DELL Inspiron 510m/ 600m/ Latitude D600 FAQ  

DELL INSPIRON 510m/ 600m/ LATITUDE D600 FAQ


Table of Contents

1. Things to note in reading FAQ (Glossary)

2. Pre-order Information
(i) What are the specifications and pros/ cons of these models?
(ii) Which screen, 14.1" or 15", XGA or SXGA+?

3. Hardware upgrades 1
(i) Can I upgrade the Video card in my Laptop?
(ii) Can I upgrade the CPU in my Laptop?
(iii) Can I upgrade the Hard Drive? What can I upgrade it too?

4. Hardware upgrades 2
(i) Can I upgrade the Memory? What type of RAM does it take?
(ii) Upgrading/ installing a mini-PCI card
(iii) Can I install a Bluetooth card post-purchase?

5. Other Useful Information
(i) Will one of the quicksnap covers from the i600m/i8600/i9100/XPS/i9200 fit my laptop?

6. Contributors

1. Things to note in reading this FAQ (Glossary)


There are many abbreviations used in this FAQ because I stupidly assumed that because I know them that others will too. In an effort to right that wrong, and so that you can understand what in the world that I am talking about, I have included a Glossary of sorts right here that you can refer to if you become lost by some abbreviation. On to it then.

AA= Anti-Aliasing, a feature of Graphics cards that smooths "jaggy" edges.

AF= Anisotropic Filtering, similar to Anti-Aliasing but works on "far-away" or "distant" objects.

BIOS= Basic Input/Output System, this includes instructions on how to load basic computer hardware and the power-on self test.

CPU= Central Processing Unit, or the Processor as its commonly known. This means the Pentium 4 in the i9100/ XPS case.

DPI= Dots Per Inch, can be altered to change the size of items on the virtual desktop. Although there is debate whether this name is actually appropriate... but that is for another topic and another day

FPS= Frames per Second, this is generally referred to as a gaming term in the FAQ. A frame is a still picture, and many frames showing progressive movement create the movie affect you see on TV, films and games. The more frames per second the more smooth this movie appears, hence why important to gaming.

GB= Gigabyte, unit of storage measurement (1,024 megabytes).

GHz= Gigahertz, the unit used to measure the clock speed of the Processor.

GPU= Graphics Processing Unit, most widely known as the Graphics/ Video card.

HD= Hard Drive, where you store all your data with storage measured in Gigabytes.

i8600, i9100, etc= The i here stands for Inspiron, the line of notebooks. Just a common abbreiviation used throughout these boards that makes it easier on us.... seeing as it is mentioned so often.

IE= Internet Explorer, probably the most widely used internet browser i comes preinstalled on just about every Windows platform.

KB= Kilobyte, unit of storage measurement (1,024 bytes).

LCD= Liquid Crystal Display, being the screen on your laptop.

MB= Megabyte, unit of storage measurement (1,024 kilobytes).

MR9700= Mobility Radeon 9700, this is the graphics card in the XPS/ 9100, I'm lazy so I often refer to it in this abbreviated form. Also I have referred to MR9600 and MR9800 and in those cases it is the same thing, MR= Mobility Radeon.

ms= Milli-second, unit of time being 1/1000 second.

P4= Pentium 4, also referred to in conjunction HT; Hyperthreading, a feature of the Processor and EE; Extreme Edition, a version of the P4 with a 2MB cache.

RAM= Random Access Memory, or just Memory as it's often known.

SXGA+= Super eXtended Graphics Array, this is the display @ 1400 x 1050.

WSXGA= Wide-Aspect Super eXtended Graphics Array, this is the display @ 1680 x 1050.

WUXGA= Wide-Aspect Ultra eXtended Graphics Array, this is the display @ 1920 x 1200.

WXGA= Wide-Aspect eXtended Graphics Array, this is the display @ 1280 x 800.

XGA= eXtended Graphics Array, this is the display @ 1024 x 768.


Now I am sure I have missed a lot of abbreviations, so if there is something I have missed that is mentioned in the FAQ or that needs clarification please let me know and I will add it.


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2. Pre-order Information


2.(i) What are the specifications and pros/ cons of this model?

In this section I will outline the basic current configuration options and giving briefly the pros and cons of these models. Please feel free to create topics on them if need be and we will all be happy to help out. I will endeavour to keep the configuration specifications up-to-date but let me know if I miss something.

__________________________________________________________

>>Inspiron 510m<<

Basic Specs:
CPU: Pentium M; 710 (@1.4GHz), 725 (@ 1.6GHz), 735 (@1.7GHz), 745 (@ 1.8GHz), 755 (@ 2.0GHz).
LCD: 14.1" XGA (1024 x 768), 15" XGA (1024 x 768) or 15" SXGA+ (1400 x 1050).
Memory: PC2700 (333MHz) SO DIMMs, 2 user accessible slots, 2GB (2 x 1GB) maximum.
Hard Drive: 30, 40 or 60 or 80GB @ 4200rpm.
Media Device: 8x DVD-ROM, 24x/10x/24x CD-RW (8x DVD), 8x DVD+RW/+R.
Wireless Card: Intel PRO 2100 (802.11b), Intel PRO 2200 (802.11b/g), Dell 1350 (802.11b/g) or Dell 1450 (802.11a/b/g) internal (Intel card required for 'Centrino' branding).
Video/ Graphics Card: Intel Extreme Graphics 2 (Integrated chipset solution)
Dimensions:
Height: 33 mm (1.29")
Width: 333 mm (13.12")
Depth: 273 mm (10.75")
Weight: 2.38kg (5.3 lbs) with TraveLite module.

Pros:
-> Has enough CPU speed with the Pentium-M up to a maximum 2.0GHz available.
-> Incredibly portable, light and small with up to 4 hours battery life. Not a bad combination at all.
-> Is a fairly inexpensive option compared to the other models in Dell's laptop lineup.

Cons:
-> Lacks power to produce knockout punch, it does lag behind other more high-end/ larger models in terms of Graphical power and RAM speeds.
-> Small screen great for portability but not necessarily for your eyesight, the SXGA+ can be quite a strain.
-> Because of the accomodation of the 15" screen is not as sleek as the 600m model it has succeeded in certain markets (like Australia). Also in terms of graphics is trumped by the 600m as well.
__________________________________________________________

>>Inspiron 600m<<

Basic Specs:
CPU: Pentium M; 725 (@ 1.6GHz), 745 (@ 1.8GHz), 755 (@ 2.0GHz).
LCD: 14.1" XGA (1024 x 768) or 14.1" SXGA+ (1400 x 1050).
Memory: PC2100 (266MHz) SO DIMMs, 2 user accessible slots, 2GB (2 x 1GB) maximum.
Hard Drive: 40, 60 or 80 GB @ 5400rpm.
Media Device: 8x DVD-ROM, 24x/10x/24x CD-RW (8x DVD), 8x DVD+RW/+R.
Wireless Card: Intel PRO 2200 (802.11b/g), Intel PRO 2915 (802.11a/b/g).
Video/ Graphics Card: 32MB or 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 (is attached on this model, so choose wisely).
Dimensions:
Height: 31 mm (1.2")
Width: 315 mm (12.4")
Depth: 257 mm (10.1")
Weight: 2.4kg (5.3 lbs) with CD drive.

Pros:
-> Can pack some CPU punch with the Intel 755 (2.0GHz), this chip matches up to P4 processors with clockspeeds in excess of 3GHz.
-> Incredibly portable, light and small with up to 4 hours battery life. Not a bad combination at all.
-> ATI Mobility 9000 graphics are powerful enough for some good gaming, medium settings, this is fantastic considering size and weight.

Cons:
-> Lacks power to produce knockout punch, it does lag behind other more high-end/ larger models in terms of Graphical power and RAM speeds.
-> Small screen great for portability but not necessarily for your eyesight, the SXGA+ can be quite a strain.
-> Not the sleekest looking laptop in its weight division unfortunately.
__________________________________________________________

>>Latitude D600<<

Basic Specs:
CPU: Pentium M 1.4GHz, 725 (@ 1.6GHz), 745 (@ 1.8GHz).
LCD: 14.1" XGA (1024 x 768) or 14.1" SXGA+ (1400 x 1050).
Memory: PC2100 (266MHz) SO DIMMs, 2 user accessible slots, 2GB (2 x 1GB) maximum.
Hard Drive: 20, 30, 60 or 80 GB @ 4200rpm; 40 GB @ 5400rpm.
Media Device: 8x DVD-ROM, 24x/10x/24x CD-RW (8x DVD), 4x DVD+RW/+R, 8x DVD+RW/+R,
Wireless Card: Intel PRO 2100 (802.11b), Intel PRO 2200 (802.11b/g), Dell 1350 (802.11b/g) or Dell 1450 (802.11a/b/g) internal (Intel card required for 'Centrino' branding).
Video/ Graphics Card: 32MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 (is attached on this model, not separate card).
Dimensions:
Height: 31 mm (1.2")
Width: 315 mm (12.4")
Depth: 257 mm (10.1")
Weight: 2.4kg (5.3 lbs) with DVD drive.

Pros:]
-> Incredibly portable, light and small with up to 4 hours battery life, what more could you want?
-> Mobility 9000 and Pentium M powerful enough for light gaming and solid desktop/ office work, very good considering its size and weight.
-> Sexy silver-on-silver look, blows away the Inspiron 600m equivalent in this regard.

Cons:
-> Lacks power to produce knockout punch, lagging behind other models in terms of Graphical power and RAM speed.
-> Small LCD screen is great for portability but not necessarily for your eyesight if choose SXGA+, this makes icons and text very small at 1400 x 1050 resolution.
-> Can only choose the 32MB graphics option, the Inspiron equivalent 600m can at least choose 64MB as option. Don't know why this is so, a poor choice in my opinion because in most other respects it is equal or superior to the 600m.
__________________________________________________________


2.(ii) Which screen, 14.1" or 15", XGA or SXGA+?

So what is the difference between the two LCD options then? Why is the SXGA+ more expensive? The difference is that they each have a different native maximum resolution. This is where the choice comes in, no resolution is better than the other, it is all up to what you need and what your own personal preference is. The higher the resolution, the smaller that icons and text will appear on the display because there are more physical pixels covering the same physical space.

Small text and icons can be overcome on the LCD displays by increasing the DPI setting or text size, but this can often adversely affect some programs, cutting off windows or making them unusable. Hence this is why it is important to choose he screen that is right for you when you order. These remedies can also be found below.


14.1" XGA:

This display has a resolution of 1024 x 768; but since this is on such a small screen the text and icons will be smaller than what you may be used to if previously using a desktop standard 17" monitor at that resolution. However it is relatively comfortable to use, and if you are mainly using the laptop for office work and web browsing, then this is the way to go.

Pic of 14.1" XGA LCD needed!


14.1" SXGA+:

The SXGA display boasts an impressive 1400 x 1050 native maximum resolution. This is fantastic for photo editing, extra real estate for office work (makes spreadsheets a breeze ), and of course higher resolutions in game. Its a pity that the models this is available in are not particularly strong on the graphics capabilities front. The 600m can handle it in some games at this resolution but not on high detail/ settings. Note also that it is a small display physically, coupled with a high resolution this option will not be suitable for everyone. But still a fantastic display.



Thanks go to Madpig for this one.


15" XGA:

This display has a resolution of 1024 x 768, the most commonly used resolution on desktop computers and for game settings. For Internet, Office use and even gaming this is a great display, everything will be clear and readable and it will probably be directly comparable to your desktop PC (if you have one). First choice for most net browsers and those that do a lot of office work on their laptop.

Pic of 15" XGA LCD needed!


15" SXGA+:

The SXGA display boasts an impressive 1400 x 1050 native maximum resolution. This is fantastic for photo editing, extra real estate for office work (makes spreadsheets a breeze ), and of course higher resolutions in game. Its a pity that the 510m this is available is not capable of using it to its full capabilities in game, the integated graphics are simply not powerful enough to play games at resolutions this high.

Pic of 15" SXGA+ LCD needed!


Now if you do want to change the size to be more readable on any of these, then you have three options:

1. Reduce the resolution: kind of defeats the purpose, but whatever floats your boat. To do so->
(i) Right-click desktop and select Properties;
(ii) Go to the Settings tab;
(iii) Adjust the Screen Resolution slider to your preference and Apply it.
Note: If you are wondering why everything now is not as crisp and clear and looks fuzzy, this is explained later on in the FAQ... kind of an incentive for you to read on

2. Increase the DPI setting: This blows up everything to a larger size, but has its drawbacks in that windows can be cut-off, etc. Here you go->
(i) Right-click desktop and select Properties;
(ii) Go to the Settings tab, and click advanced;
(iii) Click the General tab, and from the drop down box labelled DPI Setting you can increase it.

3. Increase the Icon and text size only: This is the only one without potentially really irritating consequences, but does look weird. Have a try->
(i) Right-click desktop and select Properties;
(ii) Go to the Appearance tab;
(iii) To change text size, adjust it from the Font Size drop box seen in this tab. To make icons bigger Click the effects button and tick Use large icons.


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3. Hardware upgrades 1


3.(i) Can I upgrade the Video card in my Laptop?

No unfortunately none of these models can be upgraded in terms of video. Specifically, the 510m uses an Integrated chipset graphics solution, its motherboard does not offer an AGP or other slot where a graphics card could be accomodated. Hence, no upgrade.

Regarding both the 600m and D600, although these both offer a proper video card in the Mobility 9000, unlike other Dell models this is actually attached to the motherboard. So it is more powerful than an integrated solution and has its own dedicated VRAM, but there is no way to remove and upgrade the video unfortunately. The exception is if you ordered the laptop with the 32MB option, you could upgrade the entire system board to one with the 64MB version, however this would be prohibitively expensive for such little gain.


3.(ii) Can I upgrade the CPU in my Laptop?

Yes you can upgrade the CPU. These models all use the Pentium M CPU running at a 400MHz FSB. They are compatible with both the old 'Banias' based chip (1MB L2 cache, up to a maximum 1.7GHz) as well as the 'Dothan' based chip (2MB L2 cache, up to a maximum 2.1GHz). All new orders ship with the newer and superior Dothan based chips now, and I suggest you stick to that path when upgrading... the only advantage of the Banias based chips are lower power consumption at the low speedstep setting, coming at the cost of some performance. Since these are intended to be portable semi-desktop replacements the more powerful Dothans are preferred.



Don't forget some Thermal paste when installing a new CPU in any of these or you may encounter some heat issues which can cause serious damage. I highly recommend Arctic Silver 5 as the best thermal paste on the market at this time.

For installation of a new CPU, the following instructions apply and please do be careful especially if it's your first time inside the lappy:

600m/D600: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...pu.htm#1000550
510m: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...pu.htm#1000550


3.(iii) Can I upgrade the Hard Drive? What can I upgrade it too?

Yes, absolutely you can. These three models can be upgraded with any standard 2.5" notebook Hard drive. It can take the greatest capacity (100GB) and greatest speed (7200rpm) Hard drives currently available for laptops with no problems, anything that is in that 2.5" format pretty much.

But how to do it? Well it is very simple. But first, keep in mind to transfer the pin adapter from the old hard drive to the new one or it will not connect properly, below is a picture of what is meant by the pin adapter, it fits right onto the pins at the end of the HD.



I personally recommend the Hitachi 7k60 hard drive as the best laptop drive on the market at the moment. It has a decent 60GB capacity and is powered along with a 7200rpm rotational speed and 8MB cache making it super quick. To top this off, it runs cooler than most 4200rpm and 5400rpm laptop HDs and is also quiet, using about the same amount of power as those slower drives so you are not sacrificing battery life. Have a look at the Pricegrabber results for it here, with a listing of vendors and current prices you can find the best deal.

Now the instructions:

You can see the front panel of the Hard drive right beside the PC card slot on the side of the system, if you unscrew the single screw holding it in on the bottom you can pull it out like so



All that needs to be done is to disconnect all power (including the battery), unscrew the screw holding the bay in place, pull it out, undo the four screws in the sides holding the HD in the caddy, and take off the pin adapter. Then reverse those steps to install the new one. Following are the appropriate instructions so get going!:

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...dd.htm#1123687

The 510m is slightly different with there being two screws holding the HDD caddy in place rather than one,



http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...en&s=dhs&cs=19


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4. Hardware upgrades 2


4.(i) Can I upgrade the Memory? What type of RAM does it take?

Absolutely, upgrading the RAM is very simple and considered a "User upgradeable" component by Dell. All models have two user-accessible slots that are easily found via a hatch on the bottom of the laptop. The RAM utilised is PC2700 (333MHz) 200-pin SODIMMs with a maximum of 2GB (2 x 1GB sticks).

In any case, the procedure for memory process is not that hard. Simply disconnect all power (including battery), unscrew the memory hatch on the bottom, remove existing RAM if applicable (spread apart the clips on each end of the memory until it pops up and remove), and install the new modules by pushing in at an angle and then push down into place until you hear it click. Replace cover. Demonstrated in the following pictures.

Have a look at:

600m/ D600:



http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...es.htm#1018880

510m:



http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...es.htm#1018880


4.(ii) Upgrading/ installing a mini-PCI card

If you did not order a wireless card upon purchase but want one now, or simply want to upgrade your existing wireless card to a newer or more expansive one (in terms of standards covered), then it is entirely possible. All you need do is order one of the wireless mini-PCI cards from Dell or another vendor, and then follow the simple installation instructions contained in the following link and picture. Overall it is a very simple upgrade.

The access hatch as always is located on the bottom of the laptop.



600m/ D600: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...es.htm#1019173
510m: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...es.htm#1019173


4.(iii) Can I install a Bluetooth card post-purchase?

Yes you can. The procedure is quite simple, firstly contact Dell Spare parts/ peripherals and place the order for a Bluetooth card. Once that is done it is a simple procedure to install it.

600m/ D600:
First diconnect all the power (including the battery), you will then have to follow the instructions following including removing the palm rest to get to it on these models.



http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...ue.htm#1000550

510m:
It is a fair bit easier with this model. Firstly diconnect all the power (including the battery), Then remove the hard drive caddy, and you will find a slot for the card under here. From here you insert it where the slot is and connect the cable, voila!



http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...ue.htm#1006342


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5. Other useful information


5.(i) Will one of the quicksnap covers from the i600m/i8600/i9100/XPS/i9200 fit my laptop?

Well first thing is first, What is a quicksnap cover? A quicksnap cover such as on the aforementioned models is a plastic sheet that snaps over the top of the LCD back cover. It gives the Inspiron's a unique and personal look without costing too much nor voiding any warranty, so they are a great choice for those wanting a bit of individuality. I myself have the "Graphite Swirl" Quicksnap colour cover for my i8600 and it looks fantastic.

So, can you use one of these quicksnap covers? Unfortunately, of these three models, if you own either the Inspiron 510m or the Latitude D600 then the answer is no. Due to the size/ shape of the LCD lid one these the quicksnaps will simply not fit. But 600m owners are in luck because the quicksnaps offered for that model will all fit! However note that the ones offered for the other models like the i8600, i9100, XPS and i9200 will not fit on the 600m.

Following are pictures for each design and a link to that design from the US peripherals site where you can order one. Users from other countries will have to e-mail or call their respective Dell branches to order.

Bamboo. Order For 600m here.

Burlwood. Order For 600m here.

Graphite swirl. Order For 600m here.

Red Lava. Order For 600m here.

Venice Blue. Order For 600m here.


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6. Contributors

I would like to give a big thank-you and express my gratitude to several people whom have made some Contribution to this FAQ whether it be a picture or some useful information. So in alphabetical order (by username):

AbSoluTc-> Fantastic shot of a WUXGA display, kudos to you.

Bay Wolf-> I have referred to his site www.bay-wolf.com several times and it is a very useful source of Dell information, so have a visit!

camaroguy-> Linked to the useful fangui wish list thread.

DELL-Machina-> Provider of several fantastic threads linked in this FAQ, and an all around Guru on the board. Cheers.

gmnstrunr37-> Contributed the WXGA shot, and Xing is one of the legends around the Dell section, good onya!

gobadgrs-> Writer of the fantastic Unofficial guide for getting a killer laptop cheap. Visit this thread it's a great resource for soon-to-be purchasers.

hksscom-> Good side-by-side WSXGA/ WUXGA comparison, appreciated mate.

KCK-> Helped in correcting a few fundamental errors. A lifesaver is this guy.

Madpig-> Thanks for the 14.1" pic man, you have no idea how much of a struggle it is to get these, it's appreciated.

mojoRT-> Provided the two fantastic WSXGA vs WXGA comparison pics, cheers.

odonnelr-> Custom sticker on 600m pic, example of one modification.

shiftaltnumlock-> Provided important ammendment to Dell's i9200 CPU replacement instructions. Props to you.

SilkDawg-> A fellow Aussie was kind enough to offer a picture of how unacceptable LCD light leakage appears. He went through a lot of pain to get that picture to us

Somms-> A few nice additions thanks to somms, you all know him, a legend around these boards.

Spiike-> For a couple of fantastic thread I have linked/ referred to, particularly the amazing Modding thread.

Striker333-> Thanks for the WXGA shot, I was starting to think we'd never get one!

SuperFobSonny-> Contributed some nice shots of Light leakage. Thanks bro.

UnMaTcHeD-> I had forgotton about i9100 owners perhaps eyeing the XPS bag. This bloke hadn't and provided a nice link to where you can get it separately. Good onya!

V.B.-> What can I say, this guy has embraced the whole idea. He has sent me suggestions, written sections and generally been a fantastic help. Pretty much a partner in crime and the FAQ would not be what it is without his numerous contributions. Hands together everyone.

vizionblind-> Helped correct a couple minor issues/ links.

WScottCross-> A great shot of the WSXGA, cheers.

And hopefully I have not missed anyone at this stage, sorry if I have.


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