It's not a driver problem. It's a screen modeline problem (I could go into a rather technical explanation, but I won't). The drivers are installed. If you get any picture, the drivers are installed. Linux is not like Windoze. You don't need to install new drivers for new functionality (generally), but (generally) only need to tweak settings.
I'm assuming that your Dell uses an ATI Radeon Mobility chipset. My C640, which I am writing this on, uses a Radeon 7500 Mobility, which is not supported by ATI's proprietary drivers. Newer chipsets may work with ATI's proprietary Linux drivers... but I'd get the graphics working right before you fiddle with the drivers.
The problem is that the screen has not been selected properly.
Go into SAX2 (you will need to supply the root password), then answer the questions correctly about the hardware that is on the laptop. Allow it to utilize XFree86 4.3.x with 3D OpenGL supported. Then answer the questions about the type of monitor (Select Dell LCD and the resolution it supports,... mine is like 1500x1040), then make sure all of the check boxes for other resolution sizes are selected. View the test and apply it, then restart the X-server to get your resolution (usually logging out then back it will do it).
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