System specifications

Since the user is able to customize the unit, included hardware varies from laptop to laptop. However, there are several components which are generally fitted as standard in each unit:

• Processors: Intel Celeron 540, 550 or 560, Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2370, T2390, T2330, T4200, T4500 and the Intel Pentium/Intel Core 2 Duo T5250, T5450, T5550, T5750, T7250, T8100, T8300, T9300 or T9500.
• Memory: 512 MB, or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 GB of shared dual channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 667 MHz
• Chipset: Intel GM965 Express Chipset
• Graphics: Integrated Intel GMA X3100 graphics
• Display: 15.4″ widescreen with a 1280 × 800 resolution, 15.4″ widescreen with a 1280 × 800 resolution and TrueLife, or a 15.4″ widescreen with a 1440 × 900 high resolution and TrueLife
• Storage: 80, 120, 160, 250 or 320 GB SATA at 5400 RPM HDD
  • Optical drive: 8× tray-load dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive, 2× tray-load Blu-ray disc combo drive or 2x Blu-ray disc burner
• Battery: 4-cell (28 Whr), 6-cell (56 Whr), or 9-cell (85 Whr) lithium-ion
• Wi-Fi: Broadcom 4312 based, Dell Wireless 1397 802.11g half mini-card (Previously changed to 1395 802.11b/g full mini-card), or 1490 802.11a/g/n full mini-card (Broadcom 4311 based), or Intel Next-Gen 4965AGN 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi
• I/O ports: 1× Fast Ethernet port, 1× 56 kbit/s modem, 1× S-Video output, 4× USB 2.0 ports, 1× Express Card slot, 1× VGA port, 1× HDMI output, 1× FireWire port (optional), 2x headphone jacks, 1x microphone port (optional), and 1× power adapter connector
• Camera (optional): Integrated 2.0 MP camera

The most notable difference between this laptop and its predecessor, is that the 1520 model was fitted with a dedicated graphics card whereas the 1525 is not. It has been speculated that this is an attempt by Dell to appeal to a wider market of computer consumers. In a 2008 processor speed test, the Inspiron 1525 placed 14 out of the 18 tested computers.^[6] The touchpad has been upgraded from that of the 1520, with one which is designed to allow faster scrolling through web pages. Strangely this model contains a SIM card slot underneath the battery compartment. However reading data, or using Internet from SIM cards is not possible without a separate wireless modem-card.