Aurora R15, how do I add a 10GbE interface?

Question

I thought this would be easy as apple pie. I ordered a 10GbE PCI-e NIC off the internet and it was delivered this morning. Excitedly, I took the left-hand side cover off the unit and got ready to install the card that I just knew was waiting below the RTX4090 video card. To my utter dismay, there was not even a single PCI slot available to install a card of any kind!!! Arrgh!

So what would be the best way to add a 10GbE NIC to this computer knowing that I don't even have a Thunderbolt 3 interface to use?

What a sorry state of affairs and, yes, it's completely my fault for not doing my due diligence up front before purchasing this thing.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

Aurora R15 Service Manual. See pages 12 and 13.

The Aurora R15 has one PCIe x16 video card slot and two PCIe x4 Gen 3 slots numbered 14 and 15. 15 is covered by the RTX video card. But do you have access to 14?

jkeifer3 · Answer

@DELL-Chris M​  Hi Chris.  I am pretty sure that the power supply assembly is covering slot 14 but I could be wrong.  I'll open it up and take another look and get back to you. Do you know of an external solution that might be connectable via the USB-C 2+2 connector on the back?

jkeifer3 · Answer

Actually it’s the RTX 4090 that’s covering both free x4 slots.  I’ve decided to install a PCIe riser and move the NIC card outside the case as a test.

jkeifer3 · Answer

I completed the installation of the SFP+ 10GbE NIC. I had to modify the case slightly and I used a Gen 4 PCIe x4 riser cable routed under the RTX-4090. Not the cleanest install but it does work and is solid.

Vanadiel · Answer

If they would just make it a little bit tighter things would be so much better.

jkeifer3 · Answer

If only.  From your mouth to Dell hardware engineers!

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Aurora R15, how do I add a 10GbE interface?

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