Dell XPS 8940 - The Easiest Cooling Upgrade, That You Need!

[@Daemonicguylol]

For anyone that just purchased one of these, or a Dell G5 and is after the Dell OEM VRM heatsink part number; it is 0612F7.

[@Dragonrage132]

Thank you!

[@catherineclark8890]

Highly appreciated! I just ordered one of these today because my laptop just won't play PC games, anymore. I knew the fan was going to be a problem but have no experience building computers. It's nice having someone to explain the parts and how they can be improved.

[@catherineclark8890]

Came back to say that the modifications were a success! My new system is a Dell XPS 8940 with RTX 2060 and a 500W power supply. HUGE upgrade considering that I was gaming on laptop integrated graphics before. Thank you to all who gave advice. My set-up: - Replaced stock CPU cooler with a Vetroo V5. You don't have to put in the backplate. The Vetroo V5 screws into the Dell Intel backplate that is already provided. - Replaced stock rear exhaust fan with a 92mm Noctua NF-A9 chromax. Also mounted another Noctua NF-A9 chromax to the front for intake. - Took the stock rear exhaust fan and repurposed it into a second intake fan to help cool the GPU. It's a tight fit, but it works. - Used the Awxlumv 2.8 x 1 VRM heatsink. It's a little longer than needed, but it covers all the VRM and stays affixed. - Paired my set-up with an Acer ConceptD CP1. Not a lot of people use this monitor, but it runs at 144Hz ( 165Hz overclocked ) with a 1ms response time. Comes in a more understated design on a wooden stand. Pretty decent gaming monitor for under $250. Problems I encountered: - I ordered the HONBAY 40pc rubber fan screws. They were very short and difficult to pull through the fan mounts, so I ended up not using them. Definitely order the longer screws or use zip ties, which is what I did. There are no holes in the chassis to mount anything bigger, so you'll have to use zip ties if you want bigger than 92mm fans. - You have to push VERY hard on the Dell RAM to seat it. It will feel wrong, but you'll know it's seated properly when the latches click. - This is about Dell's build quality, but I found that the power button on the front plastic chassis does not extend far enough when pushed. I learned this after putting together my system, only to find that the tower wouldn't power on AT ALL when I pushed the button. Thought I messed up or that my tower came with a faulty part. Nope, for some reason, the button on the plastic case won't reach the actual power button on the tower even when properly attached. Until I find a way to fix this, I'm keeping the front chassis off. Not the prettiest arrangement, but at least it'll help with ventilation. This is the first time I've ever messed with the computer parts myself, and I'm satisfied with the work! The PC runs very cool and is surprisingly quiet with the Noctua fans. Edit: Played through the entirety of Little Nightmares on Ultra with no lagging or stuttering. Also get 100 FPS on Final Fantasy XIV on medium settings. Ran Speccy and find that my CPU and GPU run at a cool 30C during normal browsing and a solid 35C ( CPU ) and 60C ( GPU ) while running FFXIV on medium at 1080p. 45C and 60C on Far Cry 5 on medium 1080P. The CPU cooler makes the biggest difference. For some reason, RAM speed is capped at 2666 Mhz for i5 processors in the 8940. For i7/i9, it's about 2950 Mhz. People have also had issues upgrading the RAM, so I'm leaving my single stick 16gb alone ftm. Next, I'll be upgrading my internal 256gb Kioxia M.2 to a 1tb WD Blue. Will update again afterwards.

[@catherineclark8890]

Another update for those who are curious: I upgraded the stock Kioxia 256gb internal SSD to a WD Blue SN550 1tb. Pleased to say that I have had no issues thus far, and I do notice faster load speeds from my system! It doesn't run too hot, staying at a cool 30C during normal browsing. Temps remain within the 30C range during gaming. I have not noticed any change in noise level. Transferring my data from the stock SSD to the new one was a simple process. All it requires is an SSD enclosure ( I used SSK Aluminum ) and the free version of Macrium Reflect. Problems I encountered: - When cloning to a larger SSD drive, you MUST allocate the remaining "free" space on your new SSD to the OS partition so that you can actually use that space. I didn't do that during the first cloning ( just made an identical copy of my partitions ) and was confused as to why all the space on my new 1tb SSD was already filled up. Keeping my old SSD in the enclosure to use as an emergency boot drive. Next, might mess with the RAM if I can find something that is compatible. Would like to change my single channel SK Hynix 16gb stick to dual channel 16gb.

[@catherineclark8890]

Update: - The VRM heatsink keeps falling off, so I'm keeping it off until I can pick up thermal tape or another adhesive that is safe for my motherboard. Thus far, my system is still running smoothly without it, and I've been regularly gaming on my new PC for about a month and a half now. - Replaced the stock 256gb Kioxia internal SSD with that 1tb WD Blue. Swapping the SSD card required me to take off my CPU cooler and reattach it after the swap was finished, which was expected. Overall, no issues. - The internal SSD that the Dell 8940 uses is a standard 5-pin M key NVME, NOT Sata. To clone data from internal SSD onto another internal SSD, you'll need a proper M.2 enclosure ( I used SSK Aluminum ) and the free version of Macrium Reflect. Remember to allocate the free space on your new SSD to your OS partition BEFORE you clone. Nothing irreversibly bad will happen if you forget, but it'll be a waste of about 30 mins to reclone your SSD. I forgot to do that the first time around and wondered why all the space on my new SSD was already used up. That free space has to be allocated to a partition before you can use it. Oops. Can't tell you about read and write times, but I can say after a month of gaming with a bigger, faster SSD that I do notice faster load times from my PC. In FFXIV, I am often one of the first people in and out of cutscenes, and mechanics ( hazards to avoid ) appear quickly on my screen. Very useful in a game that prioritizes speedrunning dungeons and dodging AOEs. It also stays at a more-than-acceptable 35C even during heavy gaming, and I have not noticed any change in audible noise from my system. The WD Blue SN550 is a safe bet for a Dell 8940. I would like to switch to dual channel RAM in the future, but it's not really a priority. The OEM 16gb single stick suffices. If I continue upgrading, I'll probably get a better CPU than the Intel 10500 I have currently.

[@catherineclark8890]

Update after nearly a year: I've been gaming regularly on this rig for about eight months now, a couple hours a day. Mostly on Final Fantasy XIV. Thus far, I have had absolutely zero issues with this build. - Had to buy thermal tape to help with my sister's build, so I was finally able to reattach my VRM heatsink! It has not fallen off since, and I do notice a slight difference in temps. Generally, my temperatures still stay within the 30C range with normal browsing and rarely go above the 40s range when gaming. The hottest I've ever seen it was in the 60s. - Finally upgraded to dual channel RAM. Swapped my generic 16gb stick for 2x8gb Crucial Ballistix at 3200. No issues. I think those are the last upgrades I'll make. I considered upgrading the CPU, but I figured that by the time I'll need a better CPU, I'll be switching to a new rig, anyway. In hindsight, I'm glad I worked on this build last year because prices for pre-builts have actually gone up by about 30% this year. Desktops with 1650s are selling for what I paid for this 2060 system. However, it is still possible to find the rare deal for a 3060 pre-built below $1000 before tax. For people thinking about getting a new gaming desktop, I would highly suggest buying a pre-built and fixing it up rather than building it yourself. A friend tried the latter but found she couldn't get a decent graphics card at a reasonable price and actually ended up paying more than if she had just bought a pre-built with the graphics card she wanted. Save money, wait for deals. It is 1000% worth it.

[@itsehsanh]

Hey, I decided to come back to this video as I have done all my mods (for now). I swapped out the stock rear exhaust fan for a Noctua NF-A9 92mm fan. I also changed the stock garbage CPU cooler to a Noctua NH-9DL. The setup was not too challenging, but I am a beginner. For someone who knows what they are doing, it will be a breeze to do. I am waiting for another NF-A9 to deliver. I will be using that as a front intake fan (removed the entire HDD case, and moved my HDD to the top space). I also plan to add another fan in the lower position (assuming fit) so I can get more air flow through/over my graphics card (3060ti). Wanted to say thanks as this was one of the first videos I watched about the XPS 8940 and feel much more educated thanks to this video.

[@HardwareSense]

Awesome, great to hear that! Give us some more info what did you needed to do to get the Noctua installed, anything special?

[@itsehsanh]

@@HardwareSense The ONLY thing needed for the CPU cooler/heatsink assembly for the NH-D9L is 4 m3-16mm screws and 4 m3 washers. That is literally it. I found all the information from the Dell community and it helped tremendously.

[@pengbiaozhang4239]

@@itsehsanh Thanks for sharing, I'm the beginner as well try to learn to do the same thing, so question for your installation on NH-D9L, do you need to install any base at the backside of the mother board?

[@itsehsanh]

@@pengbiaozhang4239 No you do NOT have to insert the backplate. I did not do it and it worked out fine. What you need to buy are 4 16m3 screws and 3m washers. In the Noctua packaging, you need to use the provided black spacers

[@pengbiaozhang4239]

@@itsehsanh good to know~ thank you

[@dktee7084]

My Guy...you have 100% understood the assignment! You rock! Thanks for your forward thinking .

[@ProgrammerInProgress]

I picked one of these up because it looked like a good bargain at the moment and was aware of the thermal issues so I budgeted to do the work to fix it. Thanks for the detailed walkthrough and parts list, it was really helpful!

[@elhombre5580]

My gen13 Core i9 with the lame little stock cooler was hitting 100C regularly, with unremarkable loads - no big games or video editing. I used the app Core Temp to monitor it. This video enabled me to purchase the right CPU cooler and install it. Unfortunately a hard drive occupies the cage that he removes to make way for a new fan, so I couldn't add an extra fan. Now with the same loads, it hits 74C at the worst. Note - the link to the heat sink for the VRAM brings you to the right heat sink, even though he mentions that he got one that is too short. Don't get the longer 2.8 inch heat sink, there isn't room for it. Possibly, without the extra fan, the problem it solves isn't a problem, but I am ordering the right part anyway. EDIT: I realized that the video solves my problem of the 3.5" drive. I moved it to the other cage as the video suggests, and removed the cage it had been in. Next I will be getting that 80mm fan and look at his other videos to learn how to mount it.

[@TheLucidDreamer12]

This dell heatsink also works across generations using LGA115x sockets, as well as LGA1200. Be warned that for many of the optiplex minitowers, the folding part causes a clearance issue, and older Optiplexes have a proprietary fan cable

[@carrboro_chapelhillfpv2442]

Lol, nice intro, yes I did break down and buy a prebuilt 8940 because I need it ASAP and can’t find a GPU. NOTE to everyone, they ignore request of using the 2x8gb ram and ship what they feel like.

[@hipflipped]

I bought the pre-built 8940 and received (per my invoice) the proper 8x2 ram and then supplemented that with another 8x2 from crucial.

[@stoneyhigh05]

Mine got shipped 2 weeks ago with the 2 x8gb. Legit 2 channels

[@JamesJ30t]

@20:03 -- Looks like this came out before the 120 mm front case fan adapter for 8940 came out.

[@Ben-zy5jg]

I just used a Vetroo V5 out of the box. It is fantastic.

[@HardwareSense]

Yes that works

[@FeMiguelBR]

Thanks. I'm not getting the same temperature, but I'm running an i7 11700 processor. I will need to drill the front to get better air flow.

[@pengbiaozhang4239]

Nice video, thanks for sharing. Can you please share the ebay/amzon link of your cooler tower showing in the video, I found it in the Dell, but I think you mentioned you found it in the ebay? I'd like to get the same that you showed.

[@zorax15]

Well I think I've done everything right when buying a RTX2070 in December, when new PCs these days come with a graphics card of 2 generations back.

[@JamarConley]

My XPS 8490 came with an RTX2070 Super

[@zorax15]

@@JamarConley Oh, nice

[@ryanh9719]

I just tried same thing but wirh arctic x 7 and the pins dont fit and its so hard to get the little clasps to attach to the mount

[@myfavoritemovies]

Thanks so much for this video; I was disappointed that my 8940 came with the tiny cooler, even though I got an i7-10700. I didn't realize they only used it for K-series processors. A quick survey of eBay and some other online sellers indicates that the VWMTJ is out of stock, but I'll keep looking. I want to keep that upgrade as simple as possible.

[@HardwareSense]

There are a few sellers that have them, some even sell brand new, and they have a lot of stock

[@myfavoritemovies]

@@HardwareSense Weird! I searched for "dell VWMTJ" on ebay and only got two sellers, both international.

[@HardwareSense]

@@myfavoritemovies I bought from that one in HK that have brand new ones, and bought from domestic as well, but they are out of stock at the moment.

[@myfavoritemovies]

@@HardwareSense Ah, cool. I'll keep checking... fortunately it's not a critical matter, I'd just like something a bit beefier for when I'm doing rendering. Thanks!

[@richmonddan8249]

Apparently Dell has changed to a newer (but identical) cooler on the K-model CPUs. Instead of the VWMTJ it is now the VWD01. It is currently (3/31) out of stock at Dell, but will be back in stock. Also, the Dell part number for the heat sink is 612F7, which is also out of stock. Amazon has an aftermarket one with the same number.

[@HardwareSense]

Wow those people at Amazon want $24 for this 612F7, and it's only $5 on Dell!

[@defaultexploit]

I’m waiting on the 612f7 to be back in stock from either dell or Amazon.

[@motleyhobbies5738]

@@HardwareSense where do you go to order direct from Dell? I have searched the part numbers on their site a get nothing.

[@HardwareSense]

@@motleyhobbies5738 dell.com chat with sales reps

[@motleyhobbies5738]

I ended up just calling and got the VRM Heatsink, CPU Heatsink, 500W PSU (not too happy with the 360 in with an i7 and 1660ti) and an extra 2.5" drive caddy for just under $200USD after tax.

[@itsehsanh]

Great video. I plan to change the stock fan as well now on mine. You made it look so easy. Great work, looking forward to your next videos.

[@HardwareSense]

Thank you, appreciate the support!

[@itsehsanh]

@@HardwareSense thank you for making it all so simple. With dell having a proprietary motherboard, how do I know what new coolers I could put in place of the stock fan?

[@HardwareSense]

@@itsehsanh It will take some reading over at the Dell Community forum

[@itsehsanh]

@@HardwareSense I did plenty of that per your suggestion. Lots of information to process, especially for a beginner. But i noted a lot of fans and wrote down their names...also what screws/spacers/washers needed. If you decide to put a 80/92mm fans where the HDD slot used to be, can you make a video on it? That would be great learning material for those who also have Dell XPS 8940s

[@HardwareSense]

@@itsehsanh For the front intake you only need rubber isolators, no screws needed, I am going to show that in the upcoming Dell G5 desktop video. As for the main one, I see some people have used Noctua model towers, but I thought that is too complicated to find the right screws and spacers, I think the stock tower is very good and super easy to install.

[@mikegustafson6679]

he's really flexin that sneaker collection!

[@nilanpindoria8124]

You probably did cover this in the video but what is the make/model of the cooling fan you installed in the video?

[@HardwareSense]

@@nilanpindoria8124 I thought that I had the model in the video description, but anyway this is Dell's own tower cooler that they use in their more performance oriented PCs

[@nilanpindoria8124]

@@HardwareSensethank you

[@rwfrench66GenX]

Thanks for the video! I don’t have a K processor so I had to take my mobo off to get the mounting plate over the stock one.

[@MrBigTuna100]

Can you please share a link to the rubber isolators that you use from Amazon, I want to get some to upgrade my Dell. Thanks

[@HardwareSense]

In the video description now.

[@NICKNACK112]

Is the motherboard in this pc the same one in the dell g5 5000 gaming desktop? If so can I do the same upgrade that he is doing to my g5?

[@HardwareSense]

Almost the same, and yes you can do the exact same upgrades there.

[@DeepakKumar-lv4te]

would have been good to have some dimensions of the unit, also if it was shown directly side by side with the original to see the height / size difference (also give height diff numbers). But helpful video as I'd like to put it in a 7060MT - 8th gen machine but still very very capable.

[@MrAngel_R8.28]

Dell Cooler VWMTJ has been discontinued. They have replaced it with VWD01 $54.99, also VRMS heatsink 612F7 $5.99. Parts are not posted on the site so you will need to contact their sales via phone or chat to order. They will email you a quote which you can pay via credit card or PayPal.

[@FrancoCalio]

I have the seem PC I'ii ask because when I plug the plug in the power the PC turns on for about 4 seconds and then turns off. While after I can turn it on regularly. So it is normal that it turns on by itself before being started: Thank you.

[@stargate7844]

Regarding the VRM heatsink. There are three rows of seven flat chips (blk) all the same height that's easy to cover with one heatsink. What about the one row of seven taller chips beside them. Are they part of the VRM? If so, should they be heatsinked?

[@HardwareSense]

Those are capacitors and they are fine exposed, if you look at the stock one, it is also not covering those.

[@mikew8993]

Awxlumv 2Pcs Small Heatsink with your link are out of stock until June 25th. Are there others you would recommend that would work?

[@KeckZ]

so there is already a backplate installed at the dell xps 8940 and i dont have to dissamble the mainboard?

[@KeckZ]

and do you know which size the regular cooler has?

[@hipflipped]

You don't need to remove or install a backplate. The OEM cooler uses what's there and other coolers can use it too! Like this one: www.amazon.com/Vetroo-Cooler-Processor-Universal-Socket/dp/B08F2BS9J8

[@hipflipped]

These oem coolers don't seem to be available anywhere at a decent price at this time.

[@francistaylor1822]

Just FYI for anyone with a 10700K and tower cooler. They areally arent sufficient either. Getg a small aio or good noctua or similar air cooler

[@tranongthien9951]

Good, Thank You

[@mikeking7710]

The XPS 8940 manual says that the voltage regulator heat sink is optional and ships separately from the pc. But that same manual also states that it's required for K-level cpu's. In your video, you stated that Dell is giving you this component when you get the K-level cpu's. Do you mean that it's included, but has to be installed separately by the end user? In your video, it was not installed, you did the install yourself. But then your cpu was not K-level. I know those manuals are a bit generic for multiple base configurations , but I'm a little concerned if I end up not having the heat sink in my machine when it arrives. I have a machine on its way, with a 10900K, 64gb (2x32) memory, the SSD + 3.5 SATA configuration, and GeForce 3070. Do you think I'll have a problem without the heat sink?

[@ace3772]

no if you dont have the k series you get the ass cooler installed, but if you get the k series they install the better one for you, you do not have to

[@deadroller]

Great video! I have a question if you don't mind. I followed the same process you recommended and used the Noctua splitter from the system fan to power both the back and front fan; however, the front fan is very loud as if it were running at max speed even though the Noctua on the back is all quiet. I even used the Noctua low-noise adaptor for the front, but it is still loud. Should we use the 4-pin for the front fan? I used the 4 pin from the splitter for the Noctua and the 3-pin for the front one.

[@HardwareSense]

Yes you need 4pin PWM fan otherwise it will run at its maximum rpm

[@deadroller]

@@HardwareSense thanks a lot for the prompt response. I ended up connecting the front one to the 4-pin and the Noctua to the 3 pin. Now the front one is not as loud and the Noctua is really quiet but I see its rpm varies when needed, or is it always recommended to have the exhaust fan in the 4-pin of the splitter?

[@HardwareSense]

@@deadroller It's recommended just because if you want the motherboard to control the RPMs

[@nicolasdube8580]

What is the max RPM of the front fan that you added? I added a noctua fan (max 2000 rpm) but when i put it as the master with the splitter, the stock rear fan runs extremely fast and when i put the stock fan as the master, the noctua fan runs so slow it barely turns. I think the stock fan is a 4500+ rpm server fan thats why that happens.

[@HardwareSense]

@@nicolasdube8580 The one I added was a stock Dell case fan, so whatever RPM those are rated.

[@Logan-pq6wi]

The only problem I have is I don’t have access to the motherboard so I will have to disassemble the whole computer to put the mount on. Is there any fix to that?

[@HardwareSense]

What do you mean by not having access to it?

[@computer6476]

Hi. Just want to ask how did you remove the 80 mm fan from the stock cooler? I’m going to repurpose it as the front intake fan. If not possible maybe I’ll just buy noctua 92 mm fan as intake if that’s compatible. Thank you.

[@darrenlevy6638]

Ive looked on the internet but i havent found a definite answer, do you know what size the motherboard is? I have seen both mini-ITX and full ATX

[@HardwareSense]

It is a custom MATX, in other words, you can't really use it in another case.

[@cryptocobrathompson8467]

Is Dell making these XPS's and they do not cool correctly?

[@datazen936]

Great video and great channel. Thank you!

[@HardwareSense]

Appreciate the support!

[@ItsSyer]

Someone lead me in the right direction..I got the 8940 special edition and want to put at least a 4 to 6 gig graphic card in what should i get because i see every other brand graphic card besides the ones i see in videos not for aure if that matters but i need to know which parts i should get thanks in advance!

[@TheRedCap30]

Could you take the fan off the old stock pancake cooler and use it as an intake fan with a splitter? thought it would be a good way to save money doing that!

[@HardwareSense]

Yes that's what I did

[@SmoothSportsGaming]

I have i7 10700 in my 8940. Is there anyway to undervolt it? It seems like the bios prevents XTU and Throttlestop to work.

[@HardwareSense]

@@SmoothSportsGaming Not much that you can do, upgrade the cooling or migrate the internals to another case

[@SmoothSportsGaming]

@HardwareSense The temps are really good on any other game that isn't Hellblade 2. They stay around 60c with a gpu overclock/undervolt, 4k, 1440p, 60 fps, maxed or high graphics. Even in Hellblade 2 it only got to 90c max and only in a few areas like the large scaled fights. I made a free cooling upgrade by opening up my side panel when I 1st bought it 4 years ago. And found an app to control my CPU fans. It's good overall but I wanna cool it even more. My GPU has great cooling.

[@HardwareSense]

@SmoothSportsGaming What app are you using to control the fans?

[@SmoothSportsGaming]

@@HardwareSense *Speedfan* . The only catch is that you can only go full blast with the fans. You have to lower both fans to 30 and it'll trigger them. After that you can X off the app and it runs with a tiny bit of resources in the background. I'd rather my fans get worn out vs my CPU catching on fire is my mentality. It's been fine for years though running full blast. I spent a lot of time optimizing the entire PC as well so im very pleased with this rig overall. It's faster than it was when I bought it and I have yet to play below 1440p/4K native/ 4K DLSS 60fps locked, maxed or high. Even in modern games.

[@computer6476]

Just got the VRM heatsink voltage regulator thermal pad 0612f7. I will just remove the plastic cover and keep the thermal pad and screw it to the motherboard near the CPU right? Thank you.

[@HardwareSense]

Correct

[@DeeDee-rr3sn]

Hi I was wondering if you could help me. I appreciated your video and information as I'm not that knowledgeable, as you are, about computers. I was wondering is it possible to install some sort of filter or filter material to help minimize dust getting sucked in to this particular computer? If so what would you personally suggest. Thank you

[@jamesbeazley9268]

Which power supply did your machine come with, 360w or 500w? Does the tower use more power than stock fan? What about the front fan?

[@JaxsonNZ]

Do you put any thermal past on the new tower? Looks like you cleared off the last stuff, but didn't apply any new. Is the copper connection enough alone? Thanks.

[@HardwareSense]

Yes of course, new paste is reapplied

[@killzone89]

I have a question about the VWMTJ cooler, is it compatible with the HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop TG01-2xxx pc's?

[@HardwareSense]

Yes it is

[@stoneyhigh05]

Can i change the harddrive from the front behind the perforations to the upper case? My harddrive is at the front and i want to free the perforations

[@HardwareSense]

Yes just remove the hard drive

[@defaultexploit]

Got an xps 8940 with an rtx 2060 and i5 10400 for $800 from Dell from one of their sales. Bought a 10700k and didn’t realize I needed a vrm heat sink so I’m now waiting for it to be back in stock from either dell or Amazon. Will probably also pick up a better cpu cooler and case fan.

[@HardwareSense]

Amazon has it but it's 5 times more expensive

[@JSyntax]

Does the k version come with vram heat sink?

[@defaultexploit]

@@JSyntax yes. K series processors come with the vrm heat sink and the better heat sink. It should anyways

[@HardwareSense]

@@JSyntax Yes they do

[@hipflipped]

@@HardwareSense I bought the expensive one from amazon ($25) and it was worth it to avoid dicking around wasting time trying to get it through Dell support. And... it works great! No regrets.

Great tutorial, thanks. Do you know if this PC works without the Graphic card mounted on the PCIe slot? Because I need the all the 3 PCIe to mount others cards.

[@HardwareSense]

The 10400 has integrated GPU, and thee are output ports in the back, so it should.

[@OT-tn7ci]

but you should check with your exact configuration, if you have an F processor such as i5 10400F, it will NOT have onboard graphics.

[@tumlumtumla3485]

Did you apply thermal paste? Any reason you did not want to show? That is one of the most important things.

[@HardwareSense]

Of course I did, but I wanted to avoid unwanted criticism, as everyone has their own way of doing it.

[@fractal3847]

Hello, I couldn't find the specific heatsink so I was wondering if any other branded heatsink such as thermal take would work. I read that I'll have to open it up from the back but I'm unsure about deconstructing the entire build, your feedback would be highly appreciated!

[@HardwareSense]

There are several that would work, some Noctua models and the Vetroo V5 is a perfect fit

[@computer6476]

Hi. Just have a question. I have the Dell XPS 8940 with Intel core i5-11400 and RTX 3060 12 GB. Do I need to change the rear exhaust fan to 92 mm fan, add an 80 mm fan in front of the GPU and 120 mm intake fan in the 3.5 hard drive cage? I already upgraded the CPU stock cooler to the Dell Tower cooler that you mention here. I saw a video from JSyntax and Where Nerdy is Cool showing about putting a 120 mm intake fan, 80 mm fan in the front of the GPU and replacing the 80 mm exhaust fan with a 92 mm fan. Thank you.

[@HardwareSense]

The intake is more important if you can add fans, create some positive pressure

[@computer6476]

@@HardwareSense Okay thank you.

[@collinbtw]

hey dude, i just got the noctua nh u9s but it is hard to find out if that will fit without weird different screws. Do you think it will work out of the box? im a beginner so it's super hard to find out, im seeing some people mentioning bolts, but the bolts that come with should work or ?? any idea?

[@HardwareSense]

Scroll through the comments below, I think someone mentioned that is working

[@computer6476]

I was able to remove the 80 mm fan. No need to answer that question. How did you mount the 80 mm fan at the front? I’m having hard time mounting it. Thank you.

[@HardwareSense]

I showed the rubber mounting isolators that you can push through the holes

[@mayrui2203]

Is it possible to change the fan inside the dell tower cooler to a quieter one?

[@HardwareSense]

Yes you can, but the stock one is whisper quiet

[@mayrui2203]

@@HardwareSense Well the cooler I received makes a very loud whining noise under load so I'm looking to replace it. By chance do you know what mm fan is in the cooller? It's hard to measure without removing it. Thank you for the help

[@HardwareSense]

@@mayrui2203 I think it is a 92mm fan, but it's easily removable and can definitely be replaced

[@mayrui2203]

@@HardwareSense Thank you for the answers I really appreciate it. Keep up making great content!

[@HardwareSense]

@@mayrui2203 Appreciate your support!

[@jameswubbolt7787]

Nice job.

[@maxhigh]

Awesome video. I tried replacing the rear case fan on my xps 8940 with the Noctua NF-A9 PWM. However it was constantly freezing/locking up my computer. After doing a check in the bios it was giving me an error that the fan has failed. I think i was running bios 2.4 at the time. Swapped it back to the stock fan and no issues. Any idea how I can get my Noctua fan to work with my xps?

[@HardwareSense]

Is the Noctua rated low RPM, I think the stock is something like 100 or 200rpm low speed start

[@maxhigh]

Minimum is 400, max 2000. Do I need a lower rated fan then? Could that be the issue?

[@HardwareSense]

@@maxhigh Most likely that is the issue, I have seen it with Dell and HP.

[@hipflipped]

The OEM cooler is tough to find/expensive, but I found what I think is a better one! www.amazon.com/Vetroo-Cooler-Processor-Universal-Socket/dp/B08F2BS9J8 This fits my XPS 8940 perfectly and works amazingly well. No need to futz with a backplate (screws in fine to the existing 8940 posts). I did use the small heat sinks recommended for the VRM. I didn't use the included past, substituting Arctic M5 instead.

[@HardwareSense]

Great information, I was wondering if this one would work here

[@mattwolrad]

@Card Capers - Did you use the XPS screws or do screws come with the cooler? Which mounting bracket if any?

[@HardwareSense]

@@mattwolrad Everything comes with it, no bracelets needed

[@tyria6866]

Would that work with the G5? Did your XPS have the same case pieces that have to be removed on the G5 to replace with other coolers? Did it work out of the box or did you have to use any extra parts for it to work? Thank you in advance

[@HardwareSense]

@@tyria6866 Yes it works on both

[@stargate7844]

Great video. I just received a VWMTJ CPU cooler. Regarding the six copper tube ends (nipples) on top, I noticed three of them have large crimps in them. Is that normal? Is there a liquid/gas inside?

[@HardwareSense]

Yes that's absolutely normal

[@OT-tn7ci]

what am i supposed to search for when buying this cooler ? and how do i make sure its the correct bracket and stuff

[@HardwareSense]

No need for bracket, it bolts to the permanent PC bracket

[@Heza]

What screwdriver did you use for the stock cpu cooler?

[@HardwareSense]

Nothing special, just a regular Philips one.

[@Heza]

@@HardwareSense Sorry to ask but what size would count at “regular”? I’m struggling to find one the fits at the moment

[@computer6476]

Just want to ask is this a good one, VRM heatsink voltage regulator thermal pad 612f7 0612f7 for dell xps 8940 or VRM Awxlumv 2Pcs Small Heatsink that you mention? Thank you.

[@HardwareSense]

Yes that's the one

[@anthonypepito210]

What size is the fan that comes with the upgraded Dell tower cpu cooler? Can it be swapped out with another fan?

[@HardwareSense]

It's a 92mm fan, you probably can swap it out for a different one, but it will be a challenge to find a fan that doesn't throw a Bios error, personally I don't see a reason to swap it

[@BRIDGE_FKNDAVE]

This is an amazing video. Great upgrade for small fee. Simply done and im sure the performance increase was massive.

[@markdavenportjr5129]

Nice just wondering does swapping out the cpu cooler void the warranty? Thanks.

[@HardwareSense]

Well it's in the grey area, if you are using their cooler probably not, even if it is, keeping the old one and installing it back if any issues arrive, will solve the problem.

[@randomcontent2625]

How well does that front fan draw air when you put the front case cover back on?

[@HardwareSense]

There is about half an inch gap between the frame and the outside panel, it's not ideal but it delivers some air

[@mattwolrad]

OI tried to add the exact VRAM heatsink that you suggested but it fell off, any suggestion to make it stick? I'm very new to mods @HardwareSense

[@JSyntax]

Bump @hard

[@ssjbart2003]

Hello. Do you think this cooler will install in the Inspiron 3670? Thanks!

[@HardwareSense]

Yes

[@ssjbart2003]

@@HardwareSense I am so glad to hear you say that! I have a heavily modded 3670, Corsair PSU with holes drilled in bottom for the flow out, two 80mm exhaust fans and 1 80mm side intake fan. Thanks to molex! I will probably have to move the side intake from inside the case to back outside for the new cpu cooler to fit.

[@HardwareSense]

@@ssjbart2003 Wow!

[@ssjbart2003]

Now I just wish it was $25 dollars now! Minimum $54 from China. I don't mind the time though. Also, does my Inspiron 3670 need the VRM heatsink? Thank you and sorry to keep bugging you.

[@HardwareSense]

@@ssjbart2003 Nah no need

[@all.day.day-dreamer]

What CPU cooler did you use exactly? I just picked one of these up at my local Microcenter for $1079 open box with a 11700, 32GB 2933 DDR, 1TB NVMe, 1TB Hard-Drive and .. WOW .. a RTX 3060 Ti but it has that small crappy stock cooler that makes zero sense. What CPU cooler did you use? I like the look of that and maybe I can get it in a few days from Amazon for $25 or whatever you said it cost, there abouts. Thanks in advance.

[@SupraRyu]

Yep, I remember the xps series was high level. Nowadays, I have no clue..

[@markbond676]

Hi - you do not say what make & model the cooler actually is - and I would like to purchse one for my XPS 840 i7

[@HardwareSense]

Its in the video description

[@tomdillan]

Would this heat sink fit on the hp intel cpu cooler backplate?

[@HardwareSense]

Yes

[@jonh9561]

Does anyone know what the 'button' CR2032 battery on the lower front area of the motherboard is for?

[@HardwareSense]

This is the Bios battery

[@jonh9561]

@@HardwareSense Thanks for the response, I looked it up and I guess you learn something new every day.

[@LewisMorra]

Just bought this from a guy… he wouldn’t give me the video card, said it was a 1660 super.. but it was blue pcb, and no shroud. Not sure if that’s what comes with it or if it’s the gtx he took out

[@HardwareSense]

That is 1650 Super, I have one

[@QaysTarmizi]

Can you change the motherboard ?

[@ruspj]

bought an xps last week i7 & 3060 TI mine came with the same cooler as yours & an 80mm or 3 inch case fan all of the marketing images show that stock cooler you fitted & a 120mm or 5 inch rear case fan im thinking try giving them an email complaining about the downgrade with insufficient cooling & requesting the standard parts from the marketing images.

[@ruspj]

yay they sent an engineer out to replace the heat sink/fan & also replace the rear case/exhaust fan with a larger one & add the missing voltage regulator heat sink. the engineer even let me keep everything he took off as spares :) if its in the marketing material on the page for this model it really should have been in the computer from the start.

[@stoneyhigh05]

@@ruspj I should send them an email too

[@digitaldeltablues]

Is it possible to upgrade to Thunderbolt 3 via the PCI-E slot w/ the Dell XPS 8940 MOBO?

[@HardwareSense]

It should be

[@digitaldeltablues]

@@HardwareSense It isn't FYI. The chipset doesn't support Thunderbolt.

[@HardwareSense]

@@digitaldeltablues Even with a PCIe card?

[@digitaldeltablues]

@@HardwareSense No - I am 100% certain of this. I spoke with the technicians at Dell who explained why. The Dell XPS 8940 does not have a Thunderbolt controller.

[@HardwareSense]

@@digitaldeltablues Thank you, I will have to test myself and see.

[@simbast9726]

Is this air cooling issue simply a noise issue? Will noise canceling headphones be a fix? Really wondering if it’ll increase my gpu life

[@HardwareSense]

Lower temps and lower noise.

[@lu93]

Awesome video! I think it would be easier and also cheaper to buy the Cooler Master Hyper TX3 EVO for 23,99 € on Amazon. Or is there something against it?

[@HardwareSense]

Not sure about the mounting mechanism on it, if you need to install a back plate, it will be complicated

[@SpringdalepreetPannu]

@@HardwareSense I saw a few videos and forum posts, apparently no black plate modifications needed just use some m3 bolts and washers

[@HardwareSense]

@@SpringdalepreetPannu Yes, screws and washers are needed

[@patman5948]

@@SpringdalepreetPannu link please? :)

[@lu93]

@@patman5948 www.amazon.de/Noctua-NH-U9S-chromax-Black-Single-Tower-CPU Should work with this super fast cooler.

[@DeeDee-rr3sn]

Hi, in your option, do you think the fan needs to be upgraded in this computer even for NON-gamers and for regular use?

[@HardwareSense]

Define regular use, just browsing and office? If yes, then you don't need to.

[@DeeDee-rr3sn]

@@HardwareSense Regular as in browsing, home office/accounting... photo shop, .....

[@DeeDee-rr3sn]

@@HardwareSense Also, i live in a home without central air and the house tends to get hot in the summer, living in So. California..

[@HardwareSense]

@@DeeDee-rr3sn Photoshop is not very regular, but I think that you should be good, it just might be a bit noisy

[@HardwareSense]

@@DeeDee-rr3sn Well... In this case, you could use all the cooling that you can get for this PC, temp will be higher, but the fan will spin faster, producing more noise, but still cooling

[@alexandernadeau7284]

If I use this PC for just editing and other non-gaming uses, will the fan be a problem?

[@HardwareSense]

Yes, even bigger, as video editing is taxing the CPU to the max

[@ahbiker19]

Pls link amazon page for this cooler. And literaly you just paste up and screw in that's amaizing for a noob like me

[@mattwolrad]

What do you think about the power supply is it sufficient at 360W? Since there is only a six pin can you replace it? Is it with it?

[@HardwareSense]

I tested it with 3060 and it's fine, video coming out tomorrow

[@mattwolrad]

@@HardwareSense - Since you can't find the Dell cooler you recommended anywhere can you post your thoughts on an available alternative that can be found. I just bought this 1660Ti version at Costco. 360w power supply and 16 gb RAM I want to make the cooler upgrade that you described in this video. Great timing for me.

[@arthurhnguyen]

@@mattwolrad Yes, I am planning to get the same one like yours from costco too. But, I confused with some negative reviews from Costco buyers, some types on blue screen problem? How do you like it?

[@mattwolrad]

@@arthurhnguyen - So far so good. Only paid $999 with 1 TB Hard Drive, 512 SSD MEME2, 16 GB RAM and 1660TI but I haven’t played any games. Computer only at 40c.

[@TuanNguyen-nq3hs]

@@mattwolrad Thanks. It is a good deal but I think it needs to upgrade cooling and fans as HardwareSense host suggested in video. Thanks for great video.

[@davidc_ac9377]

Like others I am really curious to see if a cooler master would fit. I've seem some successful installations, but would be nice to have a specialist opinion :)

[@HardwareSense]

Honestly I see people are using a lot of Noctua and CM coolers with the 92mm fans and they all look great, the issue for me is having to search and read for days to find out what screws exactly I need and what spacers I need to find with what washers, when the OEM tower is just as good and requires nothing but thermal paste and a screwdriver.

[@stmpdog1906]

Does anybody know if you can take the guts of the XPS 3940 and put in a aftermarket Tower?

[@HardwareSense]

Everything but the motherboard and power supply

[@bentechy]

Hi, is anyone else getting the cpu fan warning after changing the stock heatsink? Is there a work around?

[@HardwareSense]

What fan did you use?

[@bentechy]

@@HardwareSense Arctic Freezer Xtreme

[@HardwareSense]

@@bentechy Yeah that fan on the arctic might not have a super low power/rpm start point.

[@bentechy]

@@HardwareSense Thanks for the response. Kindly let me know if there are settings I can change in the bios to get around this one.

[@HardwareSense]

@@bentechy No settings that I know can help you, just a different cooler/fan. I know plenty of people are using Noctua

[@SpringdalepreetPannu]

Is this cooler better then some after market ones like the , tx3 evo or the nh-u9s

[@rahmanlittle5490]

Probably

[@anon_3339]

i don’t think so. i have seen one video comparing this tower to a noctua tower. the dell tower is competitive, but noctua is the king of cooling.

[@xdaretriplex]

what is the name of this cpu cooler, I buoyed a dell g5 computer and I plan on upgrading the cpu cooler, its basically the same as this computer thank you

[@HardwareSense]

It's in the video description. I am having a G5 video coming up in a few days too.

[@jacobe1026]

What size mobo is this? Can I move it to another case?

[@HardwareSense]

No you can't, it's a custom motherboard

[@jacobe1026]

@@HardwareSense That’s unfortunate. We’ve bought a new case, PSU, and RAM. I’ll need to find a mobo now. Can the WiFi card and NVMe drive be moved to a new mobo?

[@HardwareSense]

@@jacobe1026 Yes they can

[@LotusDetail77]

No link for the cooler?

[@carsonfischer8389]

Yeah I guess not. I also need it

[@VoIPPortland]

Sad that a company that has been around so long would be so foolish to go cheap on basic cooling components.

[@katatafisch9792]

Will I lose the warranty by changing the cooler?

[@HardwareSense]

Probably not, if you keep the old one and if anything happens, swap it back.

[@jporter504]

What is the part name for the cooler?

[@HardwareSense]

It's in the video description

[@zoro4767]

Hi I have a omen pc with I59400F And I have new ram and I cant change the speed

[@HardwareSense]

Use Intel XTU

[@j.franciscox3318]

Will this void Dell warranty?

[@HardwareSense]

Very possible

[@AtlasAirways]

Which diameter?

[@markkymark2139]

nice Video you made. I am planning to buy XPS Special Edition 8940 before April ends. So, is this heating issue a known issue in this XPS 8940 model? Or it is just that you upgraded the GPU to GTX 1660 Super and running on i5 10400? I have customized my new XPS 8940 with 11th Gen 15-11400 with Geforce GTX 1650 Super 4GB plus 16GB of RAM. Do you think since I am just gonna use the bare minimum specs, the current cooling system in the XPS 8940 should be enough? I am just gonna be using this for light gaming like NBA2K, Minecraft and basic Office Suite works. Thanks for the response.

[@stevejones6030]

If you buy with the k-level processor then it will already come installed with the better tower style CPU cooler that he installed in the video, so you'll be OK. However, in spite of what Dell may tell you, if you buy it with the non-k processor (as I did) it comes with the much, much smaller CPU cooler and 80mm fan which is not sufficient. I bought this PC with the non-k processor and the stock (inadequate) CPU cooler and my CPU temps were quickly reaching 97-100 at full load and thermal throttling. Based on many recommendations, I have replaced the stock cooler with a tower style Noctua NH-U9S which comes with a Noctua 92mm fan (I couldn't get the Dell OEM tower cooler as I am in the UK) and I also replaced the stock 80mm rear exhaust fan with a Noctua 92mm fan. This has made a MASSIVE improvement and now my CPU temps never get above 75 degrees even at full load. The NH-U9S cooler was very easy to fit just using the brackets/spacers that come with it. By the way I have not fitted a VR heat sink (I also cannot get that from Dell being in the UK) but I have run tests and the VR temps are a steady 60 after the upgrade same as before, so the upgrade to the tower style CPU cooler does not appear to have made the VR temps any higher at least not in my experience so far. There is a very useful 52 page thread all about doing this upgrade with lots of detailed guidance and screenshots where most people have done what I did and replaced the stock cooler with either a Noctua NH-U9S or a Noctua NH-D9L (both will fit perfectly and work very well). Here is the thread from the Dell Support Forum www.dell.com/community/XPS-Desktops/XPS-8940-Better-cooler/td-p/7690322/page/52

[@markkymark2139]

@@stevejones6030 Thank you for your input. It is highly appreciated. So, I guess I should upgrade then to i5 K processor to have a much better cooling system installed by Dell, eh? Not really in the mood to do the upgrades myself due to delivery issues with parts. Just want everything to be assembled by Dell and shipped out ready to use once it arrives. Thanks again!

[@stevejones6030]

@@markkymark2139 yes if you're not up to upgrading the CPU cooler yourself then you should definitely order the k-level processor and certainly that way the CPU cooler will be adequate, otherwise you will certainly need to replace it as I had to. I hadn't realized about the thermal issues wit the stock cooler that is fitted to the non-k processor Dell XPS9840 until after I had ordered the PC and then read all the forum threads, discussions and of course saw this great video. Having said that even with that CPU cooler I would still replace the stock 80mm rear exhaust fan at the back of the case for a 92mm fan as it will draw hot air out of the case a lot more effectively plus if you use the Noctua 92mm fan as I have it is much quieter than the stock Dell 80mm fan. I got a "Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM, Premium Quiet Fan, 4-Pin" delivered next day from Amazon. Attach it to the upper rear of the case using the supplied rubber fixings and just plug it into the motherboard SYS-FAN header in place of the stock Dell fan -2 minute job.

[@TheCOMICCOMMANDER]

The only other mod I can suggest (I own the same DELL) is to cut a rectangular hole in the side panel right where the GPU is so that the hot air from the GPU can blow directly out the side of the case. Otherwise the GPU's hot air rams right into the side panel and disperses evenly down and back through the GPU (making the GPU hotter) and up and into the processors heat sink (not cooling the processor). No good. Your PC would have 2 exhaust ports but it would run MUCH cooler and live a lot longer. I just take the side panel off of my XPS when I'm using it. Stock cooler. Core i7 10700, 16gb, 1660 SUPER.

[@HardwareSense]

That will just not look aesthetically pleasing

[@procrusteus]

No, that is not correct. Air gets sucked INTO the GPU and then out through a channel in the back, it's not designed to blow air against the side of the case (give Dell engineers some credit please). Some of the heat from the back of the card will enter the case but if you have an adequate cooling solution for the CPU and case this will not be a problem. I have a 120mm Noctua fan mounted in the front of the case, a Noctua CPU cooler with 2 fans in a push-pull arrangement and I replaced the stock Dell output fan with another Noctua fan. This arrangement cools everything down nicely. Taking off the side of the case would be a big mistake as I wouldn't get proper air flow from front to back. Cutting a hole in the side panel to mount a fan would be another mistake.

[@skittishgaming4279]

are you sure that is a 1660 super and not a TI ?

[@HardwareSense]

Of course