OptiPlex 7020 Tower, Creative Labs SoundBlasterx AE- PLUS PCI-e, GeForce GT 1030

You do not state a question or problem in detail so I will go back to beginning.

Did you install the SoundBlasterx AE- PLUS sound card and GeForce GT 1030 on the motherboard?

OptiPlex Tower 7020 Service Manual page 111 shows that the motherboard has the #15 blue PCIe x16 video card slot. It also shows two #16 PCIe x1 card slots for the sound card.

@DELL-Chris M​ I was thinking in terms of 'before-the-fact'.  Because the specs say 290w, when. I am seeing 300w being needed for the card to even work, regardless of the RGB Lighting.  I don't have the PC, yet.

"I had to buy the Video Card when the on-board video died several years ago."
I thought that meant on the OptiPlex Tower 7020.

"Because the specs say 290w" ?
Dell specs or other seller?

According to the internal parts page, the OptiPlex Tower 7020 shipped with either a 180W PSU or a 300W PSU. A GeForce GT 1030 only uses a maximum of 30W and takes power directly from the PCIe lane. So the 300W PSU should be fine.

@DELL-Chris M​ Dell specs.  No, The GeForce GT 1030 was to replace the on-board video chip that failed in my present PC(Lenovo).

If it ships with a 300w(optional, I guess), then.  How come, when looking at this page: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-300w-power-supply/apd/cpx-j82t5/computer-chassis-components#compatibility_section

It doesn't list the OptiPlex 7020 as being compatible?

Proprietary reasons.  Connections aren't always the same in Dell's from motherboard to motherboard.  So you might've been looking at the wrong PSU.

By the way, a 180w PSU will power the 30w card.  There's still enough left over for CPU, RAM, and DVD drive.   If you still want a 300w PSU, it doesn't hurt in case you want to add a more powerful GPU later.

Consider if the GT 1030 is really an improvement.  It's a little bit of an older card.  Compare graphics the GT 1030 has against graphics the CPU in the tower you order will have.  This also depends on your gaming/workload requirements.  Graphics that CPU's come with now days are much better than they used to be.

@bradthetechnut​ I do play games, but.  None like World Of Warcraft.

As for the video n' audio cards.  I use them, because.  I detest how everything gets' put on the motherboard.

J82T5 Chicony 300W PSU in not on the Optiplex 7020 Tower list of validated 300W PSU =

77N7F Acbel 300W
C8VJG Chicony 300W
9W70T Delta 300W
K96D5 LiteOn 300W

@DELL-Chris M​ On this page: 300w PSU.  The only one I saw.  From what you listed, was.  The one you said wasn't on the list.  Does that mean.  It would work?                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Optiplex 7020 Tower list of tested/validated 300W PSU =
77N7F Acbel 300W
C8VJG Chicony 300W
9W70T Delta 300W
K96D5 LiteOn 300W

Those four on the sales page "View Details" do not state Optiplex 7020 Tower. So they are not tested/validated with the Optiplex 7020 Tower and we have no way of knowing if they work or fit =

J82T5 Chicony 300W

3XY3J Chicony 300W

TG7YF Liteon 300W

352NR Liteon 300W