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This is a guide to running Linux with the Dell Latitude D620 laptop. The Latitude D620 is a medium level laptop with great Linux support.
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with Linux and which modules you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required modules have a look at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.
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| Name | Dell Latitude D620 |
| Processor | Intel Core Duo T2300 1.66Ghz |
| Screen | 14.1” WXGA |
| RAM | 512MB |
| HDD | 80GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet + Intel 3945 802.11g Wireless |
| Other | 4 x USB2.0 |
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | |
| Sound | Yes | Use the snd-hda-intel module |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | Use the ipw3945 module |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested |
As default the native screen resolution of the Latitude D620 is 1280×800, however due to the way the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 functions this resolution would not be usable right away. To get it working you will need to install the 915resolution program and type in:
915resolution 5a 1280 800
This will then allow you to use the native 1280×800 resolution. However this setting will be forgotten after each boot so you will need a way to automatically run this command at every boot. Fortunately most Linux distributions come with the 915resolution program and include a simple way of achieving this. You can view our Configuring the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 & 950 guide for more information.
Some versions of the D620 include the Nvidia Quadro NVS 110M. This has not been tested yet.
Some versions of this notebook have the Dell Wireless 1390 or the Dell Wireless 1490 Dual-Band wireless network card. Neither of these cards were tested.
Thanks to khadgaray for adding this:
Works fine with nv module provided by FC6 Xorg 7.1 . For dual screen i use nvidia's driver ( build 9625 )
modem - Unable to find any communication device with lspci listing :(
As with all Intel Core based notebooks, it is recommended to use a Linux distribution with kernel version 2.6.16 or greater with the Dell Latitude D620. With a up to date kernel this laptop works well with Linux.
Discussion
I've got a Dell D620 with Dell 1490 wireless card (Broadcom 4312 chip). After installing Ubuntu 9.10, everything else works but wireless because the driver for the wifi card was not installed. To get the driver, google for “b43-fwcutter ubuntu” and download the “b43-fwcutter” package. Install it, and when asked, choose “fetch driver”. After everything is installed, reboot and my wireless finally works!
yes. my computer dell latitude d620 after installing and choosing fetch driver. Finallly, works..!
Just booted Damn Small Linux from flash drive. Use DSL ACPI=OFF
installed ubuntu jaunty 9.04 without any problems, wireless is up immediately, just started using ubuntu a few weeks ago and finding it to be excellent. only issue is with google earth, which i imagine will be fixed once i look into the configuring intel graphics card.
I have installed Centos 5.3 on Dell latitude D620…. arghhh this system makes me crazy
my laptop has a lot problems.. wireless pains - even if I have used kernel 2.6.30 it was unable to force intell wireless card to scan environemnet for AP's.
also some patching of graphic driver display was a must to have proper resolution on laptop display.
I wouldn't recommend centos for a laptop install. It is meant for enterprise servers and as such isn't really updated with features for the notebook (power management/sleep/wireless). Fedora would be a better distro if you wanted a red hat based install although it isn't always the most stable since it is the test bed for future versions of RHEL.
I would truely like to thank you both, I finally resolved my problem and now have my wireless card working on my D620. I went back as you suggested Dawid and just reinstalled and rebooted. But only after rebuilding the linux install and starting fresh and as Mike suggested installing the Kernel-Devel for my kernel as well that solved everything. Thanks again for all your feedback and this blog. Now on to the next issue to solve, getting my wireless to work at the office with their WPA setup.
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Debian testing
Debian testing installed with no real issues, other than teething problems with wireless (debatably due to the university's odd configuration of their wireless modems, rather than debian).
Overall — solid and reliable.
Updates
Works fine with nv module provided by FC6 Xorg 7.1 . For dual screen i sue nvidia's driver ( build 9625 )
modem - Unable to find any communication device with lspci listing :(