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XPS 8940, GPU choices
I am looking to buy a XPS 8940 and I settled on:
10th Gen Intel Core i7-10700 processor
32GB, 2x16GB, DDR4, 2933Mhz
1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
500W Black Bezel Chassis inc ODD
Now for the GPU. My options are:
GTX 1660 Ti
RTX 2060 6GB
RTX 2060 Super 8GB
Radeon RX 5600
From another post I understand that 1660 Ti is double width and renders the adjacent PCIe x4 slot unusable. Is the same true for the other three?
Noise will be important to me. Do you think it will be any significant noise/heat difference between the 4 cards, under normal use? If any of the other three cards are not double width (so PCIe x4 may be used) and are as good (or better) than GTX 1660 Ti, I would be inclined to upgrade. For my needs, quiet operation for the entire system under non-gaming use is more important than peak performance in gaming. In a previous question I had, I have been told by an user which has a similar system with the 1660 Ti that air flow is fine and "noise-level is non-existent". Will it likely be the same with any of the other three cards?
Any advice on this is much appreciated!
Vic384
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September 11th, 2020 06:00
I would be concerned about the recommended minimum power for some of these graphics cards even with the optional 500-watt power supply.
Flying Elbow
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September 11th, 2020 09:00
Indeed, that is a consideration as well, didn't think about that! I am guessing the default GPU for the system, the 1660Ti would be fine. I would prefer a card that doesn't block the PCIeX4 slot though, provided the choice doesn't create other problems: more noise, more heat, and indeed a potentially unsuitable PSU.
Perhaps anyone has some experience with the other cards I mentioned?
Anonymous
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September 11th, 2020 11:00
@Flying Elbow Therefore, under similar load the K model should be quieter due to better cooling?
Better cooling is part of the story. The "K" processors are selected from the highest yield wafers, so while every chip is unique, on a statistical basis, the "K" designated processors should be more efficient and more reliable (statistically). Of course, they are also more expensive.
Vic384
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September 11th, 2020 11:00
The CPU fan is inside the heat sink (in the middle). See the wire coming out the other side.
Flying Elbow
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September 11th, 2020 11:00
Thank you! So if I understand correctly, for K processors there is no CPU fan, just the heat sink indicated in 1?
RoHe
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September 11th, 2020 11:00
Looks like they're all dual-slot GPUs.
Flying Elbow
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September 11th, 2020 11:00
I see. Therefore, under similar load the K model should be quieter due to better cooling? However I don't see the K version as an option for the 8940, I guess I would have to go to 8940 SE.
Thank you!
Anonymous
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September 11th, 2020 11:00
@Flying Elbow
As mentioned above, the CPU cooler fan is in the center of the fin stack, pulling air in one side, and pushing air out toward to back exhaust fan (#18 in the schematic). The toy CPU cooler splatters the hot air down over the motherboard.
Anonymous
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September 11th, 2020 11:00
@Flying Elbow
This response will not speak to your graphics card choice, but offer a warning regarding your CPU option, as you are concerned about heat and noise. If you choose a 125 watt CPU that ends with "K", then you should get the substantial CPU cooler shown in this schematic as #1;
If you choose a 65 watt CPU, the cooler will look more like this little toy;
TonyD53
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September 12th, 2020 10:00
I have the 8940 with the RTX 2060 and the PCIeX4 slot is not obscured.
Flying Elbow
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September 12th, 2020 11:00
Thank you! How do you find the noise levels, idle and under load, for the RTX 2060, and in general for the entire system? Do you have the K processor?
GameCrusader
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September 12th, 2020 12:00
Flying Elbow
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September 12th, 2020 17:00
Just curious, is the GTX 2060 which appears as the option in a build of XPS 8940 the same as this one for sale on the Dell website?
https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/msi-rtx-2060-gaming-z-6g-graphics-card-gf-rtx-2060-6-gb-black-gunmetal-gray/apd/aa525903/graphic-video-cards
RoHe
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September 12th, 2020 18:00
@Flying Elbow - You meant RTX 2060...
Short answer: NO
Long answer:
And there may be other differences too...
Anonymous
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September 12th, 2020 19:00
@Flying Elbow Just curious, is the GTX 2060 which appears as the option in a build of XPS 8940 the same as this one for sale on the Dell website?
As already mentioned, there are differences. If you can order your XPS 8940 with no graphics card, and purchase the MSI RTX 2060 . . . that is what I would do. Also, I would not go any higher than RTX 2060 for your system, because you are maxed-out at a 500 watt PSU.