pc parts and prices

When I replaced the PSU for this old Dell I put in 500 watt which is 100 more than it came with.Yes, the 24 pin can be changed to 20 pin correct?

Well, I find that yes I can buy a desktop computer cheaper than I can build one. The main reason for that is I prefer to put high-quality components, I always build my own and plan on them lasting about 5 years. I'll usually buy 1 generation back from the leading edge CPU and GPU MB and RAM is easy DDR 3 or DDR 4? 1600 or 3200 most of us will never know the difference except on benchmarks. The one exception I make is storage here I buy the latest and greatest. There is one huge difference between the very best Hard Drive Spinners and even the 2 gens back SSD with the lasted M.2 NVME SSD being 5 times faster than the older SATA SSD versions. Its one hell of a jump when your OS drive is transferring data at 70 -100 MBS to 2900 MBS personally I think from the 3rd generation of SSD on they are by far the most significant improvement in computer maybe ever but surely since multiple core CPU's. The first time you start up a computer with a new SSD it is shockingly fast. Your boot time just went from 1.5 to 3 minute to 20 seconds you notice that. I hadn't changed cases now in 10 years or so, I suppose my next builds will get new cases with no longer needing hard drive bays we can use much smaller lighter cases, with all in one water block cooling for CPU we no longer need huge heatsinks. so we now have much more option in the cases configurations we can use. Optical drives are no longer needed. We still need to keep an external DVD player for older software and our collections NAS are used for Mass Storage. MHO I'll continue to build my own spending more than I can buy a mainstream factory model.

Well I certainly appreciate all the information you have sent me because my skill level is a lot lower than yours it took me a long time to read and read again but I have a general idea of what you're saying I likely will not build a computer but will have Microcenter build one for me have to have him gone over the statistics with them and previously looking up prices thank you once again for your help

Smart move. Building is a pain, and you're on the hook for any difficulties and problems. A ready-made PC is an easy choice.

I went looking for a new desktop last year and I looked at custom build shops, both locally and online. None of them could match the prices I found at Dell, so I bought the Dell.

margrave55 said:

Smart move. Building is a pain, and you're on the hook for any difficulties and problems. A ready-made PC is an easy choice.
I went looking for a new desktop last year and I looked at custom build shops, both locally and online. None of them could match the prices I found at Dell, so I bought the Dell.

>>I was thinking you were an advocate of having a shop like Micro center build as the best option, then you said you bought a Dell.
I know the responsibility is theirs for a warranty period but what about the clutter that comes along with it.
At Microcenter it is the OS only and you are given a stick with this OS and driver - no clutter. It is 15 minutes away. Also, I think Dell buys its parts all over the world not in house anymore. I do not know the reputation of power specs but they are the parts dealer for Micro Center.
Does anyone know about Power Spes reputation?