XPS 8960, Wi-Fi 6E AX1675x, where are the antennas?

WiFi antenna is entirely inside the PC, not external...

When you remove the WiFi card you disconnect the antenna cables from the card and attach them to the WiFi card when it's installed.  All spelled out in the Service Manual...

I am getting an XPS 8960 (Creator Edition) tomorrow...I am seeing conflicting information online...setup at Dells page for the XPS 8960 shows an external antenna for the Killer Wi Fi needing to be attached to protrusions from the backside of the CPU.  So now I am anxious about it.  I guess I'll find out tomorrow what is true or not with my unit.

@Nuke_ -  XPS 8960 "....computer is shipped with an external puck antenna. Connect the external antenna during setup, to connect to WiFi and Bluetooth and improve the memory performance. To connect the antenna cables, follow the below procedure".

Shouldn't be anything to worry about...

@RoHe​ this will be connected to both the ethernet and the Killer wi fi antenna during initial setup...I am worried the wi fi will not detect my Wi Fi connection to my server, and prevent me from signing into my microsoft account...The antenna doesnt need a software setup...does it, just the attachment and positioning for the antenna?  And thanks for such a quick response to my OP.  I appreciate your help here.

The antenna has nothing to do with Ethernet which is hardwired from the network port on rear of PC (#8) directly to a router.

After you connect antenna to rear of PC and finish the physical setup with all your other devices (monitor, mouse, keyboard etc), the first boot will take you to the Windows Initial Setup screen where you make various selections. 

"You’ll be prompted to connect to your internet connection (via WiFi or hardwired Ethernet). If you’d like to skip the process of entering your password every time you connect, select “Connect automatically.” From here, your computer may go a little quiet because it’s scanning for any necessary software updates and patches. When this process is complete, you’ll be asked to give your new device a name so it can be identified on a local network. Remember, this is your computer; call it whatever you like; just make sure you’ll remember it."

So you need to know info about your WiFI network (SSID, network passcode, etc). You may also have to configure your router on its side to accept the new PC, too).

Only then will it ask you to log into your Microsoft account...

@RoHe​ I know network name and passcode...you don't think the ethernet connection will work without configuring it?  I was really hoping this would be more plug and play.  I don't have a clue about how to configure a router, as I have a 2nd computer connected to it already that has a connection.  What should I do?  A little panic now

@RoHe​ I found this...My router is already configured to automatically assign IP addresses to connected devices.  

@Nuke_​ and this confirms that the Ethernet Network will automatically assign an IP using my server

?Yes, your Xfinity router automatically assigns IP addresses to connected devices using a feature called DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), which means that whenever a new device joins your network, the router will automatically give it a unique IP address to allow it to communicate on the network.?

You're confusing yourself, and me too....

You don't need to connect the Ethernet port on the PC to the router with an Ethernet cable, if you only want to connect to your network via WiFi.

If you only want to use hardwired Ethernet, and not use WiFi, the antenna on back of PC won't be doing anything, but you should still connect it when you're setting the PC up for first time.

You don't have to worry about assigning IP addresses on your network. That's the router's job., regardless of using Ethernet or WiFi. You just need to set up your network properties via the Windows Initial Setup screen after first booting of new PC.  Start by selecting which one you want to use and Windows should guide you to making the correct choices and settings.

Even if you configure both Ethernet and WiFi for you network, you can only use one of them at a time.  So you have to choose. Typically Windows will use Ethernet automatically when PC is hardwired to the router, even when both Ethernet and WiFi are configured on the PC.

To switch from using Ethernet to WiFi, you could disable the wired Killer Ethernet adapter in Device Manager. PC should then always automatically connect to WiFi when you boot, and vice versa.

If PC is already running, you can still switch between them. Just disable the one you don't want to use in Device Manager, enable the other one in Device Manager, and PC should switch to using that one. On next boot, PC will use the network adapter that's enabled in Device Manager. 

Hope this makes things clear(er)...

I don't need to connect the ethernet? But will it hurt connected with the wi fi antenna too? Will set up still let me sign into my wi fi with both methods connected? 

Yes, I agree...I am confused...that's what prompted me to make my 1st post: confusion.  I am trying to plug everything in before 1st boot...power, monitor, mouse, keyboard, ethernet and killer wi fi.  I am hoping this will be simple and I can sign into the wi fi during the initial setup...and then into my microsoft account.

I am not tech sav, and have never worked on a Windows 11 before..I have had 10 since it came out.

So my question is...will setting it up on the initial boot with everything I mention above plugged in, interfere with me signing into my wi fi gateway?

Thanks  ROHE.  I am just trying to understand.  I dont want to mess my new system up before I even got the 1st boot to happen.

also, I do not want a connection the the wi fi always...I want a ethernet connection almost always, and plan on disconnecting the wi fi after I set up the computer and get to the desktop

@RoHe​ this is the post you made that got me confused (in red) (and your last post talks about "configuring" both ethernet and wi fi).  I thought I just have to sign into my gateway with wi fi, then into Microsoft account to get to the desk top.  And after I disconnect the wi fi, the ethernet will automatically take over the internet connection:  

(edited)****

You're driving yourself (and me) crazy.

If you want Ethernet "almost always", you do not need to configure WiFi right after the very first boot. So...

1. Connect WiFi antenna to rear of PC during hardware setup. It has zero effect on using Ethernet, but you need it connected for those times you want to use to WiFi.
2. Plug Ethernet cable into PC and into router.  You want at least a CAT6 Ethernet cable (or higher) to get the best speed and most stable connection from PC to the router. Use an Ethernet cable as short as possible, while giving you enough slack to move things around, if/when necessary without having to unplug it. 
3. Connect all your other devices to rear of PC and move PC into its place.
4. Boot PC into Windows Initial Setup screen
5. Follow the prompts to configure it for Ethernet.  Don't worry about WiFi, at least for now!  
6. When Ethernet connects PC to your network, log into your Microsoft account and install all the latest Windows and driver updates using Windows Update.
7. Install all your software, apps, etc.
8. Test PC for a couple of days, with multiple boots, to make sure hardware and software work properly
9. When you're satisfied with PC function/performance, disable the Killer Ethernet adapter in Device Manager and make sure the Killer WiFi adapter is enabled in Device Manager. 
   
   As I said above, you can only use one connection at a time. So with Ethernet adapter disabled, configure PC to use WiFi on the Windows Network Settings screen. Then reboot PC and check to see if you're automatically connected via WiFi, and everything still works properly.
   
   As long as Ethernet adapter is disabled in DM, PC should automatically connect to WiFi at every boot.  When your satisfied that WiFi works, re-enable the Ethernet adapter in DM and reboot. As long as Ethernet adapter is enabled, PC will use Ethernet every time you boot up,  even when WiFI adapter is enabled, but you can still switch back and forth.

Can't be any easier than that...

the only gateway name and password I know is the wi fi gateway that shows up in the all the choices of my apartment building (many of them)...I have to connect with the wi fi 1st.

@RoHe​ this is a setup video I watched for 1st boot setup..is this not correct?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6x1o2C22pQ&ab_channel=AskYourComputerGuy