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1 Rookie
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48 Posts
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2832
September 25th, 2023 09:05
XPS 8960, build quality disappointment
I've been a Dell user for 10 years and I'm onto my 3rd new XPS desktop. I've also had a bunch of Dell laptops and monitors in the past. Usually the equipment is very high quality.
However, my latest purchase doesn't live up to those previous high standards. I'm pretty disappointed with build quality on the new machine (XPS 8960 i9)
The machine is like 7 days old (since delivery). The side panel rattles, the slightest touch on my desk and that thing gets to jangling. I've removed and reseated it but it seems like either the chassis is bent or the panel is as it's not sitting correctly
The fan also sounds uneven when the machine is idling, it's not silent but is making a whoop whoop whoop sound. Almost like one of the blades is unbalanced. Under stress it speeds up, gets noisy for a bit and then settles, but idling it's noisy. Also every now and again, like when opening Chrome, the pump does this funny gurgle noise. I know PC's aren't supposed to be 100% silent, but I also don't expect a brand new computer to sound like it's ready for the junk yard. I also get random audio stutters, random video stutters.
There there is the AW2724DM I picked up at the same time. The screen has a pink tint to it. All colors have an very slight off white pink tint.
I've raised support tickets on both and the stock answer seems to be "we'll have them reviewed by the product team". Come on Dell, these are brand new units, not units at the end of warranty. Right now I'm considering requesting an exchange as I'm within the 14 day return period
Very unimpressed.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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October 2nd, 2023 19:19
@ProfessorW00d - Once you open the image in new tab, press/hold Ctrl and press + on keyboard and see if that enlarges it enough to be readable. You can repeat Ctrl+ several times to make it even bigger, but too big and it may not be readable, again. So Press Ctrl- to make it smaller again.
When you're done, press/hold Ctrl and press 0 (zero) to go back to "normal' (100%) size...
Caveat: May not work on all browsers...
Element115s4
2 Intern
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295 Posts
0
October 2nd, 2023 20:07
@RoHe
Very good and I used the mouse wheel while holding Ctrl.
I guess being Edge, should have tried that, thx RoHe.
I have to work on that capture quality for sure...terrible.
Muddyfunster
1 Rookie
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48 Posts
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October 9th, 2023 09:42
I wanted to add a little update.
The engineer arrived with a new side panel. We were both a bit surprised that Dell didn't just send it but whatever, glad he was here as he could see the issue clearly.
The new panel was chipped and fit as badly as the original, rattling around in the chassis. That tells me the Chassis is the problem not the panel. The engineer did "manual adjustment" to the original panel (One of the tabs was probably 1mm off) seemed to resolve it. No more rattling and the panel fits fine. Yep, not an ideal solution but for me it was a solution and that was that.
That said, I've now begun to notice audio dropouts all the time when gaming / watching content, every few minutes just a little Ppp sound. The cooler noise is getting worse. Under load, it's fine, just sounds like a cooler / fan combo doing it's job - no issues.
However, at idle, you can hear a constant "tick tick tick tick" sound, which to me sounds like the cooler and not the fan. If it was some air bubbles, I'd expect them to resolve after an hour or two based on past experience with AIO units, but this is constant and has been for over a week. The fan also randomly makes a harmonic waaaaaaum waaaaaaaum sound too at idle. (beginning to think it's haunted LOL).
Had Dell tech support remoted on to the system last night for an hour, found nothing amiss, diagnostics all good, all drivers updated etc. bios updated.
Tested a few more hours, audio drop outs still occurring, haunted case still acting haunted.
Started working on getting a replacement unit.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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October 10th, 2023 23:35
Have you tried running LatencyMon (free) to see if it can identify the cause(s) for the dropouts?
Lots of suggestions on the net to fix audio latency in Win 10 and Win 11.
Muddyfunster
1 Rookie
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48 Posts
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October 11th, 2023 01:22
@RoHe Thanks for the guidance and suggestions!
I did install LatencyMon and I read through the guides and details from the link you posted and a few others.
The main culprits for latency were dxgkrnl.sys & nvlddmkm.sys.
I did a safemode boot and did a clean gfx driver uninstall using DDU and then clean install of the latest driver using NVcleaninstall
I'm no longer getting massive ISR hits, but the nvlddmkm.sys is still causing issues on DPC execution time. I occasionally get massive DPC hits on ACPI.sys too.
I'm going to read up some more and see what other suggestions there are to try to resolve it. My overriding feeling is that this shouldn't be happening on a brand new computer :(
Thanks for the pointers!
Muddyfunster
1 Rookie
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48 Posts
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October 11th, 2023 09:03
Not been able to make much further progress. The latency isn't as severe according to latencymon but it's still there.
I need to test further.
One other odd thing I noticed. I've been connecting for sound via my usb headset (I have two USB headsets, which was useful in eliminating that as the source). When I connect a regular 3.5mm jack headset to the front panel, nothing happens.
On my old XPS, the realtek driver would recognise it. I've tried 3 headsets, none of them work via the front panel jack. Checked the settings and such, nothing is even registering. Unrelated but I thought I'd mention it.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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October 11th, 2023 18:18
Audio latency issues aren't uncommon. They're not limited to Dell PCs and can happen with either an Intel or AMD CPU.
nvlddmkm.sys is NVidia GPU software and frequently linked to audio latency issues. So make sure you have the latest NVidia drivers. ACPI.sys is part of the USB controller software, so make sure you have the latest BIOS and Intel chipset drivers too.
Do you also get latency issues using speakers connected to rear audio outputs on this PC, instead of USB headset? Is Windows set to use Realtek Audio output? Is Waves MaxxAudio Pro (audio controller software) loading at every boot? With Waves, you should boot to desktop without any audio output connected. Then plug output device in and wait to see if Waves correctly recognizes it. Then open the Waves control panel and configure output options there.
As for the 3.5mm headsets, what type plug do they have? The front port on XPS 8960 is probably TRRS, but if the headsets have a TRS plug, you're going to need an adapter, even if the plug fits into the front port. Read this about plug/port types...
fireberd
9 Legend
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33.4K Posts
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October 11th, 2023 18:57
I waas asked to look at this thread.
Not sure what I can add.
USB headsets basically are a USB audio device and thus have potential to affect latency for some.
If you haven't done it, disable Dell Support Assist and see if it helps latency.
Wi-Fi has been a cause for some.
Disable Internet then run Latency Mon.
I recently set up a recording studio PC for a friend. The PC is an i7 1300F with an NVIDIA GTX 3060 video. Because of past experiences with NVIDIA causing latency/dropouts I was surprised, the 3060 with stock NVIDIA drivers did not cause any latency or dropout problems.