XPS 8960, discrete graphics card

What CPU and how much RAM in this system?

What size power supply does it have, 460W or 750W? We need to know that before anyone can recommend a video card. 

Lots of XPS 8960 benchmarks listed here, which will give you an idea about cards that work. Keep in mind that site doesn't mention what size PSU is in any of the systems listed. So just because it worked in a system listed there, doesn't mean it will in your system. So be sure to check the "recommended" power supply size for the exact card you might want to see if your PSU can handle it.

If you just want to have more than the one DP output, you could get a DP MST hub. An MST hub will plug into the DP1.4 port on PC and give you multiple video outputs.  Depending on the hub, it may have multiple DP outputs, a mix of DP and HDMI outputs or even all HDMI outputs. That would be less expensive than buying a GPU.  But it may also depend on your intended KVM config.

NOTE: Onboard Intel Graphics is limited to 3 monitors, max. So probably no point in getting a hub with more than 3 outputs

Thank you - I didn't see your response until after I purchased the GeForce RTX 3050.  It fit and was easy to install ($150-ish).  It was listed on the list of compatible cards, so hopefully I got the correct one.

One more question - both monitors are working right now, so I'm not sure I want to change much, but I'll ask.  I have one monitor plugged into the display port on the computer and one into the GeForce card.  Is there a benefit to having both monitors going into the GeForce?  Since I don't game, maybe it doesn't matter.

I tried a MTS hub and both screens went black.  Then I started going down the road of getting 1.4 cables.  I guessed the complication was with the KVM switch and for the sake of time (and frustration), I decided just to get the graphics card and have the same set up as my last XPS. 

Thank you for taking time to reply.  I'm still disappointed in Dell selling a XPS with only one display port.  I've read many others had the same disappointment.  Six calls to Dell and teams pointing back and forth from sales to technical support. 

If it's working, that's what matters...

Better to connect both monitors to the add-in video card, and especially if you only have 8 GB of system memory.  Onboard Intel Graphics uses system memory, which can slow other processes down. The add-in video card has its own (faster) GPU memory and doesn't use nearly as much system memory.  So overall, you should get better performance.

Having only one onboard video port (DP++) is the way things are done now, especially since users typically want an add-in video card.  Buying a PC without an add-in GPU at a lower price gives you the flexibility to choose whichever card you want, and not be limited to one of the OEM's cards.

DP++ is multi-functional. You can use it with one DP monitor, or with one HDMI monitor, or with an MST hub. For direct connection to an HDMI monitor, you need a "passive" DP(PC)>HDMI(monitor) adapter.  DP++ will automatically detect the HDMI monitor that way.

You can't use an "active" DP(PC)>HDMI(monitor) adapter. Active adapters try to convert the DP signal to HDMI, but that doesn't work with DP++ because it can't detect the monitor through an active adapter.

Thanks again.  The specs on my computer says 460W.  I didn't know enough to think of the power, until you mentioned it.  The graphics card is NVIDIA RXT 3050.  The specs is 130 watts total graphics power, and then it says recommended power 550 watts.  Is this ok for  my two Dell S2421H monitors?  Or should I continue to leave one monitor plugged into the computer display port?  I'm already using the graphics card for one monitor.  I hope that is ok!

That might be pushing the limits of your 460W PSU. And I don't think it matters whether there's only one or more monitors connected to the card at same time.

There are several online PSU calculators that you can use to see what size PSU you may need. I'd compare results from more than one before making any conclusions. You could try the ones here, here, here, etc.  I haven't used any of them so can't comment on their accuracy, so that's why it's important to use more than one.

Be sure to put in the accurate specs for your PC they request to make sure you get a reasonable estimate of PSU needs...

I'm lost.  I don't even know what Motherboard it has.  I purchased this:  https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desktop-computers/xps-desktop/spd/xps-8960-desktop/usextpbts8960gscy

First of those calculators says 400-499 W PSU for the config you linked and 2nd one says >350 W.  So you may be OK with a 460 W PSU.  You should double-check for yourself...

And keep in mind the calculations don't include any external devices which don't have their own power adapter and get all their power via USB port from the PC, like external USB HDD, phone being charged, etc. etc.

Right-click the images and open in new tab so you can read them more easily...

The 2nd one says PSU >350 W:

Thank you so much.  Sorry this has been frustrating for me, and such a learning curve.  I appreciate your help. 

I've been using the RTX 3050 for a few days, and i don't know how quickly I'd know if it wasn't working. 

If it were you, would you keep going with the GeForce RTX 3050 or pause and redo? 

Would we feel better with the GeForce RTX 4060 Windforce OC 8G 8GB 128-bit GDDRG?  Dell shows it needing LESS power than the 3050, as does the first calculator.  However, the second calculator says it needs MORE power than the 3050.  The third calculator doesn't have my CPU.

I do not need to charge my phone, but I would like to occasionally use an external hard-drive to back up my folders.  I'm sure I'd use a flashdrive from time to time too, but for the most part it is just a personal computer with average use.  Using the first calculator, it looks like the external hard-drive pushes the power need to 500-599w with the RTX 3050. The RTX 4060 maintains 400-499.  The second calculator shows I'm ok.  Maybe I should consider paying $100 more to get the 4060? 

Keep in mind that GPUs with same NVidia model number (eg RTX 3050) from different manufacturers may need different size PSU. So be sure to check PSU recommendations for exact card you want.

Dell OEM GPUs are designed to work with smaller PSUs than the retail version with same RTX number. Dell OEM GPUs typically have fewer/smaller fans and/or fewer/different output ports so need less power.  Unless you buy a Dell OEM RTX 4060 (at their high! price), you might end up with a retail RTX 4060 that uses more energy than the RTX 3050, you have now.

Those PSU calculators are all guesstimates of required PSU size. So that's why one said >350 W and the other said 400-499 W. 

You may be ok using the 3050, with the 460 W PSU. Just keep an eye out for performance lags, or if PSU fan, CPU fan, case fans are running frequently/fast. (PSU fans typically only run when needed, not constantly.)   Those could be signs the PSU is under stress and working hard to power the system.

Your external USB HDD should have a wattage rating on it so see what it says.  And you could only connect it to PC when actually backing up or retrieving files, to limit the load.

A USB stick probably will only use a minuscule number of  watts, so that shouldn't be an issue. If you plug the stick into a monitor's USB port, the monitor should be powering it, not the PC. 

You could even get a USB hub with its own external power adapter and connect that to PC. Then plug your USB devices into the hub. That would help take load off the PC's PSU. Just make sure the hub matches the speed of the PC's USB port where it's connected, so it doesn't become a bottleneck for data transfer.

Only you can make the final decisions here...

Thanks for the valuable information.  I hope this thread helps others too.  I'll take one more look at all of the links and re-read your posts.  I think I'm discovering what I purchased will/should work.  Thanks for pointing out the warning signs.  Happy Holidays. 

This DP to dual HDMI splitter is working on my XPS 8960, driving two monitors with extended desktop from the onboard Intel U770 DisplayPort and no added graphics card.

If I learn anything else about the device, it'll be in this post on Reddit.

Before I got the splitter I was using an old graphics card. It worked OK, but it increased the power draw in sleep mode from 8 to 33 watts (possibly more with a more powerful graphics card). That might not sound like much, but with the electricity rates here in California the splitter will pay for itself in 8 months.