Recent coverage of budget laptops has drawn fresh attention to the Dell Inspiron 15 5585, as renewed interest surfaces in AMD-powered systems from the late 2010s amid discussions of entry-level computing durability. Owners and reviewers alike revisit this model for its Ryzen processors, which once stood out against Intel counterparts in graphics tasks. Public records show configurations handling everyday workloads effectively, though questions linger on long-term reliability. The Dell Inspiron 15 5585 emerges in forums and archived tests as a pragmatic choice for students or casual users, balancing cost with capability at launch around $700-$800. Thinner and lighter than its Intel sibling, the 5585 weighs 1.8 kg with a 15.6-inch IPS display fixed at 1920×1080. AMD Zen+ chips like the Ryzen 7 3700U powered variants, offering Vega graphics that edged out Intel UHD in casual gaming. Yet reports of chassis flex and battery inconsistencies keep conversations ongoing, prompting evaluations of whether it holds value in secondary markets today.
Key Pros of Dell Inspiron 15 5585
Strong AMD Processor Performance
The Ryzen 7 3700U in tested units delivers multi-thread scores rivaling Intel Core i7-8565U, around 648 points in Cinebench R15 loops despite thermal limits dropping clocks to 2.5 GHz after minutes. Single-thread lags slightly behind Intel at 138 points, but sustained loads hold better than expected for a 35W cTDP chip. Configurations with Ryzen 5 3500U or 3 3200U scale down predictably, yet all handle multitasking without major hitches—web browsing with tabs open stays responsive. Graphics shine here too; Vega 10 pushes 3DMark Fire Strike to 2694 points, playable for Rocket League at 1080p low. Compared to UHD 620’s 1179, the leap suits light gaming sessions. Everyday PCMark 10 hits 3903, edging some Intel rivals. No major audio latency issues appear in LatencyMon traces. Upgradable RAM to 32 GB DDR4 at 2400 MHz boosts this further across two slots.
Capable Integrated Graphics
Vega 10 or Vega 8 variants run undemanding titles smoothly—Fortnite or DOTA 2 at low settings yield consistent frames without post-processing bloat. Benchmarks show Cloud Gate at 11390, surpassing average Vega 10 by 18-47 percent in some Dell implementations. Witcher 3 idling reveals minor dips, but low presets stabilize around 37 fps average. Against MX150 or MX250, it competes narrowly at 1920×1080 Fire Strike graphics of 2999 max. No discrete GPU slot fills, keeping it integrated-only. Casual users note sharp 1080p visuals for video playback. Power draw peaks at 44W under FurMark plus Prime95, throttling GPU to 871 MHz on Witcher stress. Still, performance-per-watt outpaces Intel UHD equivalents significantly. Storage aids this; M.2 PCIe SSDs like WDC SN520 hit 884 MB/s writes, quick for app loads.
Solid Build for Budget Segment
Chassis mimics XPS aesthetics with silver lid and minimal creaking, rigid at corners despite plastic deck flex under pressure. Weighing 1.8 kg and 19.5 mm thin, it slips into bags easier than bulkier 5584 at 1.9 kg. Hinge gaps show minor unevenness on units, but daily handling holds up. Bottom panel lifts via nine Phillips screws for easy access to RAM, battery, storage. Ports cluster left: USB-C with Power Delivery, HDMI, RJ-45 Fast Ethernet, three USB-A. SD reader protrudes half-length on UHS-II cards, transferring 1 GB in 27 seconds—adequate for photos. WLAN via Qualcomm QCA9377 ac hits 321 MBit/s transmit, reliable for home streaming. Backlit keyboard offers firm feedback, clicky Enter key. Large 10.5×8 cm glass touchpad tracks smoothly, if clicks feel soft.
Versatile Connectivity Options
USB-C supports 130W charging alongside barrel jack, flexible for travel adapters. Ethernet caps at 100 Mbps, fine for basic networks. Three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports handle peripherals without hubs. HDMI drives external 1080p displays steadily. Audio jack suffices for headphones. Fingerprint reader integrates for quick Windows Hello logins on supported SKUs. M.2 2280 SSD slot pairs with 2.5-inch SATA bay for dual storage up to 1 TB HDD plus 512 GB PCIe. WLAN upgrade path exists via M.2 2230 slot. Bluetooth 5 pairs devices reliably. Card reader lags premium XPS at 37 MB/s max AS SSD seq read, but copies ISOs at 862 MB/s effectively. Overall, ports match multimedia needs without excess.
Adequate Everyday Runtime
42 Wh battery yields 7 hours WLAN websurfing at 150 nits, beating some Ryzen peers like IdeaPad 330S at 4 hours. Idle stretches to 14 hours minimum brightness, load drops to 1.4 hours max. WiFi v1.3 tests confirm 7:01 average. Charging crawls 2-2.5 hours empty to full on 45W adapter. Idle draw 4.2-7W conserves well. Compared to 5584’s shorter 3.5 hours, AMD efficiency edges out. Surface temps hit 41°C top under Witcher, palm rests stay below 29°C. Fan noise caps 41.4 dB(A) gaming, quiet 28.3 dB idle. Speakers balance bass decently at 79 dB max volume.
Notable Cons of Dell Inspiron 15 5585
Subpar Display Quality
LG Philips LP156WFC IPS hits 253 cd/m² max, dropping to 180 nits on battery—glare-heavy outdoors. Contrast at 939:1 with 0.27 cd/m² black suffices indoors, but 56% sRGB gamut dulls colors versus 90% on midrange. DeltaE 6.05 pre-calibration, grays at 3.2; blues oversaturate post. Response 28 ms gray-to-gray lags competitors, black-white 27 ms average. No PWM flicker detected. Bezels thicken top-bottom, non-touch standard. Viewing angles hold wide, but brightness uniformity 84% shows backlight bleed. Matches VivoBook S15 but trails XPS vibrancy.
Build Quality Imperfections
Plastic palm rest flexes under keys, lid bows slightly—budget signs despite rigid corners. Hinge unevenness noted on review units, minor but visible. Creaking minimal versus older VivoBooks. No aluminum unibody like XPS; hollow feel persists. Keyboard lacks PgUp/PgDn, arrow keys tiny. Touchpad clicks mushy despite size. Weight centers forward, stable on laps. Ports tight left-side, awkward right-hand access. SD protrudes insecurely. Upgrades expose components easily, but reassembly risks clips.
Battery Inconsistencies Reported
While tests log 7 hours WiFi, user forums cite 1-2 hours on power-saver, 30 minutes high performance—faster drain than advertised 12 hours max. Standby crashes noted on some 5585s, requiring resets. 42 Wh capacity small for 15-inch; recharges slow. Troubleshoot guides suggest reseating, BIOS checks, driver updates. Idle 6.8W average fine, but loads pull 36.5-44W throttling clocks. No fast-charge beyond USB-C PD. Varies by config; Ryzen 3 units shorter.
Performance Throttling Under Load
Prime95 drops Ryzen 7 from 3.3 to 2.5 GHz at 88°C after 10 minutes, 16% Cinebench deficit loops. FurMark combo holds 1.4-1.6 GHz at 73°C. Battery limits 3DMark Physics 10% less. Vega 10 dips Witcher frames over time. SSD seq reads 399 MB/s lag premium PCIe at 1300. WLAN 1×1 ac slower than Intel 2×2. Sleep wake fails occasionally. Fine for casual, strains heavy edits.
Limited Upgrade and Port Speeds
RAM max 32 GB dual-channel good, but SSD M.2 2230 form shortens options. Ethernet Fast only, no Gb. SD reader 24-37 MB/s trails. WLAN QCA9377 304-337 MBit/s iperf, quarter of premium. No Thunderbolt. HDD bay adds capacity, not speed.
Performance Breakdown
CPU Benchmarks in Context
Cinebench R15 multi 648 for 3700U trails i9-8950HK by 83%, matches Ryzen 2700U. Single 138 lags i7-8565U 24%. wPrime, R10 render similar gaps. Loops show steady drop, 5% over prior Zen. Vs Core i5-8265U, multi edges 10-20%. Real-world: smooth Office, light Photoshop.
GPU Capabilities Tested
Fire Strike 2694 total, graphics 2999 rivals MX150 low-end. Time Spy 955 lags MX250 30%. Witcher low 53 fps avg drops sustained. BioShock 123 low. Rocket League 119 low. No ultra viable. Idle power efficient.
Storage and RAM Configurations
WDC SN520 512 GB: 399/884 seq, AS SSD 2279 total middling. Dual bay: SSD + 1TB HDD 7200 RPM. DDR4 2666 MHz caps 2400 on Ryzen, dual-channel advised. 8 GB base expandable.
Thermal Management Details
Top max 41°C gaming, bottom 48°C. Left keyboard warmer by 12°C. Fan 41 dB max. Stress: CPU 82°C sustained. Cooler than some, warmer than Intel 5584.
Noise and Power Efficiency
Idle silent 28 dB, load 31-41 dB. 4-7W idle, 37-44W load. Per-watt GPU strong vs UHD.
User Experiences
Daily Use Feedback
Students praise portability, 7-hour days. Multitaskers note tab stability. Light gamers enjoy Vega edge.
Gaming Reports
Casual titles playable low; hardcore skip. Frames steady low presets.
Reliability Complaints
Sleep crashes, slow boots post-updates. Battery variance frustrates mobile users.
Upgrade Stories
RAM doubles speed; SSD swaps quicken. WLAN swaps boost net.
Value Over Time
Secondary market holds; $300-400 used viable for basics.
Verdict Implications
Public benchmarks position the Dell Inspiron 15 5585 as a standout budget AMD pick from its 2019 era, with Ryzen delivering CPU parity to pricier Intel U-series and Vega graphics doubling UHD performance for casual play. Chassis borrows XPS looks but reveals flex and hinge quirks under scrutiny, while display’s dim 253 nits and 56% sRGB limit creative work. Battery tests vary—7 hours solid in labs, user drains quicker—hinting config or wear factors. Throttling tempers peaks, yet efficiency impresses for 45W adapter. Ports versatile sans speed, upgrades accessible. Forums capture split: reliable daily driver for some, glitchy for others on sleep or heat. No major scandals surface, just typical entry-level tradeoffs. Secondary buyers weigh this against modern successors; core value persists for undemanding tasks if priced under $400. Ongoing Dell support pages offer diagnostics, but parts dwindle post-warranty. Future-proofing absent—no Thunderbolt, dated WLAN—leaves it niche. Records resolve performance strengths, leave longevity open to individual luck and maintenance.
