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August 22nd, 2023 21:26
XPS 8960, Ethernet vs. WiFi when you have both?
My soon-to-arrive XPS 8960 has both an Ethernet adapter and a 'killer' WiFi adapter. I plan to use an Ethernet cable.
I learned that the priority of network adapters is determined by their interface metric value. The adapter with the lowest IM value takes priority over others.
Does Dell ship XPS desktops with interface metric values set so that Ethernet (if present) takes priority? So I don't have to somehow 'disable' the WiFi adapter in order to use an Ethernet connection?
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MastiffX
2 Intern
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242 Posts
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August 27th, 2023 02:37
Now that my XPS 8960 has arrived and been setup, I can confirm that it arrived with the WiFi adapter disabled, probably because the computer detected an Ethernet cable.
Chino de Oro
9 Legend
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8.1K Posts
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August 22nd, 2023 21:35
I believe it's managed by Windows and the default settings always gave ethernet connection priority over wireless connection. System BIOS settings only handles disable/enable and WOL features.
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ispalten
4 Operator
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2.4K Posts
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August 22nd, 2023 23:34
@Bulldog
Are you intending to use both at the same time? Wondering why you'd do this unless you had 2 different ISP's and maybe even routers?
Killer S/W does have a 'DoubleShot Pro' capability. It appears that will use different applications based on need for speed. See https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/docs/wireless/killer/doubleshot-pro.html. I tried it, didn't see much value? Didn't really see good to me as I have a single router supplying both the wireless and Ethernet, so at some point, the TCP/IP traffic combined anyway. Just like if 2 applications were using either connection on the PC only, intermixed TCP/IP packets...
I guess though it is possible to get some interfaces to work faster on one way than the other?
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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August 23rd, 2023 00:22
You could always disable the WiFi card in Device Manager, if you want, or at least set Device Manager to turn off the WiFi to save power...
On my XPS 8930 (Win10), it defaults to Ethernet, even when both adapters are enabled, as long as the Ethernet cable is connected to PC. If I disable Ethernet in Device Manager or unplug the cable, it will switch to WiFi.
MastiffX
2 Intern
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242 Posts
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August 23rd, 2023 01:52
Thanks for everyone's replies.
Just to make things a little clearer:
I plan to use Ethernet with my new XPS 8960. The computer comes with a WiFi adapter - it can't be 'un-selected.' And there's nothing wrong with having a backup method for connecting, in case I run over my Ethernet cable with a vacuum cleaner (again.)
I just wanted to know if the installed Killer WiFi adapter is going to cause a problem if I want to use Ethernet, e.g., will I have two network connections active at the same time?
I don't think there will be a problem because I understand that Windows manages this, giving a lower interface metric value to the Ethernet connection so it will always have priority over the WiFi adapter. Just wanted to check whether this is, in fact, correct.
ispalten
4 Operator
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August 23rd, 2023 14:24
@Bulldog
Well, why NOT DISABLE the Wireless part in Device Manager or the Control Panel Network Connections as I have:
redxps630
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14.8K Posts
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August 23rd, 2023 15:10
when you connect ethernet cable and also connect Wi-Fi at same time, the pc is connected to internet on both. It is not either or, meaning having ethernet connected does not kill wireless connection and true vice versa. at right lower corner you will see both have internet access. when you download a big file, Windows will manage using one or the other access to its best advantage.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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August 23rd, 2023 22:40
On my XPS 8930 (Win10) with both network adapters enabled, it connects automatically via Ethernet at boot. There's no WiFi traffic visible in the router's monitoring app from this PC during boot up or normal use, only Ethernet traffic.
If I disable Ethernet in Device Manager, the network icon on taskbar changes to the globe icon indicating there's no internet connection. It doesn't automatically switch over to using WiFi.
When I click the globe icon, the list of visible WiFi networks appears, and I have to select mine to connect using WiFi.