Unsolved
1 Rookie
•
4 Posts
0
166
January 23rd, 2025 23:55
XPS 8960, slow with Blue Screens of Death
Two months ago, I bought an XPS-8960 with an Intel i9-14900 chip and 64GB of memory and Windows 11 Business.
I was hoping for a snappy new machine.
Instead I have a slow, glitchy computer, with weekly Blue Screens of Death since purchase date.
I've tried to update the BIOS for several weeks using Dell's Support Assist. Failed each time.
I now have 2.12.0 BIOS, which sounds like the latest.
I've been very busy with end of year and beginning of year work, but finally chatted with support today.
They had me run some inconclusive hardware tests. All looked OK.
Then they asked me to unplug the computer from power, hold the "on" button for 30 seconds, and then restart. It seemed to improve things at least temporarily. Better than simply restarting, which I normally do when the computer gets too slow to use.
My five year old i7 is faster than this. Disappointing.
Latest message from support:
Thank you for bringing the issue to our attention, I would like to inform you that we are aware of the ongoing global issue regarding the BIOS driver. Our internal team is actively working to address this matter. In the meantime, I kindly ask for your patience and request that you wait a couple of weeks for the necessary updates. If you encounter any issues or have any queries, please do not hesitate to reply to this email.
This sounds like the latest BIOS update has not fixed the problem and Dell is aware of it
Has anyone else experienced this? Any temporary solutions to improve things other than unplugging?
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.1K Posts
0
January 24th, 2025 04:57
Be sure it passes ePSA (in BIOS area).
See what errors your have in Reliability History report. Especially, (red) Critical Errors.
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
January 26th, 2025 02:02
Was Support referring to your speed/performance issues with BIOS 2.12.0 or with the installation problems everyone is having with the new XPS 8960 BIOS 2.13.0? I suspect that they were referring to the latter problem....
Exactly what do those BSOD say?
(edited)
VTHokie86
1 Rookie
•
4 Posts
0
January 26th, 2025 16:21
I'm not sure about what support was referencing.
I called for help with speed/performance. We ran some hardware tests and did the unplug & hold rest button for 30 seconds routine, and that seamed to help a bit for awhile. He concluded that I had a software problem and that I should turn to paid support for help.
Then he sent that BIOS driver email the next day.
My last BSOD was a WatchDog error.
My current BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc.: 2.12.0, 9/18/2024
Sounds like I should not update. However, I am getting these messages from Intel to update three drivers: Intel Killer Perf..., Intel Arc & Iris Xe Grap..., and Intel Wireless Bluetooth....
Thanks,
Tim
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
January 26th, 2025 20:49
What's your drive config? A single SSD, an SSD+HDD or only a HDD? If you have SSD+HDD, make sure the SSD is the one with Win 11 on it, since it's possible the OS might be on the HDD, by mistake.
You should update those Intel drivers, possibly with exception of Killer, since Killer updates tend to kill internet speeds, especially Ethernet upload speeds so that update is your decision.
IMO, hold off on any BIOS updates until your other problems are resolved.
For the Watchdog BSOD, try this:
Be sure to include a space in front of each / and note any error messages when that's done.
(edited)
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
January 26th, 2025 21:01
@VTHokie86 - BTW, what external devices are connected to this PC, aside from mouse, monitor and keyboard? If you have any external drive(s), disconnect and see if performance improves...