlement, although it is not known whether
Dell
Dell is an American based technology company. It develops, sells, repairs, and supports computers and related products and services. Dell is owned by its parent company, Dell Technologies.
Dell sells personal computers (PCs), servers, data ...
will fix this fault free of charge outside the USA. In January 2007 a similar lawsuit started in Canada, and Dell in the Netherlands has agreed to repair Dutch computers following criticism in the consumer programme Kassa.
This has also been a problem with the Inspiron 1150, with the same chip giving problems with broken solder. Re-soldering is not recommended. Re-heating the pins can re-establish the connection and solve the power-off problem at the expense of possibly losing the use of the touch-pad mouse.
Battery recall of 2006
Dell posted notices to many of their laptop customers on August 14, 2006, saying that the Sony batteries on the following models could combust, or even explode:
Models Affected
Users of many of these computers purchased between April 2004 and July 18, 2006 received the recommendation that they should remove the batteries and run their computers on AC power until replacements arrived.
Problematic batteries made by Sony led to recall programs at other laptop computer companies as well, including Hitachi, Toshiba, Lenovo (IBM) and Apple.
Power supply issues
Most Dell laptop computers have a special
external power supply
An AC adapter or AC/DC adapter is a type of external power supply, often enclosed in a case similar to an AC plug. Other common names include wall wart, power brick, wall charger, and power adapter. Adapters for battery-powered equipment may ...
(PSU) which cannot be replaced by a third-party universal supply. The PSU has what's called
UniqueWare™ Add-Only Memory, known under type DS2501. It is a parasitic power circuit memory chip connected to the center identification pin in the plug, via a 2m long unshielded wire alongside the PSU cable. This chip produces a special signal using a 1 wire communication protocol known as "1-wire" in identifying the PSU as an original Dell PSU. This chip handles all the data needed to authenticate a charge. If a power supply not made by Dell is used, or the cable near the connector becomes damaged as is not infrequent after some use, the PSU stops charging the battery and the CPU runs slower, although the computer can be used indefinitely so long as it remains plugged in. If this problem is present at startup, the message "The AC power adapter type cannot be determined. Your system will operate slower and the battery will not charge" is displayed. This will continue until the external PSU is replaced. A few third-party suppliers make power supplies with specific provision for Dell computers at lower prices than Dell's. It is possible to work round the slowdown, but not the battery charging, by installing a CPU clock utility.
On some models (the 9100 for instance), the problem can be worked around by starting the computer without a battery installed and fitting the battery after the computer has booted.
Another problem arises after much use with the motherboard power connector; flap-like metal parts which contact the outside of the plug lose their tension and fail to make contact so that power does not reach the computer. The "official" solution is to replace the connector on the motherboard, which requires partial dis-assembly of the computer and desoldering a part with several pins; many companies charge a considerable sum for the work involved. Various simple alternatives have been suggested; for example a thin "skin" of solder on the outside of the barrel of the connector on the PSU (with care not to overheat the connector's plastic parts; and this thickened connector should not be used with other, not faulty Dell laptops, as it will stretch the springs and damage or even overheat the plug and socket assembly, causing them to melt or bond permanently).
One other problem can happen with the wattage rating of the power supply. There are two Dell power supplies that were used for different Inspiron models which have the same plug assembly and voltage, a 65-watt supply model PA-6 and a 90 watt supply model PA-9. Some models (for example the Inspiron 1100) shipped with a PA-9. If a PA-6 (or equivalent aftermarket supply) is used in these models then the system might not boot at times. In such cases, it will light the battery light for a few seconds when the supply is plugged in. This can also happen if the power supply becomes marginal. Marginal supplies can show as supplying full voltage even if tested with a voltmeter while the supply is plugged into the computer and an attempt is made to turn on the computer.
These problems are discussed in detail, and solutions and workarounds suggested, in a discussion on Tom's hardware site,
and on The Laptop Junction site.
Hibernation sensor problem
A problem exists with the hibernation sensor located in some older laptops. Unlike many laptops that use a mechanical switch to detect when the lid is closed, in these systems the sensor is a magnetic reed switch that is located between the touchpad and the front edge of the laptop. There is a magnet that is located in the top lid above this switch, and when the lid is closed the magnet triggers the reed switch. If the magnet loses strength then the system will not go into suspend or hibernation if the lid is closed. The magnet strength can be checked by running a paper clip along the top edge of the screen. A worse problem happens if the reed switch fails. Sometimes the switches will fail in a closed position with the contacts sticking together. In that case the system will not switch on. There are several ways to check for this. First the laptop can be partially disassembled and the mouse assembly can be unplugged from the system board and the system switched on. If the system boots with the mouse unplugged then it is the switch. Another way to check for the problem is by running a magnet over the reed switch, there should be a faint click when the magnet triggers the switch. This does not require disassembly but the magnet must be in the correct position and be strong enough. Some people have modified the circuitry of the laptop by cutting the switch off of the assembly, with the downside being the system will no longer suspend if the lid is closed.
Vertical line LCD problem
Some 17" Inspiron 8600, 9200, 9300, 6000, 1750, and XPS Gen 2 notebook LCDs have a vertical line manufacturing defect. Symptoms range from individual lines to entire bars of the screen with inverted colors.
Most problems showed after 2–4 years of usage.
Dell has been very reluctant to replace these panels after guarantee, although there was a direct link to the defective parts from their suppliers. Even warranty customers have had difficulty getting replacements, and replaced screens often develop the defect after a short time.
LCD Hinge Detachment problem
In some Inspiron laptops an issue exists where a hinge holding the LCD screen may, as a result of the forces resulting from the large screen, rip its plastic standoffs holding it from the chassis. This issue seems to be prevalent on the Inspiron 15-7559 and 15-5547
models.
Dell has not been uniform in their repair of such issues with some people not being able to get repair even under warranty and others being able to get repair outside of warranty.
References
{{reflist, colwidth=30em
Dell laptops
Computer-related introductions in 2000
Consumer electronics brands