XPS 8940, Better 3rd party cooler

Re: Noctua NH-9DL

I installed this over the weekend using m3x16 screws using Screw -> m3 washer -> bracket -> spacer -> board.  The 14mm ones (first pic) are too short to go through the washer, bracket and spacer and have enough threads to engage the threads, 16mm is perfect (second pic).  Used the black 115x spacers and got excellent thermal paste spread.

m3x14m3x16

@brimstn    Noctua NH-9DL

Great Job!  . . . and great photos. Thanks for sharing.

Is that a 92mm fan at the back exhaust, or still @ 80mm?  How do your CPU temps and noise level compare to OEM?

It's a 92mm NF-A9.  Neither the case nor CPU fan threw any POST errors, boots up like normal.  Honestly, I didn't take any pre-install measurements...I just knew the stock CPU cooler was inadequate and immediately set to replacing it.  Noise is about the same, maybe a little quieter...but since I hadn't ran the machine under load prior to installing these I really have no baseline except for idle noise/temps.

During the CPU portion of Passmark, the CPU got to around 68c.  Idling with Chrome running it currently sits around 29-30c.

@brimstn    During the CPU portion of Passmark, the CPU got to around 68c. Idling with Chrome running it currently sits around 29-30c

Awesome!  That is a success story.

I have the standard Intel 10700 + RX2060 +32 GB + 2 SSDs.

Should I replace the fan on the CPU cooler? If so, what Noctua model would be a good choice??

 

Thanks,

paa55112

@paa55112 

Just follow @brimstn lead, he did a great job with pictures on the post above using the Noctua NH-9DL.

Just get 4- m3 x 16mm machine screws and m3 washers and use the spacers that came with the install kit.

 

@paa55112 

. . . also the Noctua 92mm NF-A9 for the rear exhaust fan upgrade.

Thanks, but I am just trying to upgrade the existing cooler on a 65 watt 10700.

..paa55112

No Noctua is compatible with the LGA1200 of our Xps8940. There is a fixed 4 nut bracket fixed from behind the motherboard that is flush. This avoid the use of the noctua X bracket

The nuts thread is to narrow to use the bolts provided for the LGA22XX

The only solución to use a noctua is to cut the 4 nuts fixed to the Dell case

The original Dell studs are not compatible with any of Noctua models. The threads are narrower and you cannot use the bolts designed for the LGA22XX coming in the kit. The same studs don't allow to use the X bracket coming with your Noctua.

You need to cut the studs

@AntonioGPS     No Noctua is compatible with the LGA1200 of our Xps8940.

 The nuts thread is to narrow to use the bolts provided for the LGA22XX

M3 x 16  (see posts up-thread)

@silentrob187    What is the width of the m3x16 you used?

3mm . . . by definition

Noctua NH-U9S Cooler - CONFIRMED FIT..!!

 

Hi all I just want to tell you from personal experience (because I just did it today), that the Noctua NH-U9s cooler DOES fit without modification.

 

Simply remove existing pancake cpu heatsink then fit the supplied Noctua curved mounting arms (not the angled AMD ones).

Make sure you use the longer WHITE spacers that come with Noctua cooler for this.

As mentioned earlier in this thread (or another) someone mentioned using M3 10mm screws but I don't believe that is accurate, I used 16mm M3 screws. I also used both M3 and M4 washers on each screw.

 

That's basically it, new cooler screwed right on with no issues. (don't forget your new thermal paste).

And that is with TWO (Noctua NF-A9) fans on the cooler.

I have 2 x 16GB Corsair Vengeance Dimms in mine with large heatsinks, and the new cooler with the extra fans easily clears the ram.

I also added another Noctua NF-A9 fan replacing the case exhaust fan.

Note**: I connected all the fans to motherboard but they seemed extremely slow, so I used the SATA power cable that others have mentioned, and the fans work great.

 

**OK so now the caveat....!!

Your mileage may vary, but as others have reported my BIOS did give an error at boot, because I had disconnected the fans from the motherboard.

So I simply reconnected them and tie-wrapped them in the case. Problem solved

 

I benchmarked the CPU with Cinebench and Prime95 before replacement and was easily hitting 95 degrees.

Which is just insane, I don't know how Dell has the nerve to sell this machine.

 

I retested after new cooler install, and I have not gone over 70 degrees during benchmarks.

That's a massive 25 degrees cooler...!!!

@Darren_F 

Great Job . . . great temps . . . great results!

Post some photos if you got them.