XPS 8940, add 11th Gen Intel CPU

Question

Hi, I have a Dell XPS8940 with a Intel 10th Gen CPU (i7-10700 CPU) and would like to upgrade the CPU. According to the Dell documentation I can install a 11th Intel CPU. My motherboard is 0KV3RP

I have spoken with Dell support who are saying "it might work" expect BSOD or POST failures.

Is this correct?

here are some links

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/xps-8940-desktop/xps-8940-setup-and-specifications/processors?guid=guid-d9acb88f-e7e3-4702-8a22-92ec94f89dd4&lang=en-us

https://www.dell.com/community/en/articles/desktops-wiki/faq-xps-8940/647f8b92f4ccf8a8debaa584

thanks

Chino de Oro · Answer

XPS 8940 with board ID 0KV3RP does support 11th gen processors.  See example system below.

ispalten · Answer

The ability is usually a Motherboard Chipset question. From the FAQ, it appears some 8940's came with the 11th Gen.

However, check this link here out, https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/xps-desktops/dell-xps-8940-motherboards/653b4fbb1ce58e46aa33f059 and it seems to have a mixed message. Suggest you either post to that one or DM each user if you can find the posts in this forum?

mike43224 · Answer

I am in the same boat. I also have a XPS 8940 with the I7-10700, and have tried 2 different 11th Gen CPUs, unsuccessfully. I get no video output no matter the GPU, I have tried the integrated Intel, a nVidia and a AMD GPU. Today after trying with a NIB I9-11900k I put the I7-10700 back in and looked at the Windows logs and yes the PC was booting.

I know that some people have had success, just wish I was one of them.

RoHe · Answer

@mike43224 - What color is power button when PC won't boot with 11th Gen CPU, and steady or blinking?

Do you have the latest version of BIOS installed?

Are you connecting monitor to the add-in video card whenever one is installed? If you use an onboard Intel Graphics port when an add-in video card is installed, you probably won't see video output.

BTW: Whenever you swap CPUs, do you clear/reset BIOS to make sure all the changes are seen? Easiest way would be to remove motherboard battery and press/hold power button for ~30 sec before reinstalling the battery. Obviously, power cord should already be unplugged from rear of PC before you do this.

mike43224 · Answer

@RoHe​ Hey, thanks for the response. Power button is steady white. BIOS is 2.17.0 which is the latest. Before I tried without a graphics card, I went into the BIOS and set the Intel Integrated graphics option, saved, turned off the machine, took out the graphics card I was using, and then booted still with the 10th Gen installed to make sure it worked, which I got to the desktop fine. Then I swapped in the 11th Gen, pulled the power cord, popped the battery, held the power button for close to a minute, put the battery back in, plugged the power back in and turned it on and I get no display. I have tried without a graphics card and I have tried installing an AMD and nVidia graphics card, still no display. I have an MSI motherboard I want to put the 10th Gen into that I can use to confirm the 11th Gen works fine, but I need to pick up some more thermal paste first.

Chino de Oro · Answer

@mike43224​ , your i9 K processor won't work without a VRM heatsink.  It used to be a $5 USD part from Dell with free shipping.  Contact Dell Spare Parts at 1-800-357-3355.  The VRM part number is 612F7.

mike43224 · Answer

@Chino de Oro​ I had installed the VRM heatsink, Dell tower cooler and the 500 watt power supply about 4 months ago. The PC is booting with the 11th Gen CPU, I have looked at the Windows logs, I just can not get a display out, and this is the 2nd 11th Gen I have tried. I am thinking about pulling everything off the motherboard except 1 stick of RAM and seeing if I can get a POST to display that way, just to rule out any hardware conflict.

ispalten · Answer

@mike43224​  What motherboard do you have? Original ones might not have supported 11th Gen CPU's? These are the FAQ listed possible ones: Motherboards =KV3RP Foxconn 02012PQ00-600-G, Released July 9, 20202W4W1 Foxconn 02012TA00-600-G, Released December 1, 2020, Brazil onlyF1H92 Foxconn 02012YJ00-600-G, Released March 15, 2021, Brazil only427JK Foxconn 02012VY00-600-G, Released March 15, 2021K3CM7 Foxconn ??, Released July 14, 2021 However, Dell did replace my motherboard, I now have the 427JK, but I might have had the KV3RP with the 11th Gen though?

mike43224 · Answer

@ispalten​ Yes, I have the KV3RP motherboard, but some people have posted pics of it working with 11th Gen. I tried putting the 11th Gen in again with only Ram and still no display. I plugged in the boot drive and powered up, still no display but my RGB mouse and keyboard acted like Windows booted and also the hard drive was flashing like Windows loaded. I put the 10th Gen back in it booted right up and looking at the Windows System Log there are entries for when I tried to boot with the 11th Gen.

RoHe · Answer

Have you tried disabling Secure Boot in BIOS setup?Is SATA Operation set to RAID or AHCI in BIOS setup? Do NOT change that setting.

mike43224 · Answer

@RoHe​ I have never turned on Secure Boot, and I have been using AHCI since SATA replaced IDE. That being said, with the install procedure having me do a BIOS reset all BIOS settings are set to default. I did install the 11900K in a MSI motherboard and it booted right up. I really have no idea what the issue is and with no display out I can not even see BIOS errors if there are any.

RoHe · Answer

Keep in mind that Dell's 'as shipped' config for SATA Operation in BIOS setup is always RAID, even when you're not using a RAID setup.  But the BIOS default is AHCI. So if BIOS was reset to its defaults, it's set to AHCI, but Windows would still be configured to use RAID = no boot.... Having Secure Boot enabled is both the 'as shipped' config and the BIOS default on Dell systems...Don't think what works in an MSI board is relevant...

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XPS 8940, add 11th Gen Intel CPU

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