Dell Inspiron 1520: Viable After Market Upgrades

[zyx]

Try it and see if it works!

I've seen some non-Dell screens work with Dells and some non-Dell screens not work with Dells, so it's kind of a crapshot, really. At the very least it won't damage your machine, etc.

Thanks for encouraging. I'll give it a shot, i'll lose shipping charges if is not working.

[mumpsimus]

Update: Answered my own questions, update was successful. Details below (all prices include shipping):

1) BIOS: Had seen reports of BSOD on the Vostro 1500 running Win 7 64-bit, so flashed this update:
Vostro 1500 GMA965 memory corruption info & workarounds
2) Optical: DVD-RW via eBay, had to swap faceplates ($20)
3) Hard drive: 90GB SSD via NewEgg ($84.99)
4) Memory: 2 x 2GB via Amazon ($49.99)
5) Battery: 9-cell via Amazon ($28.05)
6) CPU: T8100 2.1GHz via eBay ($20.77)
7) Drivers: None are required, but they do provide additional controls:
- Synaptics Touchpad Driver (R230390)
- Sigmatel Audio (R171786)
- Ricoh (R146465) - didn't need it, but eliminates yellow triangle in Device Manager
- QuickSet (R163853) - I only selected the 'hotkeys' component (e.g. Fn-F3 for battery display)

Was tempted to do more (bluetooth, webcam, wireless 802.11N) but wanted to stick to a $200 budget (which I went over by $4 when I decided I wanted an SSD over a 7200RPM drive).

That's it! Thanks for the help everyone -

[evilvoice]

Can a WiMax card be put in these? and how? What cards would be compatible? I am looking at the Intel 6250/6150, but if there is a cheaper option, that would be awesome. It looks like it should work and there is only 3 antenna connectors on the cards, so it should work like Wireless N, but just wanted to know if anyone has successfully done it. Thanks

[User Retired 2]

Can a WiMax card be put in these? and how? What cards would be compatible? I am looking at the Intel 6250/6150, but if there is a cheaper option, that would be awesome. It looks like it should work and there is only 3 antenna connectors on the cards, so it should work like Wireless N, but just wanted to know if anyone has successfully done it. Thanks

WiMax requires pci-e and USB pins to be available on the mPCIe slot. The Inspiron 1520 schematic confirms it's mPCIe slots are wired that way, so yes, you could add a WiMax card.

[zyx]

Replacing LTN154P3-L05 with LTN154P4-L01 is not working on Dell 1520.
The lamp is on, contrast in changing on display but stays black.
I have receive it without invertor if this may be a issue..

Also screws around the camera wont catch display as they are not in the same position, case would fit with a little cutting.

Hope is helping for others.

[alip]

WiMax requires pci-e and USB pins to be available on the mPCIe slot. The Inspiron 1520 schematic confirms it's mPCIe slots are wired that way, so yes, you could add a WiMax card.

Hi nando4, i've been trying to reach you, i hope you read this...

I have inspiron 1720 and i want to activate sata 3.0Gbs by your ich8m instructions for ssd upgrade. I think i found my CAP.ISS=ABAR+00h-03h = FEBFB800, but i cant find these two values "PxCMD.ST=ABAR+118h/198h/218h/298h" & "PxSCTL.DET=ABAR+12CH/1ACH/22Ch".

bit 23:20 at FEBFB800 is already 2h but my sata speed is always 1.5Gbs.

I really need your help, thank you.

[User Retired 2]

I really need your help, thank you.

Yes, CAP.ISS=3Gbps. So the bios isn't capping the link speed. More likely the little daughterboard used to connect the drive prevents the system from being able to establish a 3Gbps link. There's discussion about it in SATA 2 Full Speed for Dell Inspiron 1720, Dedicated Video Card Version? .

[alip]

Yes, CAP.ISS=3Gbps. So the bios isn't capping the link speed. More likely the little daughterboard used to connect the drive prevents the system from being able to establish a 3Gbps link. There's discussion about it in SATA 2 Full Speed for Dell Inspiron 1720, Dedicated Video Card Version? .

thanks for answering, best wishes.

[salmastro]

Hi all! I'm a proud owner of an inspiron 1520, got it 5 years ago and I think it did his job pretty well. I was looking to replace it, but at last I decided that I would prefeir to give it some last glorious time and use it till next spring.
I've just finished to read the whole thread, registered asap and now I'm in a hurry to do some commissions, so later i'll probably update, but anyway:
I've thought to get an ssd, the problem is I would not spend 200+ euros to get a 256 gb one, and I need at least 150 gb for the stuff i use almost daily, I dont really like getting an external hd, so i've found that there are some bay for a 2nd hd using the optical drive space and it seemed to me a good solution. I've looked around to check compatibiliies and such (and so i came across this thread) and i'm a bit confused... Has anyone tried this? what do you think? when i'll get back home later i'll post you some options i found
(btw i live in italy and next year i'll be in germany, so some us shops are not an option unluckly)
And btw this thread is really awesome!I thought noone was still talking about the 1520 out there!

[mumpsimus]

i've found that there are some bay for a 2nd hd using the optical drive space and it seemed to me a good solution. I've looked around to check compatibiliies and such (and so i came across this thread) and i'm a bit confused... Has anyone tried this? what do you think?

I don't see why this wouldn't work. You may have to switch faceplates, but that's only cosmetic.

(I made the mistake of paying a premium for a DVD-RW for a Vostro 1500, which would presumably have come with the right faceplate, only to find that people make multiple versions of their ads for each laptop with which it's compatible - and you still end up providing your own faceplate.)

Also, in your search for Inspiron 1520 parts, don't forget to search Vostro 1500 too - that can provide a lot of additional search results.