brucemc777 said:
Before 2000 i could afford to replace my computer every 6 months or so and kept very knowledgeable of the technologies.

Since 2000 i have been standing at the train station with the train (aka, technology) long gone past.

I need guidance.

The last computer i bought was in roughly 2013. I am not a gamer. Primarily i run a very large highly VBA coded Excel project for my own business along with other Office apps, Acrobat (pro) and GIMP, though i do enjoy excellent graphics even though my monitors (i use two) are older generation ASUS VS228.

Due to the extended time i keep my computer (courtesy of economics), i wish to plan on another long time solution.

Due to my thinking from roughly ten to fifteen years ago i recall that building my own computer from scratch was not much cheaper than a Dell computer deal, and as i no longer am intelligent enough to properly select components, i probably am safer with a Dell if i do not get external guidance otherwise.

It is therefore that i am considering a Dell XPS Desktop as follows:
  • processor 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700 (25 MB cache, 12 cores, 20 threads, 2.10 GHz to 4.90 GHz Turbo)
  • Windows 11 Pro, English
  • NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti, 8 GB GDDR6
  • 16 GB, 2 x 8 GB, DDR5, 4400 MHz; up to 128 GB (add'l mem sold separately)
  • 512GB PCIe M.2 Class 40 SSD (Boot) + 1TB 7200RPM HDD (Storage))
  • Performance CPU liquid cooling
  • Intel® Killer Wi-Fi 6E (6 where 6E unavailable) AX211, 2x2, 802.11ax, MU-MIMO, Bluetooth 5.2
  • 460W Night Sky Bezel Chassis not including optical drive


As to the drives, i really don't think i need the HDD they offer, i'd certainly prefer a second SSD of a 1GB to 2GB size, but i will have to ask them if i can do that. I prefer a smaller primary drive because i think (not know) that if the OS is on a smaller drive it will run quicker.

I also have to ask them if the video card can be reconfigured for a second monitor and if i need to get anything extra to make it connect to the two ASUS VS228 monitors i have.

I need to understand how all the changes to USB will impact what i am using, for all my USB interfaces are the original USB A type, two of them have dongles (? the little plugs without wires) for my Logitech keyboard and mouse, another for my camera (for video chats though rarely used) and one for my Epson Scanner. Perhaps all of these could be interfaced with adapters?

And so, the reason i am posting here is to get the advice of people who, unlike me these days, actually know what they are doing. The Dell, configured as outlined above, would be $1,259.99 (Why can't they just show $1,260???).

In that i am presently running 8GB DDR2, i suspect 16GB DDR5 is good, but how does this seem to you, given my lack of gaming?

I presume that it would have internal SATA connectors so i can connect my present internal drives and transfer data; i hope not to find out otherwise.

Is this a fair price vs. digging in my heels and researching all components and building my own from scratch?

Thoughts on other configuration changes?

I can't thank you folks enough - this is a very important purchase for me and one that i really shouldn't afford right now but my present computer is starting to glitch and instead of nickel and dime patches and upgrades, i wish a solution for some time to come. I got killed by the 1999 Michigan economy and never have really recovered, so retirement will come when i die. That isn't meant to be morbid for i doubt i would ever be comfortable not working; just that my computer is as important to my business as keeping most of my marbles in my head - without it i can not operate.

Once again, thank you for your knowledge, expertise and consideration; i am grateful.

P.S.: I am running W10 with all the updates presently and though i have no reason to go to W11, i guess that comes with the purchase.
Hi there. I currently have an XPS desktop for work. Upgradability is not much of a factor for them. Mine has 4 sata ports. one for HDD, one for dvd drive, and 2 free. Except, SATA power is a proprietary connector on the motherboard they only give two 4pin slots for. For $1200 I would snag up a basic "gaming" machine from a system integrator with a warranty that does not tie your hands behind your back. And per your economics, my $2K XPS desktop is already starting to hiccup 14 months in.