Dell Inspiron laptops


The Dell Inspiron series is a line of laptop computers made by American company Dell under the Dell Inspiron branding. The first Inspiron laptop model was introduced before 1999. Unlike the Dell Latitude 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

The early Dell Inspiron models listed below went through a number of changes from 1997 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. The Inspiron 1525, 1545, and 1546 are not in this list.

Inspiron 2100

Released in 1998, the Dell Inspiron 2100 was a lightweight laptop that Dell branded as "Ultra-Thin & Light" and "Ultra Mobile", weighing 22lbs. Its starting price was $1,699. A near-identical cousin of the 2100 was the Dell Latitude L400.
  • Processor: Intel Pentium III @700 MHz
  • Memory: 128 or 256 MB of DDR RAM
  • Graphics: ATI Rage Mobility M
  • Display: 12.1" 1024x768
  • Storage: 10 or 20 GB Ultra ATA hard drive

    Inspiron 3500

Released in November 1998, the Dell Inspiron 3500 is a lightweight laptop manufactured by original design manufacturer Compal for Dell, based on the Compal TS30T. It was marketed to have great value and to be "The Inspiron Experience."
  • Processor: Intel Pentium II @ 300, 333, or 366 MHz, Intel Celeron @ 300 MHz
  • Memory: Up to 256MB of RAM
  • Graphics: NeoMagic MagicMedia 256AV
  • Display: 13.3" or 14.1" Activate Matrix LCD at 1024x768
  • Storage: 4.3GB, 6.4GB, or 10GB Ultra ATA hard drive

    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
  • Display: 15" 1024x768, optional 1400x1050, 15.4" 1280x1024
  • Storage: 4.8, 6, 10, 20 or 30 GB Ultra ATA hard drive

    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. A cousin of the 3800 was the Dell Latitude CPx J650GT.
  • 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
  • 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. Equivalent models of the 4000 were the Dell Latitude C500, C510, and C600.
  • 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
  • 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. A related model of the 8000 was the Dell Latitude C800.
  • 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 or RADEON 7500, or NVIDIA GeForce2 Go
  • 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, using nearly identical hardware.
  • 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
  • Graphics: Intel 3D AGP, 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, using nearly identical hardware. The Inspiron 8500 was the only model that utilized an Intel Pentium 4-M processor, while the Inspiron 8600 was based on Intel's Centrino platform and utilized an Intel Pentium M processor. Its contemporary Latitude D800/D810 models they were based on utilized Intel Pentium M processors like the Inspiron 8600. Since they were clones of the D800/D810, they included many Latitude-specific features such as the Dell D-Dock and the D-bay. They were also one of the first Dell laptops to use a widescreen display, alongside the Latitude D800/D810. 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:
  • *Inspiron 8500: Intel Pentium 4-M Northwood @ 2 GHz or 2.4 GHz.
  • *Inspiron 8600: Intel Pentium M/Centrino Banias/Dothan @ 1.3 GHz, 1.4 GHz, or 1.7 GHz.
  • Memory: 128 MB @ 333 MHz.
  • Chipset: Intel 855PM.
  • 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 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 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. The Inspiron 1300/B130/B120 is related to the Latitude 120L.
  • 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

    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, or Moonlight Silver.
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. More information can be found below.
Inspiron 1100:
Released: 2003
  • Processor: 2 GHz Intel Celeron M or 2.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 M
  • Memory: 256 MB @ 266 MHz
  • Graphics: Intel 82845G Graphics Controller 64 MB
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 display.
Inspiron 5160:
Released: 2004
  • Processor: 2.8 GHz or 3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 M
  • Memory: 512 MB @ 333 MHz
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce Go5200 Dedicated Graphics, 32 or 64 MB.
  • Storage: 60 GB or 100 GB HDD
  • Display: 15" 1024x768 XGA display or 15" 1400x1500 XGA display.

    Inspiron Mini Series (2008–2010)

The Dell Inspiron Mini Series is a sub-line of subnotebook/netbook computers designed by Dell. 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.