Dell’s 17-inch laptop, the Inspiron i5759-1776BLK is an affordable and versatile entry level device best suited for home use as a desktop replacement or multimedia center or for the the office environment.
Review
This user-centric, but otherwise rather basic and featureless notebook will really find its spot sitting on a table rather than in a backpack. The lack of features and portability is well reflected in the asking price for this model: a bit under $500 at the time of this review, which I think is more than fair considering the hardware options, screen real estate and the roomy 10-digit numeric keyboard you also get with the Dell Inspiron 17 series.
Performance
The Dell i5759-1776BLK is powered by a dual core Intel Core i3-6100u processor which has 3 megabytes of SmartCache, a base frequency of 2.3 GHz with no turbo boost and a thermal design power of 15 Watts. This rather unassuming CPU is quite powerful, scoring around 3500 points in benchmark tests. Thus, home use and office work will feel like a walk in the park using Intel’s i3 processing power. You can even feel confident using more demanding programs such as photo editing software without causing the whole laptop to slow down.
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The standard system memory that comes with the i5759-1776BLK is plentiful for most Windows 10 users: 4 gigabytes of DDR3L-1600 RAM. While it’s true you won’t need more to run the most usual programs, should you feel the need to upgrade, you can add another 4 GB stick to essentially double the available memory size and help resource intensive programs behave more fluently, add another 8GB, or you go the full nine yards and max it out at 16 gigabytes (2 x 8GB). Just make sure it’s 100% compatible with the motherboard.
As for storage space, the Dell uses a roomy 500 gigabyte 5400 rpm SATA HDD to store everything from the operating system to medium sized media or photo collections. The one drawback of using a hard drive is missing on the speed boost offered by a solid state drive. However, concerning this specific model, I don’t think an upgrade is warranted. Not in the first couple of years of use at least.
Graphics and Display
The graphics department features a modest integrated Intel HD Graphics 520 video card, allowing for HD and 4K seamless streaming, but severely limiting the amount and quality of games you’ll be able to play on this otherwise well equipped Dell.
The Inspiron i5759-1776BLK has a 17.3 inch TrueLife HD+ (1600 x 900) LED-backlit display. Although the lack of IPS technology is expected for such an affordable device, viewing angles are satisfactory and color reproduction is above average. Extra space means more productivity and multitasking on-screen, which the Dell can handle well enough.
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Interface Options
Available interface options further consolidate this model’s position as a desktop replacement or office machine. It has an RJ-45 Ethernet cable port and a DVD-Writer.
1 x USB 3.0- 2 x USB 2.0
- 1 x HDMI-out
- 1 x Audio Combo Jack
- 1 x RJ-45
- 1 x 3-in-1 Card Reader
- 1 x DVD-Writer
Networking Options
To be honest, I was a bit surprised upon learning the Dell Inspiron i5759-1776BLK comes with a 802.11ac dual band wireless card built-in. This new protocol allows for better transfer speeds across larger distances and less buffering/signal interference. Also, the Dell has Bluetooth 4.0 Technology to connect and sync your other devices and high speed Ethernet.
Portability and Battery Life
The Dell i5759-1776BLK weighs 7 pounds without sans charger. That is a lot of weight to carry around in itself, never mind other things you may be packing alongside. Travelling by foot with the Dell will be a major nuisance, but carrying it to the office, around the house or inside a college dorm shouldn’t be a back-breaking experience.
Battery life is average for a modern laptop, but rather good for a 17-inch device. You’ll be able to go 6 hours unplugged with low screen brightness and moderate use and up to 4 and half or 5 hours streaming videos or editing documents at full brightness.
Conclusion
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The Dell Inspiron i5759-1776BLK is a well-rounded laptop designed to work well within the comfort of your home as a desktop replacement or a media center. Hardware options, performance, networking options and screen size are well above the price bracket, while everything else falls within industry standards. It’s a great deal if you need a big screen and need moderate computing power at most.
