Configuration
The Dell Latitude D620 is based on an Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor with a clock rate of 1.66GHz (65nm Merom core with 2 megabytes of shared L2 cache).
The Core 2 Duo T5500 supports Intel’s 64-bit extensions to the x86 architecture and also features Intel Wide Dynamic Execution technology which means more decoders and execution units in the CPU core. The speed of processing SSE and floating-point instructions has been increased, too.
Besides Intel’s traditional Enhanced SpeedStep technology that gives the notebook’s software and BIOS the control over the CPU frequency multiplier (to reduce it under low loads), this CPU supports Dynamic Power Coordination (the power consumption of the cores can be independently adjusted depending on the current load; one core may even slip into Deep Sleep mode with the lowest power consumption possible) and Dynamic Cache Sizing (unused segments of the CPU cache can be turned off to save power). For more information about Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors refer to our article called Intel Core 2 Duo in Notebooks: Centrino Duo Platform Refreshed.
This implementation of the refresh version of the Napa platform also incorporates an Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG adapter and an Intel Calistoga 945PM chipset. This chipset supports DDR2 SO-DIMMs, thus offering more memory bandwidth at lower power consumption, and a PCI Express x16 interface for an external graphics card. Connected to the North Bridge via a special-purpose Direct Media Interface, the South Bridge (ICH7-M) supports one Parallel ATA port, two Serial ATA ports, eight USB 2.0 ports and Intel High Definition Audio. It also offers six PCI Express x1 lanes to connect external devices. For more information about the platform, visit the manufacturer’s website.
The Latitude D620 comes with a discrete graphics core Nvidia Quadro NVS 110M and with 64 megabytes of dedicated graphics memory. The core can also be allotted some of the system memory (for a total of 256 megabytes) by means of TurboCache technology. The typical heat dissipation of the chip is as low as 10W, so it doesn’t require active cooling.
The graphics core supports Microsoft DirectX 10, but is no record-breaker in terms of performance. However, its nView technology can be quite useful. It allows to stretch the Desktop out to multiple monitors, particularly to the notebook’s display and an external monitor. The power consumption and heat dissipation of the GPU are controlled by PowerMizer technology. You can refer to the developer’s website to learn more about the Quadro NVS110M. The next table shows the specs of the whole Quadro VNS series:
The notebook comes with a Fujitsu MHW2120BH hard disk drive (2.5” form-factor, 5400rpm spindle rotation speed, 120GB capacity, SATA interface) but we replaced it with a Seagate Momentus ST9160821AS (160GB, 5400rpm, SATA) for the tests. The Latitude D620 also offers a TSST TS-L632D DVD-burner with the following speed formula:
Writing:
- CD-R – 24x
- CD-RW – 24x
- DVD-R DL – 4x
- DVD-R – 8x
- DVD-RW – 6x
- DVD+R DL – 6x
- DVD+R – 8x
- DVD+RW – 8x
- DVD-RAM – 5x
Reading:
- CD-ROM – 24x
- CD-R – 24x
- CD-RW – 24x
- DVD-ROM – 8x
- DVD-R DL – 6x
- DVD-R – 8x
- DVD-RW – 6x
- DVD+R DL – 6x
- DVD+R – 8x
- DVD+RW – 8x
- DVD-RAM – 5x
The Dell Latitude D620 works with DDR2-667 SDRAM, the fastest memory available on the refresh Napa platform. The single accessible slot contains a 512MB module. Another 512MB module is probably installed on the mainboard. Test programs do not agree on that point, though. CPU-Z and Everest do not see the second memory stick while the Battery Eater does. The maximum amount of memory the notebook supports is 4096MB.
We measured the temperature of the hottest spots on the notebook’s surfaces with an infrared thermometer after it had worked for half an hour in the Classic test mode of Battery Eater Pro 2.60 (the ambient temperature remained constant at 23°C during this test) and got the following numbers:
- LCD panel – 44°C
- Keyboard – 31°C
- Bottom panel – 35°C
- Vent hole – 34°C
The bottom of the screen bezel is the hottest spot – probably because the backlight lamp is located there.
The following table lists the specs of the Latitude D620 in comparison with its opponent Sony VAIO VGN-C2ZR/B:
The notebook’s native power adapter refused to work after a couple of days of intensive testing. It was replaced with a working one, yet that was an annoying thing, anyway. Hopefully, that was just an accident.
