Dell XPS 8940 Operation and maintenance manual

XPS 8940
Setup and Specifications
Regulatory Model: D28M
Regulatory Type: D28M003
July 2020
Rev. A00

Notes, cautions, and warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the
problem.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
© 2020 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may
be trademarks of their respective owners.

Chapter 1: Set up your computer......................................................................................................4
Chapter 2: Views of XPS 8940......................................................................................................... 8
Front........................................................................................................................................................................................8
Back.........................................................................................................................................................................................9
Back panel.............................................................................................................................................................................10
Chapter 3: Specifications of XPS 8940............................................................................................ 12
Dimensions and weight........................................................................................................................................................12
Processors.............................................................................................................................................................................12
Chipset...................................................................................................................................................................................13
Operating system................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Memory................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Ports and connectors.......................................................................................................................................................... 14
Ethernet................................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Wireless module....................................................................................................................................................................15
Audio...................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Storage.................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Intel Optane memory........................................................................................................................................................... 17
Media-card reader................................................................................................................................................................17
GPU—Integrated................................................................................................................................................................. 17
GPU—Discrete.................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Power ratings........................................................................................................................................................................18
Operating and storage environment..................................................................................................................................19
Chapter 4: Getting help and contacting Dell.................................................................................... 20
Contents
Contents 3

Set up your computer
NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer depending on the configuration you ordered.
1. Connect the keyboard and mouse to suitable ports. For instructions on how to connect a wireless keyboard and mouse, see the
documentation that ships with the wireless keyboard and mouse.
2. Connect to your network using an Ethernet cable. Alternatively, connect to a wireless network while setting up your operating system.
1
4 Set up your computer

3. Connect the display. For more information about setting up the display, see the documentation that is shipped with your display.
NOTE: If you have two graphics cards, the card installed in PCI-Express X16 (graphics slot 1) is the primary graphics
card.
4. Connect the power cable to the computer and then connect it to the wall outlet.
Set up your computer 5

5. Press the power button on the front of computer to turn on the computer. If required, press the power button on the display to turn it
on.
6. For instructions on how to connect speakers, a printer and other accessories, see Me and My Dell at www.dell.com/manuals.
7. Finish Windows setup.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. When setting up, Dell recommends that you:
• Connect to a network for Windows updates.
6Set up your computer

NOTE: If connecting to a secured wireless network, enter the password for the wireless network access when
prompted.
• If connected to the Internet, sign in with or create a Microsoft account. If not connected to the Internet, create an offline account.
• On the Support and Protection screen, enter your contact details.
8. Locate and use Dell apps from the Windows Start menu—Recommended.
Table 1. Locate Dell apps
Resources Description
My Dell
Centralized location for key Dell applications, help articles, and other important information about your
computer. It also notifies you about the warranty status, recommended accessories, and software updates
if available.
SupportAssist
Proactively checks the health of your computer’s hardware and software. The SupportAssist OS Recovery
tool troubleshoots issues with the operating system. For more information, see the SupportAssist
documentation at www.dell.com/support.
NOTE: In SupportAssist, click the warranty expiry date to renew or upgrade your warranty.
Dell Update
Updates your computer with critical fixes and latest device drivers as they become available. For more
information about using Dell Update, see the knowledge base article SLN305843 at www.dell.com/support.
Dell Digital Delivery
Download software applications, which are purchased but not preinstalled on your computer. For more
information about using Dell Digital Delivery, see the knowledge base article SLN153764 at www.dell.com/
support.
Set up your computer 7

Views of XPS 8940
Topics:
•Front
•Back
•Back panel
Front
1. Slim optical drive (optional)
Reads from and writes to CDs, DVDs, and Blu ray discs.
2. Optical-drive activity light (optional)
Turns on when the computer reads from or writes to the optical disc.
3. Optical-drive eject button (optional)
Press to open the optical drive tray.
4. Optical-drive emergency eject pinhole (optional)
Used to eject the optical-drive tray manually if the optical-drive eject button fails.
2
8 Views of XPS 8940

NOTE: For more information about manually ejecting optical-drive trays, see the knowledge base article SLN301118
at www.dell.com/support.
5. Power button
Press to turn on the computer if it is turned off, in sleep state, or in hibernate state.
Press to put the computer in sleep state if it is turned on.
Press and hold to force shut-down the computer.
NOTE: You can customize the power-button behavior in Power Options. For more information, see Me and My Dell at
www.dell.com/support/manuals.
6. SD-card slot
Reads from and writes to the SD card. The computer supports the following card types:
• Secure Digital (SD)
• Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC)
• Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC)
7. Headset port
Connect headphones or a headset (headphone and microphone combo).
8. USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (3)
Connect peripherals such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps.
9. USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-C) port
Connect to external storage devices. Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps.
NOTE: This port does not support video/audio streaming.
Back
Views of XPS 8940 9

1. Back panel
Connect USB, audio, video, and other devices.
2. PCI-Express x1 slot
Connect a PCI-Express card such as graphics, audio, or network card to enhance the capabilities of your computer.
3. PCI-Express x16 (graphics) slot 1
Connect a PCI-Express graphics card to enhance the capabilities of your computer.
4. Expansion slot for dual-width graphics card
This expansion slot seats the bottom half of a dual-width graphics card if it is installed in the PCI-Express x16 slot.
5. PCI-Express x4 slot
Connect a PCI-Express card such as graphics, audio, or network card to enhance the capabilities of your computer.
6. Power port
Connect a power cable to provide power to your computer.
7. Power-supply diagnostics light
Indicates the power-supply state.
8. Security-cable slot (wedge-shaped)
Connect a security cable to prevent unauthorized movement of your computer.
Back panel
1. Line-out port
Connect speakers.
2. Rear L/R surround port
Connect audio-output devices such as speakers and amplifiers. In a 5.1 speaker channel setup, connect the rear-left and rear-right
speakers.
3. Center/subwoofer LFE surround port
Connect the subwoofer.
10 Views of XPS 8940

NOTE: For more information about speaker setup, refer to the documentation that shipped with the speakers.
4. DisplayPort
Connect an external display or a projector.
5. HDMI port
Connect to a TV or another HDMI-in enabled device. Provides video and audio output.
6. USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (4)
Connect peripherals such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps.
7. USB 2.0 ports (2)
Connect peripherals such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 480 Mbps.
8. Network port (with lights)
Connect an Ethernet (RJ45) cable from a router or a broadband modem for network or Internet access.
The two lights next to the connector indicate the connectivity status and network activity.
9. Service Tag label
The Service Tag is a unique alphanumeric identifier that enables Dell service technicians to identify the hardware components in your
computer and access warranty information.
Views of XPS 8940 11

Specifications of XPS 8940
Topics:
•Dimensions and weight
•Processors
•Chipset
•Operating system
•Memory
•Ports and connectors
•Ethernet
•Wireless module
•Audio
•Storage
•Intel Optane memory
•Media-card reader
•GPU—Integrated
•GPU—Discrete
•Power ratings
•Operating and storage environment
Dimensions and weight
The following table lists the height, width, depth, and weight of your XPS 8940.
Table 2. Dimensions and weight
Description Values
Height:
Front height 367 mm (14.45 in.)
Rear height 367 mm (14.45 in.)
Width 169 mm (6.65 in.)
Depth 308 mm (12.13 in.)
Weight (maximum) 8.20 kg (18.08 lb)
NOTE: The weight of your computer depends on the
configuration ordered and manufacturing variability.
Processors
The following table lists the details of the processors supported by your XPS 8940.
Table 3. Processors
Processors Wattage Core count Thread count Speed Cache
10th Generation Intel
Core i3-10100
65 W 4 8 Up to 4.30 GHz 6 MB
3
12 Specifications of XPS 8940

Table 3. Processors (continued)
Processors Wattage Core count Thread count Speed Cache
10th Generation Intel
Core i5-10400
65 W 6 12 Up to 4.30 GHz 12 MB
10th Generation Intel
Core i5-10400F
65 W 6 12 Up to 4.30 GHz 12 MB
10th Generation Intel
Core i5-10600K
125 W 6 12 Up to 4.80 GHz 12 MB
10th Generation Intel
Core i5-10600KF
125 W 6 12 Up to 4.80 GHz 12 MB
10th Generation Intel
Core i7-10700
65 W 8 16 Up to 4.80 GHz 16 MB
10th Generation Intel
Core i7-10700K
125 W 8 16 Up to 5.10 GHz 16 MB
10th Generation Intel
Core i7-10700F
65 W 8 16 Up to 4.80 GHz 16 MB
10th Generation Intel
Core i7-10700KF
125 W 8 16 Up to 5.10 GHz 16 MB
10th Generation Intel
Core i9-10900
65 W 10 20 Up to 5.20 GHz 20 MB
10th Generation Intel
Core i9-10900K
125 W 10 20 Up to 5.30 GHz 20 MB
10th Generation Intel
Core i9-10900F
65 W 10 20 Up to 5.20 GHz 20 MB
10th Generation Intel
Core i9-10900KF
125 W 10 20 Up to 5.30 GHz 20 MB
Chipset
The following table lists the details of the chipset supported by your XPS 8940.
Table 4. Chipset
Description Values
Chipset H470
Processor • 10th Generation Intel Core i3
• 10th Generation Intel Core i5/i5k/i5f/i5kf
• 10th Generation Intel Core i7/i7k/i7f/i7kf
• 10th Generation Intel Core i9/i9k/i9f/i9kf
DRAM bus width 64-bit
Flash EPROM 32 MB
PCIe bus Up to Gen3.0
Operating system
Your XPS 8940 supports the following operating systems:
• Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
Specifications of XPS 8940 13

• Windows 10 Professional (64-bit)
Memory
The following table lists the memory specifications of your XPS 8940.
Table 5. Memory specifications
Description Values
Memory slots Four UDIMM slots
Memory type Dual-channel DDR4
Memory speed 2666 MHz/2933 MHz
Maximum memory configuration 128 GB
Minimum memory configuration 8 GB
Memory size per slot 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB
Memory configurations supported • 8 GB, 2 x 4 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz/2933 MHz, UDIMM, dual-
channel
• 8 GB, 1 x 8 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz/2933 MHz, UDIMM
• 16 GB, 2 x 8 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz/2933 MHz, UDIMM, dual-
channel
• 16 GB, 1 x 16 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz/2933 MHz, UDIMM
• 32 GB, 1 x 32 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz/2933 MHz, UDIMM
• 32 GB, 2 x 16 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz/2933 MHz, UDIMM, dual-
channel
• 64 GB, 2 x 32 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz/2933 MHz, UDIMM,
dual-channel
• 64 GB, 4 x 16 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz/2933 MHz, UDIMM,
dual-channel
• 128 GB, 4 x 32 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz/2933 MHz, UDIMM,
dual-channel
NOTE: The computer is shipped with 3200 MHz
memory. However, with Intel Core i3/i5 processors, it is
limited to 2666 MHz. With Intel Core i7/i9 processors, it
is limited to 2933 MHz.
Ports and connectors
The following table lists the external and internal ports available on your XPS 8940.
Table 6. Ports and connectors
Description Values
External:
Network One RJ-45 port
USB • Seven USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports
• Two USB 2.0 ports
• One USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-C) port
Audio • One headset port
14 Specifications of XPS 8940

Table 6. Ports and connectors (continued)
Description Values
• One audio line-out port
• One rear L/R-surround audio-out port
• One center/subwoofer LFE surround audio-out port
Video NOTE: Depending on the graphics card(s) installed on
your computer, the video ports on your computer may
vary.
Media-card reader One SD-card slot
Power port Power cord connector
Security One security-cable slot (wedge-shaped)
Internal:
PCIe expansion card slots • One PCIe x16
• One PCIe x1
• One PCIe x4
mSATA Not supported
SATA • Two SATA slots for 2.5-inch hard drive
• One SATA slot for a 3.5-inch hard drive
M.2 • One M.2 2230 slot for WiFi and Bluetooth combo card
• One M.2 2230/2280 slot for solid-state drive/Intel Optane
memory
NOTE: To learn more about the features of different
types of M.2 cards, see the knowledge base article
SLN301626.
Ethernet
The following table lists the wired Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN) specifications of your XPS 8940.
Table 7. Ethernet specifications
Description Values
Model number Rivet Networks E2600 PCIe Gigabit Ethernet controller
Transfer rate 10/100/1000 Mbps
Wireless module
The following table lists the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) modules supported on your XPS 8940.
Table 8. Wireless module specifications
Description Option one Option two
Model number Qualcomm QCA9377 (DW1810) Killer AX1650i
Transfer rate Up to 433 Mbps Up to 2400 Mbps
Specifications of XPS 8940 15

Table 8. Wireless module specifications (continued)
Description Option one Option two
Frequency bands supported 2.40 GHz/5 GHz 2.40 GHz/5 GHz
Wireless standards • WiFi 802.11a/b/g
• Wi-Fi 4 (WiFi 802.11n)
• Wi-Fi 5 (WiFi 802.11ac)
• WiFi 802.11a/b/g
• Wi-Fi 4 (WiFi 802.11n)
• Wi-Fi 5 (WiFi 802.11ac)
• Wi-Fi 6 (WiFi 802.11ax)
Encryption • 64-bit/128-bit WEP
• AES-CCMP
• TKIP
• 64-bit/128-bit WEP
• AES-CCMP
• TKIP
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.1
Audio
The following table lists the audio specifications of your XPS 8940.
Table 9. Audio specifications
Description Values
Audio type Integrated 5.1 Channel High Definition audio
Audio controller Realtek ALC3861
Internal audio interface High definition audio interface
External audio interface • One headset port
• One audio line-out port
• One rear L/R-surround audio-out port
• One center/subwoofer LFE surround audio-out port
Storage
This section lists the storage options on your XPS 8940.
Your computer ships one of the following configurations:
• One 3.5-inch hard drive
• One M.2 2230/2280 solid-state drive
• One 3.5-inch hard drive and one M.2 2230/2280 solid-state drive
• One 3.5-inch hard drive and one M.2 2280 Intel Optane memory
NOTE: This computer is shipped with two empty 2.5-inch hard-drive cages and one SATA extension cable.
The primary drive of your computer varies with the storage configuration. For computers:
• with a M.2 solid-state drive, the M.2 solid-state drive is the primary drive
• without a M.2 drive, the 3.5-inch hard drive is the primary drive
Table 10. Storage specifications
Storage type Interface type Capacity
3.5-inch hard drive SATA AHCI, up to 6 Gbps Up to 2 TB
M.2 2230/2280 solid-state drive PCIe Gen3.0x4 NVMe, up to 32 Gbps Up to 2 TB
16 Specifications of XPS 8940

Intel Optane memory
Intel Optane memory functions only as a storage accelerator. It neither replaces nor adds to the memory (RAM) installed on your
computer.
NOTE: Intel Optane memory is supported on computers that meet the following requirements:
• 7th Generation or higher Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processor
• Windows 10 64-bit version or higher (Anniversary Update)
• Latest version of Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver
Table 11. Intel Optane memory
Description Values
Type Storage accelerator
Interface PCIe 3.0 x2
Connector M.2 2280
Configurations supported 32 GB
Capacity 32 GB
Media-card reader
The following table lists the media cards supported by your XPS 8940.
Table 12. Media-card reader specifications
Description Values
Media-card type One SD card
Media-cards supported • Secure Digital (SD)
• Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC)
• Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC)
NOTE: The maximum capacity supported by the media-card reader varies depending on the standard of the media card
installed in your computer.
GPU—Integrated
The following table lists the specifications of the integrated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) supported by your XPS 8940.
Table 13. GPU—Integrated
Controller External display support Memory size Processor
Intel UHD Graphics 630 • One HDMI 2.0 port
• Two DisplayPort 1.4
Shared system memory • 10th Generation Intel Core
i3
• 10th Generation Intel Core
i5/i5k
• 10th Generation Intel Core
i7/i7k
• 10th Generation Intel Core
i9/i9k
Specifications of XPS 8940 17

GPU—Discrete
The following table lists the specifications of the discrete Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) supported by your XPS 8940.
Table 14. GPU — Discrete
Controller External display support Memory size Memory type
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1030 • One single-link DVI-D port
• One HDMI 2.0 port
2 GB DDR5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
SUPER
• One dual-link DVI-D port
• One HDMI 2.0 port
• One DisplayPort 1.4
4GB DDR5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
SUPER
• One dual-link DVI-D port
• One HDMI 2.0 port
• One DisplayPort 1.4
6 GB DDR5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti • One dual-link DVI-D port
• One HDMI 2.0 port
• One DisplayPort 1.4
6 GB DDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 • One dual-link DVI-D port
• One HDMI 2.0 port
• One DisplayPort 1.4
6 GB DDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
SUPER
• One dual-link DVI-D port
• One HDMI 2.0 port
• One DisplayPort 1.4
8 GB DDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070
SUPER
• One HDMI 2.0 port
• Two DisplayPort 1.4
8 GB DDR6
AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT • One HDMI 2.0 port
• Three DisplayPort 1.4
6 GB DDR6
Power ratings
The following table lists the power rating specifications of XPS 8940.
Table 15. Power ratings
Description Option one Option two
Type 360 W 500 W
Input voltage 90 VAC–264 VAC 90 VAC–264 VAC
Input frequency 47 Hz–63 Hz 47 Hz–63 Hz
Input current (maximum) 5 A 7 A
Output current (continuous) 18 A 18 A
Rated output voltage 12 VDC 12 VDC
Temperature range
18 Specifications of XPS 8940

Table 15. Power ratings (continued)
Description Option one Option two
Operating 5°C to 45°C (41°F to 113°F) 5°C to 45°C (41°F to 113°F)
Storage -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F) -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)
Operating and storage environment
This table lists the operating and storage specifications of your XPS 8940.
Airborne contaminant level: G1 as defined by ISA-S71.04-1985
Table 16. Computer environment
Description Operating Storage
Temperature range 10°C to 35°C (50°F to 95°F) -40°C to 65°C (-40°F to 149°F)
Relative humidity (maximum) 20% to 80% (non-condensing) 5% to 95% (non-condensing)
Vibration (maximum)*0.26 GRMS 1.37 GRMS
Shock (maximum) 40 G†, 2.5 ms 105 G†, 2.5 ms
Altitude (maximum) -15.2 m to 3048 m (-49.87 ft to 10000 ft) -15.2 m to 10668 m (-49.87 ft to 35000 ft)
* Measured using a random vibration spectrum that simulates user environment.
† Measured using a 2 ms half-sine pulse when the hard drive is in use.
Specifications of XPS 8940 19

Getting help and contacting Dell
Self-help resources
You can get information and help on Dell products and services using these self-help resources:
Table 17. Self-help resources
Self-help resources Resource location
Information about Dell products and services www.dell.com
My Dell app
Tips
Contact Support In Windows search, type Contact Support, and press Enter.
Online help for operating system www.dell.com/support/windows
Troubleshooting information, user manuals, set up instructions,
product specifications, technical help blogs, drivers, software
updates, and so on.
www.dell.com/support
Dell knowledge base articles for a variety of computer concerns 1. Go to www.dell.com/support.
2. On the menu bar at the top of the Support page, select
Support > Knowledge Base.
3. In the Search field on the Knowledge Base page, type the
keyword, topic, or model number, and then click or tap the
search icon to view the related articles.
Learn and know the following information about your product:
• Product specifications
• Operating system
• Setting up and using your product
• Data backup
• Troubleshooting and diagnostics
• Factory and system restore
• BIOS information
See Me and My Dell at www.dell.com/support/manuals.
To locate the Me and My Dell relevant to your product, identify
your product through one of the following:
• Select Detect Product.
• Locate your product through the drop-down menu under View
Products.
• Enter the Service Tag number or Product ID in the search
bar.
Contacting Dell
To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues, see www.dell.com/contactdell.
NOTE: Availability varies by country/region and product, and some services may not be available in your country/region.
NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information about your purchase invoice,
packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.
4
20 Getting help and contacting Dell