XPS 8950 Cooling. Experiences/Recommendations?

Question

Ordering an 8950. I'm hearing that the stock cooler with the non-K chips is insufficient and that the CPU runs hot and quickly throttles itself. I'm going to avoid that.

So the alternative is to order the K variant ($100 extra) and get the 125W advanced cooler. But there is also the liquid cooled option for an addition $50 (so $150 total).

I haven't been able to find any tests or read any analysis that discuss the different between the 125W advanced and the liquid cooler. Dell's marketing claims "The XPS Desktop with liquid cooling is cooler and quieter under load than the 125W thermal solution." But I haven't seen anyone independently confirm that.

Hoping someone here has some experience or thoughts on which would be best.

mr_drey · Accepted Answer

From OEM line-up Dell AIO (Asustek) will be the best OEM cooler. Overall best - there are better both air and AIO out there, that would cost half the price.

DELL-Cares · Answer

Hello, We see you are looking for assistance. If you need our help, you can start a Private message with us and we will be happy to assist you.

kras1 · Answer

I think the liquid will probably run cooler (I have it) and it might be quieter under load but I doubt it is quieter at idle and moderate load.

Joe Shades · Answer

I Have the I-7 non K and it does not run hot but I do not do any gaming

mr_drey · Answer

Standard cooler - pancake cooler - okay if you don't load the system too much
Advanced cooler - tower cooler - better, relatively quiet, gets loud under load
Liquid AIO (by Asustek) - pump & fan - runs loud at idle, okay at load

If you really want good cooling, look for 3rd party coolers (Corsair, Noctua, etc..) - you can use them with any CPU and they will cool far better than Dell coolers.

NonProfitTech · Answer

Thanks. Noise is not a concern of mine. Just really looking for the best OEM cooler option on this model. Do you think the Liquid AIO will be that, and is it $50 better than the Advanced Air Cooler? There are no tests or stats out there comparing the two, so I'm just going off of Dell's marketing on this one. But it seems most PC builders do not recommend 120 AIO's, which I assume this one is.

kras1 · Answer

104 degrees F. really isn't that hot for these newer processors. I would start to be concerned if My PC was consistently in the 80s -90s C.

rkrazdan · Answer

I have the 8950 12700, with stock cooler. The machine is primarily used for photo work.

64gb memory
2tb samsung 980 M2 Nvme root
1tb WD stock into my music drive
added a 4tb 870QVO SSD for photography.

the machine averages 82 degrees F under no load. Running Adobe CC Lightroom Classic it runs around 102F - 104F so yes it runs hot.

After watching the following: https://youtu.be/QE_QFCnIGA8

I purchased the Noctua U9S. It arrives today and I will share the updated temps.

rkrazdan · Answer

104 just with Lightroom open, it has peaked to 140 degrees F and sustained 90-100F during Lightroom and photoshop work, at that temperature the CPU starts throttling down (lower performance) and the fan kicks up, more noise.

That is the point, everyone is asking why the XPS 8950 12700 is being shipped with a stock intel pancake fan as it's not able to manage sustained cpu performance. That's why we are concerned.

Can you please share authoritative source that shows the sustained operational range.

In another post (https://www.dell.com/community/XPS-Desktops/XPS-8950-cooling-options-air-or-liquid/td-p/8160338), you literally repeated my concern and are telling folks it will overheat easily, and then telling me that I would be concerned if My PC was consistently in the 80-90 range. When you run Photoshop or Lightroom, the cpu runs at a sustained temperature of 105-110.

rkrazdan · Answer

@NonProfitTech here are the new numbers with the Noctua U9S average cpu temp from 89 to 71. under Lightroom Classic load:

XPS Desktops

XPS 8950 Cooling. Experiences/Recommendations?

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