I like the Dell Optiplex line of business computers. They last forever, provide good performance, and run much more stable than just about anything else out there. However, I also occasionally like to game. On the Optiplex 7020MT, Dell uses a proprietary 8 pin plug, and they draw all of the power into the motherboard and they use a special cable to power the peripherals (DVD drive, hard drives, etc.) off of the motherboard power. Also, they only use the 12v rail and they don't pull any 3v or 5v from the power supply, but instead generate that on the board. This means that replacing a Dell power supply with anything less than a 750 Watt 80+ Gold Certified power supply will likely cause issues as the 12v rail cannot provide enough current for the Dell engineered design.
So I needed a power supply that could power my computer reliably, power by heavy power draw gaming graphics card, and not clutter the inside with a bunch of unused cables. With this setup I can not only power my graphics card, but also the peripherals off the power supply directly. This also reduces the work the power circuits on the motherboard, and that can only improve lifespan and stability. If you are looking to do the same, and you specifically have a Optiplex 7020MT, this is the power supply you are looking for. This will not work if it is not the Mid Tower model.
If you are just curious why the fuss. I already mentioned the other positive attributes of the Optiplex line. I should also mention that I got a professionally refurbished Optiplex 7020MT for $200 with a Quad Core i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM (no operating system). So the price of your display adapter, an SSD, this power supply, and about $200 makes for a very, very stable daily driver computer that will have no problems playing the occasional AAA game.
| Brand | Corsair |
|---|---|
| Series | TX-M |
| Item model number | CP-9020131-NA |
| Item Weight | 3.7 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 5.9 x 5.5 x 3.4 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 5.9 x 5.5 x 3.4 inches |
| Color | 80 PLUS Gold |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Manufacturer | Corsair |
| ASIN | B00FZLD2O0 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | January 5, 2017 |
