My son just got an Inspiron E1505 and I'm looking to upgrade it a bit and need a clue.

Hi Capridrifter,

We understand that you would like to upgrade the Dell E1505 laptop however, we request you to check the Dell Website link below for compatible parts and upgrades available for your Dell System.

Please click on the link for Dell branded spare parts & upgrades that are validated compatible and quality tested to work with your Dell system. Choose either the Dell System Analyzer to provide your current configuration or enter your Dell service tag.

http://dell.to/18X9D6X

In response to your query, on your Dell E1505, the minimum memory capacity is  512 MB and maximum memory is 2GB. So, if you have not upgraded the memory already, you may upgrade the memory upto 2GB.

The motherboard on your computer supports Unified Memory Architecture (UMA) in which graphics chips are built into the motherboard and part of the computer's main memory is used for video memory, so you may not be able to upgrade the video capability on  your system as there would be no separate video card which you could remove to upgrade.

Hope you find the link provided helpful.

Please reply if you have any further queries.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell 

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

The three fastest CPUs you can use are the T7200, T7400 and T7600.  The video chip cannot be upgraded and the max RAM, as noted, is 2G.

actually guys, someone who also had a Dell Inspiron e1505 laptop did install two 2GB RAM chips to have 4Gb memory on there.  it was mentioned in this old forum thread a few years ago.  However, it only recognized about 3.3Gb or 3.5Gb of RAM because the person was using a 32bit Windows operating system.

Capridrifter, you could try upping the RAM to 4Gb but some of the RAM will not be recognized if you use a 32bit Windows OS.  Only 64bit Windows OSes and 64bit ready Dell desktops/laptops can properly handle 4Gb+ memory and the Dell E1505 isn't one of them.  The Dell e1505 laptop can only handle 32bit Windows OSes.  So you could use more RAM beyond 2Gb; it's just that some of it may not get recognized if you go over 2Gb.

In order to use the fastest Intel Core 2 duo CPUs like T7200, T7400 or T7600, the Dell E1505 laptop BIOS must be version A17, which was released on June 25, 2007.  Use either Microsoft System Information tool (msinfo32.exe) or DirectX Diagnostic tool (dxdiag.exe) to obtain the BIOS version number for the E1505 laptop.  If the BIOS is less than A17, do a flash BIOS update before installing a newer CPU.

and you may also want to do a hard drive upgrade.  install a bigger and faster hard drive - something like a 250Gb, 320Gb or even a 500Gb hard drive from either Seagate or Western Digital.  Hard drive upgrades are also as essential as RAM and CPU upgrades if you want to store more personal stuff or even install new programs that require more hard drive space.

The 4G RAM upgrade on this system is hit or miss - it may or may not work.  However, even with a 64-bit OS, you won't see more than about 3.2G -- the chipset doesn't support memory remapping.

If you now have integrated (Intel) video, to upgrade the video you must replace the mainboard.  Then your choices are the ATI X1300, X1400 or nVIdia 7300 (the only three cards made that will work in an E1505/6400 system.

How about the video card? I have seen a few threads on other forums that said they upgraded this laptop, what card did they use so i know what to look for?

I know Dells official response is too bad buy a new laptop...but we all know many dell products are capable of more then they let on.

Sorry about the no reply for a long time, I just popped it open for a cleaning and thermal paste replacement and I found that it indeed does have the undesirable motherboard ...I'm looking into a new motherboard... is the Dell Inspiron 6400 / E1505 Laptop Motherboard - YD612 the one I need? it says It does NOT have on-board video so I am thinking its a step in the right direction... I'm trying to make this last for a long time and I think the upgrade will assist me in that, My wife and son don't know how to use Linux so that's out! Thanks for all the help you guys have been to me!!!

Hi Capridrifter,

Yes you can upgrade the system with the discrete system board. Part number YD612 and JJ619 are the two discrete system boards available for this model.

Doesn't it have an expresscard slot on it, if you can find an expresscard that does video wouldn't that work.

It does have an external expresscard slot  but that would essentially turn the system into a glorified desktop - these don't work with the internal monitor, and they cost more than the entire system is worth by several times over.

just in case anyone happens upon this old thread  looking to upgrade - i want to state the fact that many dell E1505's will and have been able to..- run 64 bit OS on Windows 7

if the e1505 has a core2-Duo cpu  it is 64 bit capable .. i have an E1505 and I have been running Windows 7 64 bit on it for 5 years !!    so saying an e1505 will only run 32 bit Os is plain wrong

(..however if the cpu is a regular 'core duo' - that is 32 bit -and wont work .it must be a Core2-duo! 

Core Duo = 32 bit.

Core 2 Duo = 64 bit.

T2300, T2400, T2500, T2600, T2050, T2060, T2250 are all Core Duo's, 32 bit.

T5550, T5560, T7200, T7400, T7600, T7600G are all Core 2 Duo's, 64 bit.

Easy way to memorize. If your Core (2) Duo has 4 MB L2-cache then it is 64 bit,

Actually... This laptop is upgradeable to 4 GB of ram.. I currently have 3GB in my Dell Inspiron E1505, my processor is only a intel core duo but i wanna upgrade it to a core 2 duo