XPS Desktops

[the bbdude]

My new XPS 8940 has a 256 GB SSD and a 2 TB 3.5" drive. I would like to add a 2nd 3.5" Hard Drive to the enclosure. The chassis currently has a couple of unused Hard Drive cages. One of them is 2.5" and appears to be riveted to the chassis. The other unused cage is slightly bigger and held in place with screws, but still looks to be too small to fit a 3.5" hard drive. 

Is there any way to replace one of the smaller unused hard drive cages with a 3.5" cage?

[Tarak Abu Adam]

@Jon-62 

Via Task Manager, Windows reports a memory speed of 2666 MHz.  

[Dell8700S_User]

Hi, the info is extemely useful.  How do you supply the power for the third hard drive from the mother board?  Or did you supply the power from outside the board?  Thanks.

[Tarak Abu Adam]

@Dell8700S_User 

If you do not sufficient open (unsed) sata power connections, you can split one with this splitter cable.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V6QA65G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Dell8700S_User]

Hi, many thanks.  This is really useful information.  After talking to Dell support, I found that we can only have three HDDs and one SSD for XPS8940.

[edob7368]

Does a XPS 8940 with i7 11700, RTX 3060Ti, 512 GB nvme, 2 Fans and a 500w PSU have enough juice for additional 2 x 3.5" hdd?

[Tarak Abu Adam]

@edob7368 

Yes, it absolutely does. If you do not have sufficient sata power connections just purchase a splitter like this one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V6QA65G/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apap_UR5I8L3WuMGcM

[edob7368]

@Tarak Abu Adam glad to hear that. Out of curiosity, what specs do you have running in your XPS if I may ask?

[Tarak Abu Adam]

@edob7368 

Here are my specs:

• i9 10900
• Crucial Ballistix 128GB 3200Mhz DDR4 RAM (4x32GB)
• Nvidia RTX 3070
• 1 x Samsung 980 Pro 500GB SSD (OS and programs)
• 2 x WD Black 10TB HDD in RAID 1 (Docs, pics, videos/movies, music, games)
• Noctua NH-U9S CPU Cooler - CROMAX Black version
• 3 x Noctua 92mm fan - CROMAX Black version (two on CPU cooler and one on rear)
• 2 x Noctua NA-FC1 Fan Control Unit

[WesternWombat]

Until now, I have done nothing except open the case of my XPS 8930 (not a 8940), bought in early 2020). It came with a 2TB HDD and a 512GB NVMe drive. I can't recall the PSU size, but was I was deterred from going further just by the lack of space for fitting another HDD. 

Could I just replace the 2TB Seagate with 8TB or 10TB? - if there is room.

[Jon-62]

@WesternWombat  Your XPS 8930 has locations for two HDD at the bottom of the case, so you would be able to add a second HDD without removing the first one.  See the image below.