XPS 420, replace my Network Connection card

Question

I have an older XPS420 desktop and the original equipment Network Connection card, Intel 82566DC-2 Gigabit, needs to be replaced. How do I determine compatibility of a new card? Thanks for any comments !

Vic384 · Answer

If you have an open PCI Express x1 slot, a PCI Express network card should work. In the BIOS, be sure to disable your current Integrated NIC (network interface card). A card like this one should work: https://www.newegg.com/intel-expi9301ct/p/N82E16833106036?Description=network%20card&cm_re=network_card-_-33-106-036-_-Product

RoHe · Answer

Are you talking about the onboard NIC or about an add-in WiFi card? And what makes you say it's not working?

In addition to what @Vic384 already suggested, if you already have a WiFi router, but don't have an add-in WiFi card in this PC, you could plug in a USB2>WiFi dongle. Make sure it supports the version of WiFi your router supports, eg 802.11n, or if your router is dual-band (2.4 and 5 GHz), get an 802.11ac dongle.

If you want to hard-wire the PC to your router, you could get a USB2>Ethernet dongle. Get a USB2>Ethernet dongle that's rated "10/100/1000".

Either dongle would be easier to set up and probably less expensive than installing an add-in x1 PCIe card. Just make sure the dongle supports your version of Windows.

speedstep · Answer

NEVER use a card. Use a USB 2.0 NIC.

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-Gigabit-Ethernet-Network-USB21000S2/dp/B007U5MGDC

Unless you really need gigabit 100meg is fine

https://www.startech.com/support/USB21000S2 https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Ethernet-Network-Compatible-Chromebook/dp/B00484IEJS/

Vic384 · Answer

'NEVER use a card.  Use a USB 2.0 NIC.' That statement is just wrong. A card with an Ethernet chipset similar to that of the integrated NIC of the XPS 430 is faster and uses DMA whereas an USB NIC uses more CPU resources because of USB IO. Also the USB NIC recommended is more than twice the cost of a NIC card.

RoHe · Answer

OK guys, lets not argue PCIe vs USB....

We still don't know if @helpless56 has a problem with the onboard NIC or with an add-in WiFi card. Or what's the reason helpless56 thinks a new network board is needed.

For all we know, it could just be a driver/software issue and new hardware isn't needed...

helpless56 · Answer

In the interest of brevity, I thought I could reduce my original question to just the essence of what I was trying to do. But maybe I should have given the entire background, so here goes: 8 years ago, my XPS420 lost network connectivity. I don't recall the diagnostic process I went through but eventually I gave up on the original integrated NIC and bought a PCI Express network card and did the install. It worked.

Fast forward to 2019. Now my ISP plan gives me 175 Mbs down, BUT the NIC I installed is limited to 100Mbs even in duplex mode so I want to upgrade to a faster card. (Unless there is some way to fix my original integrated NIC without having to replace a whole bunch of stuff?) I thought Vic384 had the answer for me via his link to a product at Newegg, but when I checked with the seller there, they could not guarantee it would work with my Windows 10, in fact they seemed to think it would not. I asked if they had a similar product for Win10 and they said No.

To further complicate matters, what I thought was the original NIC as listed on my first post, Intel 82566DC-2 Gigabit, according to another parts seller I was in contact this morning, he says that is just a driver and not a card. I hope I can attach a snapshot of my device manager page to show what I am dealing with. The Dynex PCI shown does work and is what I am using now, but it is limited to 100Mbs down.

So my questions are: Is there any simple fix/troubleshoot for my original integrated NIC and if not, where can I buy a Windows 10 compatible PCI NIC with greater speed than what I have now, preferrable 1GB or better?

I apologize for not being totally forthcoming to begin with. You know what they say about "good intentions".

Snapshot from device manager

RoHe · Answer

@helpless56- If only you had posted the important bits from you latest post at the beginning, I wouldn't have to play referee...

According to the specs, the XPS 430 has an onboard "Intel 825xx Gigabit Platform LAN Network Device". So did you disable it in Device Manager and/or in BIOS when you added the PCIe NIC? And is the onboard NIC still disabled in Device Manager and/or in BIOS with Win 10 installed?

Assuming the NIC is enabled in BIOS and in Device Manager, you could pull out the add-in NIC, and then clear BIOS by pulling the motherboard battery and pressing/holding the power button for ~30 sec and then installing a fresh battery.

Then connect the onboard NIC to the router/model and reboot PC and at the desktop, reboot router/modem. See if the onboard NIC is recognized. Assuming it's recognized, Win 10 might be able to find/install the latest Intel driver for it... Note, you may have to reconfigure your network setup in the Win 10 Network Control Panel so the onboard NIC has permission to access your network.

And if the onboard NIC isn't recognized, check the LEDs on back of PC next to the NIC connector to see if they're on and the LED color code.

BTW: The specs also say this PC was offered with a Dell WiFi card. So do you have that card too or not?

And don't be fooled by ISPs. They may promise fast(er) speeds, but only when it's 2AM, when the moon is full and there's an 'r' in the month. So how often does anybody even get close to those promised speeds...???

Vic384 · Answer

I understand your reluctance to purchase the NIC not knowing if Windows 10 is supported. According to this page: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000025890/network-and-io/ethernet-products.html Windows 10 is support only with the In Box software driver. The note for In-box support indicates "driver and software updates aren't planned for adapters with only in-box support". I thought a NIC with an Intel chipset was your best option given support from other chipset manufacturers can be spotty. In the Q & A tab of the bulk version of the NIC card at Newegg some folks have indicated that the card does work with Windows 10. The bulk version does not come with a driver.

Here is an Intel NIC that is Windows 10 compatible according to the Intel page I linked above: https://www.newegg.com/intel-i210t1/p/N82E16833106178

RoHe · Answer

If it were me, I'd just get a 10/100/1000 USB>Ethernet dongle for ~$15 - $30.

My Win 10 laptop only has WiFi so I use a USB3>Ethernet dongle at home. I have Ethernet jacks in every room, and that's faster/more secure than WiFi. I haven't noticed any performance issues using USB.

But if I had to do it over again, I'd get one with a flexible USB cord between the PC and the body of the dongle. Like this:

The dongle I have plugs directly into the USB port and that puts pressure on the port when holding the PC on my lap...

XPS Desktops

XPS 420, replace my Network Connection card

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