AROS Laptop DELL latitude D520

[nikos]

I always wanted a stable and good laptop for AROS.
Some years ago ClusterUK and many others got that realised with fully support for ACER aspire one. This is still a ok platform for AROS but as web-browsing, emulation and many other tasks got more demanding the need for more powerfull hardware where needed.

The DELL latitiude D520 is far from something new, but the hardware is very simelar to ACER aspire one. The big difference is that the display res. is higher and the CPU is much faster. All that is needed is a replacement of the wi-fi card. Something that is very easy to do.

Search for this wi-fi card on e-bay

Atheros AR5BXB63

Warning: Some of these wi-fi cards are not working good. If you experience crashes or freeze quite frequently it is for sure the wi-fi card. You can contact me if you like one that is tested and I send one to you for 10£ inkluded shiping to anywhere in the world.

This laptop can be found very cheap on e-bay.

I made many videos running AROS on this laptop.
I show 68k emulation and I can tell you that 060 demos with JIT enabled runs full speed on this computer.
I compared a AGA demo with A1200 060 50Hhz with this computer under emulation and this computer did some of the scenes more smooth.

You can also connect keyboard, usb joysticks, usb drives and montiors to this laptop. I use a 21" CRT monitor from VGA out on this laptop when I like to run classic Amiga 68k stuff like demos and games.

Have a look at www.aspireos.com for more info and videos.

AROS rocks!

[nikos]

This laptop came with 3 different CPU configurations. From 1,6 to 2GHz.
I have 2 of these laptops. First I changed the CPU on one of them to 1,8, then on the other one I changed to 2GHz.
The 2GHz CPU is a good step up from 1,6GHz.
I will show you some pictures and results tomorrow.

It is almost insane how cheap you can find the 2GHz CPU on EBay. It is like 2$
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-2-Duo-T7200-2-GHz-SL9SF-LF80537T7200-Dual-Core-Notebook-processor/271709373951?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

It is also very easy to change. A small screw driver and CPU paste is all you need.
Be sure to remove the old CPU paste on CPU and GPU before you add the fresh one.
I just use kitchen paper.

[nikos]

It turns out that with the change from 1,6GHz to 2GHz in GPMark tests it is around 15% faster. I also notice in 3D games and even browsing web-pages that it is faster.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cbabAc6yxRun217Q9

The change from 1,6 to 1,8 was only nothing like that. Only a few % faster.
If you have this laptop you should go for the 2GHz CPU. It is nice

[nikos]

Crap. It never stops, does it

There is an Intel core2duo that is same socket, but slightly faster than then one I installed.

It is called Intel Core2Duo T7600 and runs 2.33GHz

Maybe one day I change again For now I'm happy with the T7200.

[walterego]

Great post!
I went here looking for suggestions on a good laptop for Aros. Already own the Acer Aspire ONE but want something with more speed and screensize. I guess the Dell D520 is the one? Are there other laptops that are good for Aros?

[nikos]

This laptop is the best I know about. It is easy and cheap to find on e-bay.
I like the 4:3 screen too. Great for retro stuff. Mame and old Amiga games.
Remember to change wi-fi card and you have a fully supported AROS computer.

[nikos]

Amazing news. Our favourite developer Neil fixed ata.device. There been some problems that show CD error icon on workbench, but no more. I huge thanks to Neil. I bring you another AspireOS version soon where it is included.
There also been problems loading Poseidon Prefs. at startup. Neil found out why and it is also solved 

[walterego]

I will have to look for one at the end of the month. Hope it is possible to find one with Swedish/Nordic keyboard. And of course I will have to get a T7600!

[nikos]

Cool 

If you look in e-bay they sell keyboards for this laptop with all kind of languages.

It is also good to replace the battery. It is this standard 3V battery you can find almost anywhere. Very easy to change too. In the same place as the wi-fi card, under the laptop

[BSzili]

After googling it I noticed that the thread title has a typo. It should be "latitude" not "latitiude".

[nikos]

Thx BSzili Fixed.

[PurpleMelbourne]

I got one of those for exactly this reason but never got around to it.
One extra convenient thing about the Dell D520 AND D530 is that you can plug it into a docking port for plugging to a different monitor.

The best CPU the D520 can take is the fastest 667Mhz FSB Socket M 2.33Ghz T7600
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors#%22Merom%22,_%22Merom-2M%22_(standard-voltage,_65_nm)

The best CPU the D530 can take is the 800Mhz FSB  Socket P 4M cache 2.6Ghz T7800
Unfortunately due to BIOS crippling, it cannot take the larger 6M cache 2.6Ghz T9500

If you got the BIOS hacked then it could take the better CPU. But on the BIOS Modding forums where you can pay someone $30 to do the job for you, people have tried and given up on the D530 modding. It is possible, but noone has persisted to do it.

Additionally the D520 can be hardware modded to overclock the FSB to 800Mhz to make a T7300 run at 2.93Ghz.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/pll-pinmod-overclocking-methods-and-examples.393027/

[nikos]

Here is a video of how to connect this laptop to external Screen.

https://youtu.be/YZIemJ92kKg

[XD3l]

Nikos, have you tried any of the cheap China refurb CPU offerings such as the t7600?

In regards to the Atheros AR5BXB63 wifi card, is there a visual notifier we could use to determine the good ones from the bad?

[nikos]

I have not tried T7600. I'm using the 2GHz Core2Duo and very happy with it.
What you mean with refurb? Even if they are cheap and sold from china they are original Intel CPUs.

About the Atheros cards it is a little hit and miss unfortunatly. At least they can be found very cheap and most of the time ok. If you don't like to gamble buying it I can sell you one very cheap that is tested.