XPS 8960, onboard 2.5GB adapter has failed AGAIN

Chat w Dell on line and keep on typing “agent” may eventually get you to a human 

It would be very unusual for on-board NIC to fail once, much less twice.

Good luck with your current course of action. But if you decide to troubleshoot this yourself, we could help you. It could be any number of other things this time.

You can even disable the troublesome internal one, and install a nice/working dedicated PCIe-card NIC. Like just fix it and move on with your life.

https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/xps-desktops/xps-8940-killer-e2600-network-card-reset-on-upload-speeds-are-horrible/6a046e0748c8491153b85065

@Tesla1856​ 

Thanks...But there isn't anything to troubleshoot.  This is the same thing that happened last time.  There's no link light when the PC is powered on and it doesn't show up in Device Manager in Windows or an lspci if I boot to Linux.  So the device is either fried, or not receiving power.  

Unit was sent back to Dell last time for diagnosis and they replaced the MB.

If it was as simple as plugging in a 2.5Gb PCI-E card I would have already done that, but I have an RTX3060 12gb that consumes all 3 slots, so I'd have to spend several hundred on a new video board to get a $20 NIC working.  

There's always USB-C I suppose...

Because the purchased 1 year warranty on this XPS 8960 has expired, Dell policy prohibits giving you a free motherboard and free onsite service. You would have to pay for the part and service through the Out of Warranty Support Options.

Tesla1856 idea of adding a PCIe NIC is the best alternative.

@DELL-ChrisM2​ Unfortunetly, Dell's fees to get replacement parts are actually more than I paid for this system new from Dell, for some reason.  And since it has had the same problem twice now, repairing it would just be throwing good money after bad.

Not sure what is wrong with the XPS 8960 model but it's the flakiest system I've ever owned.  It randomly crashes and frequently fails to post - same issues on both the original and the Dell warrantied replacement.

I have many other Dell desktops and laptops from a few months to 10+ years old that are still rock solid.  This XPS 8960 is just a.

The #16 PCIe x4 slot should not be covered by the dual width RTX 3060? Post a picture for us. I thought only the bigger RTX 4080/4090 with overlap covered both PCIe x4 slots?

@back39​ ,

@Tesla1856​ 

1. There's no link light when the PC is powered on and

2. it doesn't show up in Device Manager in Windows or an lspci if I boot to Linux.  So the device is either fried, or not receiving power.  

3. If it was as simple as plugging in a 2.5Gb PCI-E card I would have already done that, but I have an RTX3060 12gb that consumes all 3 slots, 

4. There's always USB-C I suppose...

1. Try connecting directly to router with 10ft. new/max-perfect CAT-6/7 cable.

2. Strange. In BIOS, try switching NIC OFF. Save that. Reboot. Shut-Down. Unplug from wall-AC, Wait 30 seconds. Reboot. BIOS then Switch it back On. Save and Reboot.

3. The "Reference Design" RTX-3080 in my wife's Intel-i9 desktop is only a dual-slot. RTX-3080 > RTX-3060.

4. Well yeah, but as a last resort. Sounds like it needs to work with Linux. But still cheaper than a new computer.

To expand on this subject to assist all XPS 8960 users.

M49TT Dell MSI Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 stays within the boundry of the dual-width bracket allowing access to #16 PCIe x4 slot

DH84X Dell MSI Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is larger than the boundry of the dual-width bracket blocking access to #16 PCIe x4 slot


 

68TVF Dell MSI Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 is larger than the boundry of the dual-width bracket blocking access to #16 PCIe x4 slot

HPPKD MSI Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 is larger than the boundry of the bracket blocking access to #16 PCIe x4 slot

@DELL-ChrisM2​ 

Here you go.  As you can see, it's a big one.

I don't think Dell offers Asus graphics card.  Any damage happened to motherboard from using third party component would not be covered.  Lucky you got your original claim approved in the first place.

Reviewing the XPS desktops forum and hardly find any XPS 8960 owners reporting about failed ethernet.  The claim of manufacturing defect is thin.  Got to move on with self repair option(s).