Dell XPS 8950 Operation and maintenance manual

XPS 8950
Setup and Specifications
Regulatory Model: D30M
Regulatory Type: D30M002
October 2021
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.
© 2021 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 8950.......................................................................................................8
Front....................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Back.......................................................................................................................................................................................10
Back panel............................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Chapter 3: Specifications of XPS 8950........................................................................................ 13
Dimensions and weight..................................................................................................................................................... 13
Processor............................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Chipset..................................................................................................................................................................................14
Operating system............................................................................................................................................................... 14
Memory.................................................................................................................................................................................14
Ports and connectors........................................................................................................................................................15
Ethernet............................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Wireless module..................................................................................................................................................................16
Storage................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
GPU—Integrated............................................................................................................................................................... 17
GPU—Discrete................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Audio..................................................................................................................................................................................... 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 the USB ports on the computer. If you have a wireless keyboard and mouse, see the
documentation that shipped with the wireless keyboard and mouse for instructions.
2. Connect to your network using an Ethernet cable. Alternatively, connect to an available wireless network when setting up
the 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: There are different connection points for your display depending on whether your computer has a discrete
graphics card installed.
a. Connect the display cable to this DisplayPort connector if your computer does not have a discrete graphics card installed.
b. Connect the display cable to any of these connectors if your computer has a discrete graphics card installed.
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 at the front of the computer to turn it on. If required, press the power button on the display to turn
it on.
NOTE: For instructions on how to connect speakers, a printer and other accessories, see Me and My Dell at
www.dell.com/manuals.
6. 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.
7. 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
SupportAssist proactively and predictively identifies hardware and software issues on your
computer and automates the engagement process with Dell Technical support. It addresses
performance and stabilization issues, prevents security threats, monitors, and detects hardware
failures. For more information, see SupportAssist for Home PCs User's Guide at www.dell.com/
serviceabilitytools. Click SupportAssist and then, click SupportAssist for Home PCs.
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 000149088 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 000129837 at
www.dell.com/support.
Set up your computer 7

Views of XPS 8950
Front
1. Slim optical drive (optional)
The optical drive reads from and writes to CDs and DVDs.
2. Optical-drive activity light
The optical-drive activity light turns on when the computer reads from or writes to an optical drive.
3. Optical-drive eject button
Press to open the optical drive tray.
4. Optical-drive emergency eject pinhole
Used to eject the optical-drive tray manually if the optical-drive eject button fails.
NOTE: For more information about manually ejecting optical-drive trays, see the knowledge base article 000139665 at
www.dell.com/support.
5. Power button
2
8 Views of XPS 8950

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 Windows. 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. Universal Audio Jack
Connect headphones or a headset (headphone and microphone combo).
8. USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (2)
Connect devices such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps.
9. USB 3.2 Gen 1 port with PowerShare
Connect devices such as external storage devices and printers.
Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps. PowerShare enables you to charge connected USB devices.
NOTE: Deep Sleep is enabled by default. Disable Deep Sleep in the BIOS to enable PowerShare feature on your
computer.
NOTE: PowerShare enables you to charge your USB devices even when your computer is turned off.
10. USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with PowerShare
Connect devices such as external storage devices and printers.
Provides data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps. Provides up to 15 W power output that enables faster charging.
NOTE: Deep Sleep is enabled by default. Disable Deep Sleep in the BIOS to enable PowerShare feature on your
computer.
NOTE: PowerShare enables you to charge your USB devices even when your computer is turned off.
Views of XPS 8950 9

Back
1. Back panel
Connect USB, audio, video, and other devices.
2. PCI-express x4 slot
Connect a PCI-express card such as an audio or network card to enhance the capabilities of your computer.
3. PCI-express X16 slot
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 an 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.
9. Padlock rings
10 Views of XPS 8950

Attach a standard padlock to prevent unauthorized access to the interior of your computer.
10. 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.
Back panel
1. Hard-drive activity light
The activity light turns on when the computer reads from or writes to the hard drive.
2. Rear L/R surround port
Connect audio-output devices such as speakers and amplifiers. In a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker channel setup, connect the rear-left
and rear-right speakers.
3. Side L/R surround port
Connect audio-output devices such as speakers and amplifiers. In a 7.1 speaker channel setup, connect the side-left and
side-right speakers.
4. Microphone port
Connect an external microphone to provide sound input.
5. Dual-Mode DisplayPort 1.4
Connect an external display or a projector.
NOTE: Besides a DisplayPort connector, this port can also provide display output to a DVI or HDMI connector with a
DisplayPort 1.4 adapter (sold separately).
NOTE: This port is only available on computers shipped with a Intel UHD Graphics integrated graphics processor.
6. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type C port
Connect devices such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer rate of up to 20 Gbps.
NOTE: This port does not support video/audio streaming.
7. USB 2.0 ports with Smart Power On (2)
Views of XPS 8950 11

Connect devices such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 480 Mbps.
NOTE: Deep Sleep is enabled by default. Disable Deep Sleep in the BIOS to enable Smart Power On feature on your
computer.
NOTE: Smart Power On is the ability to wake a system from S3, S4, and S5 sleep states with a move of a mouse or
press of a key on the keyboard.
8. Center or subwoofer surround port
Connect the center speaker and/or subwoofer.
NOTE: For more information about speaker setup, see the documentation that shipped with the speakers.
9. Line-in port
Connect recording or playback devices such as a microphone or CD player.
10. Front L/R surround line-out port
Connect audio-output devices such as speakers and amplifiers. In a 2.1 speaker channel setup, connect the left and right
speakers. In a 5.1 or a 7.1 speaker channel setup, connect the front-left and front-right speakers.
11. USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (2)
Connect devices such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps.
12. 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.
12 Views of XPS 8950

Specifications of XPS 8950
Dimensions and weight
The following table lists the height, width, depth, and weight of your XPS 8950.
Table 2. Dimensions and weight
Description Values
Height ●Night Sky: 372.90 mm (14.68 in.)
●Platinum Silver: 391 mm (15.39 in.)
Width 173 mm (6.81 in.)
Depth 426.70 mm (16.80 in.)
Weight
NOTE: The weight of your computer depends on the
configuration ordered and manufacturing variability.
●Night Sky: 12.61 kg (27.81 lb)
●Platinum Silver: 12.80 kg (28.22 lb)
Processor
The following table lists the details of the processors that are supported by your XPS 8950.
Table 3. Processors
Processor
type
Processor
wattage
Processor
core count
Processor
thread count
Processor
speed
Processor
cache
Integrated
graphics
12th Generation
Intel Core
i5-12600K
125 W 10 16 Up to 4.90 GHz 20 MB Intel UHD Graphics
12th Generation
Intel Core
i7-12700K
125 W 12 20 Up to 5 GHz 25 MB Intel UHD Graphics
12th Generation
Intel Core
i7-12700KF
125 W 12 20 Up to 5 GHz 25 MB None
12th Generation
Intel Core
i9-12900K
125 W 16 24 Up to 5.20 GHz 30 MB Intel UHD Graphics
12th Generation
Intel Core
i9-12900KF
125 W 16 24 Up to 5.20 GHz 30 MB None
3
Specifications of XPS 8950 13

Chipset
The following table lists the details of the chipset supported by your XPS 8950.
Table 4. Chipset
Description Values
Chipset Z690
Processor ●12th Generation Intel Core i5K
●12th Generation Intel Core i7K/i7KF
●12th Generation Intel Core i9K/i9KF
DRAM bus width 128-bit
Flash EPROM 32 MB
PCIe bus Up to Gen4.0
Operating system
Your XPS 8950 supports the following operating systems:
●Windows 11 Home, 64-bit
●Windows 11 Pro, 64-bit
●Windows 11 Home Advanced, 64-bit
●Windows 11 Pro Advanced, 64-bit
Memory
The following table lists the memory specifications of your XPS 8950.
Table 5. Memory specifications
Description Values
Memory slots Four UDIMM slots
Memory type Dual-Channel DDR5
Memory speed 3600 MHz, 4000 MHz, 4400 MHz
Maximum memory configuration 128 GB
Minimum memory configuration 8 GB
Memory size per slot 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB
Memory configurations supported ●8 GB, 1 x 8 GB, DDR5, 4400 MHz
●16 GB, 2 x 8 GB, dual-channel DDR5, 4400 MHz
●16 GB, 1 x 16 GB, DDR5, 4400 MHz
●32 GB, 2 x 16 GB, dual-channel DDR5, 4400 MHz
●64 GB, 4 x 16 GB, dual-channel DDR5, 4000 MHz
●64 GB, 2 x 32 GB, dual-channel DDR5, 4400 MHz
●128 GB, 4 x 32 GB, dual-channel DDR5, 3600 MHz
14 Specifications of XPS 8950

Ports and connectors
The following table lists the external and internal ports available on your XPS 8950.
Table 6. Ports and connectors
Description Values
External:
Network One RJ-45 port
USB ●Four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
●Two USB 2.0 ports with SmartPower
●One USB 3.2 Gen 1 port with PowerShare
●One USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C) port with PowerShare
●One USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (Type-C) port
Audio ●One Universal audio jack
●One 7.1 audio 6-connector stack of retaskable audio ports
Video One Dual-Mode DisplayPort 1.4
Media-card reader One SD-card slot
Power port One AC power-supply port
Security ●One security-cable slot (wedge-shaped)
●One padlock slot
Internal:
PCIe expansion card slots ●One PCIe x16 expansion card slot
●Two PCIe x4 expansion card slots
mSATA Not supported
SATA ●Three SATA 3.0 slots for 3.5-inch hard drives
●One SATA 3.0 slot for optical drive or 3.5-inch hard drive
M.2 ●One M.2 2230 slot for WiFi and Bluetooth combo card
●Two M.2 2230/2280 slots for solid-state drives
NOTE: To learn more about the features of different
types of M.2 cards, see the knowledge base article
000144170.
Ethernet
The following table lists the wired Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN) specifications of your XPS 8950.
Table 7. Ethernet specifications
Description Values
Model number Killer E3100G Ethernet controller
Transfer rate 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps
Specifications of XPS 8950 15

Wireless module
The following table lists the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) module specifications of your XPS 8950.
Table 8. Wireless module specifications
Description Values
Model number Killer 1675x
Transfer rate Up to 2400 Mbps
Frequency bands supported 2.4 GHz/5 GHz
Wireless standards ●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
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.2
Storage
This section lists the storage options on your XPS 8950.
Your XPS 8950 supports one of the following storage configurations:
●Up to two 3.5-inch hard drives, or
●Up to two 3.5-inch hard drives + up to two M.2 2230/2280 solid-state drives.
The primary drive of your XPS 8950 varies with the storage configuration. For computers:
●with a M.2 drive, the M.2 drive where your operating system is installed is the primary drive.
●without a M.2 drive, the 3.5-inch hard drive where your operating system is installed is the primary drive.
NOTE: The storage capacity of each 3.5-inch, M.2 2230 or 2280 solid-state drive is dependent on the configuration
ordered. The following section lists the possible storage options for your computer from Dell.com. Depending on your region,
some options may not be available.
Table 9. 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 solid-state drive PCIe Gen3.0x4 NVMe, up to 32 Gbps Up to 256 GB
M.2 2230 solid-state drive PCIe Gen4.0x4 NVMe, up to 64 Gbps Up to 256 GB
M.2 2280 solid-state drive PCIe Gen4.0x4 NVMe, up to 64 Gbps Up to 2 TB
9.5 mm 16x Slimline DVD-RW drive SATA AHCI, up to 1.5 Gbps One DVD-RW
16 Specifications of XPS 8950

GPU—Integrated
The following table lists the specifications of the integrated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) supported by your XPS 8950.
Table 10. GPU—Integrated
Controller External display support Memory size Processor
Intel UHD Graphics One Dual-Mode DisplayPort
1.4
Shared-system memory 12th Generation Intel Core
i5K/i7K/i9K
GPU—Discrete
The following table lists the specifications of the discrete Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) supported by your XPS 8950.
Table 11. GPU—Discrete
Controller External display support Memory size Memory type
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
SUPER
●One DVI-D port
●One HDMI 2.0 port
●One DisplayPort 1.4
4 GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
SUPER
●One DVI-D port
●One HDMI 2.0 port
●One DisplayPort 1.4
6 GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti ●One DVI-D port
●One HDMI 2.0 port
●One DisplayPort 1.4
6 GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 ●One HDMI 2.1 port
●Three DisplayPort 1.4a
12 GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ●One HDMI 2.1 port
●Three DisplayPort 1.4a
8 GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ●One HDMI 2.1 port
●Three DisplayPort 1.4a
8 GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti ●One HDMI 2.1 port
●Three DisplayPort 1.4a
8 GB GDDR6X
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ●One HDMI 2.1 port
●Three DisplayPort 1.4a
10 GB GDDR6X
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ●One HDMI 2.1 port
●Three DisplayPort 1.4a
12 GB GDDR6X
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 ●One HDMI 2.1 port
●Three DisplayPort 1.4a
24 GB GDDR6X
AMD Radeon RX 5300 ●One HDMI 2.0b port
●Two DisplayPort 1.4
3 GB GDDR6
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT ●One HDMI 2.1 port
●Three DisplayPort 1.4
8 GB GDDR6
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT ●One HDMI 2.1 port
●Three DisplayPort 1.4
12 GB GDDR6
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT ●One HDMI 2.1 port
●Three DisplayPort 1.4
16 GB GDDR6
Specifications of XPS 8950 17

Table 11. GPU—Discrete (continued)
Controller External display support Memory size Memory type
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT ●One HDMI 2.1 port
●Three DisplayPort 1.4
16 GB GDDR6
Audio
The following table lists the audio specifications of your XPS 8950.
Table 12. Audio specifications
Description Values
Audio controller Realtek ALC3861 with Waves MaxxAudio Pro
Internal audio interface High definition audio interface
External audio interface ●One Universal audio jack
●One 7.1 audio 6-connector stack of retaskable audio ports
Power ratings
The following table lists the power-rating specifications of XPS 8950.
Table 13. Power ratings
Description Option one Option two
Type 460 W Bronze 750 W Platinum
Input voltage 90 VAC-264 VAC 90 VAC-264 VAC
Input frequency 47 Hz-63 Hz 47 Hz-63 Hz
Input current (maximum) 7 A 10 A
Output current (continuous) Operating:
●12 VA - 18 A
●12 VB - 18 A
●12 VC - 18 A
Standby:
●12 VA - 1.5 A
●12 VB - 3.3 A
●12 VC - 0 A
Operating:
●12 VA - 36 A
●12 VB - 27 A
●12 VC - 36 A
Standby:
●12 VA - 1.5 A
●12 VB - 5 A
●12 VC - 0 A
Rated output voltage ●12 VA
●12 VB
●12 VC
●12 VA
●12 VB
●12 VC
Temperature range:
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)
18 Specifications of XPS 8950

Operating and storage environment
This table lists the operating and storage specifications of your XPS 8950.
Airborne contaminant level: G1 as defined by ISA-S71.04-1985
Table 14. Computer environment
Description Operating Storage
Temperature range 0°C to 35°C (32°F to 95°F) -40°C to 65°C (-40°F to 149°F)
Relative humidity (maximum) 10% to 90% (non-condensing) 0% to 95% (non-condensing)
Vibration (maximum)*0.66 GRMS 1.30 GRMS
Shock (maximum) 110 G† 160 G†
Altitude range -15.2 m to 3048 m (-49.87 ft to 10000
ft)
-15.2 m to 10668 m (-49.87 ft to 35000
ft)
CAUTION: Operating and storage temperature ranges may differ among components, so operating or storing
the device outside these ranges may impact the performance of specific components.
* Measured using a random vibration spectrum that simulates user environment.
† Measured using a 2 ms half-sine pulse.
Specifications of XPS 8950 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 15. 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
Access top solutions, diagnostics, drivers and downloads, and
learn more about your computer through videos, manuals and
documents.
Your Dell computer is uniquely identified by a Service Tag or
Express Service Code. To view relevant support resources for
your Dell computer, enter the Service Tag or Express Service
Code at www.dell.com/support.
For more information on how to find the Service Tag for your
computer, see Locate the Service Tag on your computer.
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.
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