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Cyber Monday offers are rolling in, and we’re seeing great deals on mid-range Intel and AMD CPUs. These deals are great for those who want to build a new gaming PC with the maximum value, as mid-range products generally provide good value and then some at a discount. We’ve tested and reviewed some of these CPUs here at PC Guide and will be sharing the results so you know their real-world performance before investing in them.
Mid-range CPU deals – my top picks this Cyber Monday
Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices.
This dominant gaming processor can deliver fast 100+ FPS performance in the world’s most popular games, 8 Cores and 16 processing threads, based on AMD“Zen 5” architecture, 5.5 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 40 MB cache, DDR5-5600 support, For the state-of-the-art Socket AM5 platform, can support PCIe 5.0 on select motherboards, Cooler not included
Can deliver ultra-fast 100 plus FPS performance in the world’s most popular games, discrete graphics card required, 8 Cores and 16 processing threads, based onAMD “Zen 3” architecture, 4.6 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 36 MB cache, DDR4-3200 support, For the advanced Socket AM4 platform, can support PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards, Cooler not included . Max. Operating Temperature (Tjmax) 90°C
THE EXCEPTIONAL GAMING PROCESSOR. 8 Cores and 16 processing threads, based on AMD “Zen 4” architecture ., 5.4 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 80MB cache, DDR5 support . For the state-of-the-art Socket AM5 platform, can support PCIe 5.0 on select 600 Series motherboards, AMD Wraith Prism RGB Cooler Included . Max. Operating Temperature (Tjmax) 95°C
This dominant gaming processor can deliver fast 100+ FPS performance in the world’s most popular games, 8 Cores and 16 processing threads, based on AMD“Zen 5” architecture, 5.5 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 40 MB cache, DDR5-5600 support, For the state-of-the-art Socket AM5 platform, can support PCIe 5.0 on select motherboards, Cooler not included
The first processor on this list is the Ryzen 7 9700X, one of the latest additions to the AMD Ryzen CPUs. While this processor wasn’t as well received as AMD hoped, it is still a good processor, and we gave it a 3.5/5 rating with 60W TDP testing in our Ryzen 7 9700X review.
This is an 8-core, 16-thread CPU with a base and boost clock speeds of 3.8 and 5.5 GHz, respectively. So, it is the perfect blend of performance and value, and despite its mid-range title, it is at the top of Puget Systems benchmark for Photoshop.
That being said, it also showcased good in-game performance during our in-house CPU testing. We paired it with an RTX 4070 Ti and ran Cyberpunk 2077 and Days Gone at 1080p to put more load on the CPU. It managed 325 and 240 FPS, significantly better than its predecessor, the 7700X, which managed 296 and 255 in the same titles.
So, this is a solid processor for gaming and work, and with the option to ramp its TDP to 105W, you should be able to get better performance out of it, giving it even better value.
Ryzen 7 7700 – Was $329, Now $263.98 at Amazon
Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices.
Save 7% NOW!
AMD Ryzen 7 7700
THE EXCEPTIONAL GAMING PROCESSOR. 8 Cores and 16 processing threads, based on AMD “Zen 4” architecture ., 5.4 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 80MB cache, DDR5 support . For the state-of-the-art Socket AM5 platform, can support PCIe 5.0 on select 600 Series motherboards, AMD Wraith Prism RGB Cooler Included . Max. Operating Temperature (Tjmax) 95°C
The next on our list is the Ryzen 7 7700. While its “X” counterpart may overshadow it, it is still a good mid-range processor, as the 7700 and 7700X aren’t that far apart. The Ryzen 7 7700X has a base and boost clock speed of 4.5 and 5.4 GHz with a 105W TDP, while the Ryzen 7 7700 has clock speeds of 3.8 and 5.4 GHz with a 60W TDP.
So, a little overclocking should be able to get the 7700 closer to the 7700X’s performance. That being said, we’ve reviewed the 7700X in-house, and you can take a look to get an idea of how these processors perform in the real world.
Besides that, they share the same architecture, core, and thread counts and are unlocked for overclocking. So, if you’re operating on a budget and want to move to the AM5 platform, I think the Ryzen 7 7700 is a great CPU to start from.
Intel Core i7-12700K – Was $224.97, Now $186 at Amazon
Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices.
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Save 24% NOW!
Intel Core i7-12700K Gaming Desktop Processor
with Integrated Graphics and 12 (8P+4E) Cores up to 5.0 GHz Unlocked LGA1700 600 Series Chipset 125W
It’s not all about Team Red; Intel also has some good processors on sale, including the i7-12700K. This is a processor based on the LGA 1700 platform, which supports three generations of Intel CPUs: 12th, 13th, and 14th-generation.
So, you’ll have plenty of processors to choose from to upgrade to in the future. With the Arrow Lake processors being released, we should see good discounts on older processors as time goes on. That being said, the 12700K is powered by 12 cores, 20 threads, 2.7GHz base clock speed, 5GHz boost clock speed, and a maximum 190W TDP.
This means that this chip should be more than capable of powering through single—and multi-threaded workflows without breaking a sweat. For gaming, you should be able to pair it with a powerful GPU without running into bottleneck issues. If you’re interested in exploring some options, check out the best GPUs for the 12700K, as you might find some options in the Cyber Monday sales.
Ryzen 7 5700X – Was $319, Now $130 at Amazon
Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices.
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43% Off
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
Can deliver ultra-fast 100 plus FPS performance in the world’s most popular games, discrete graphics card required, 8 Cores and 16 processing threads, based onAMD “Zen 3” architecture, 4.6 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 36 MB cache, DDR4-3200 support, For the advanced Socket AM4 platform, can support PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards, Cooler not included . Max. Operating Temperature (Tjmax) 90°C
The final CPU on this list is the Ryzen 7 5700X, a decent mid-range processor based on the AM4 platform. We’ve reviewed the Ryzen 7 5700X and gave it a 3.5/5 rating, which might not cut it for some, but consider the price point you’re getting it at.
This has 8 cores, 16 threads, a base clock speed of 3.4GHz, a boost clock speed of 4.6GHz, and a 65W TDP. All of these specifications are in line with what we’ve seen in Ryzen 7 processors. However, it managed pretty good results when we tested its gaming performance, paired with an RTX 4070 Ti Super. It delivered 296 and 196 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 and Days Gone, respectively. Its output in Cyberpunk 2077 is the same as 7700X, which says a lot.
So, if you were looking at this CPU for gaming purposes, this shouldn’t disappoint. As you can see, you can pair it with much newer GPUs without running into bottleneck issues.
More CPU deals for Cyber Monday
If you want to check out more options before deciding on one, here are some more CPU deals.
Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices.
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Save 21% now!
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D
The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread desktop processor available for $190.00, reflecting a 24% discount from its original price of $249.00. Itboasts a maximum boost clock speed of 4.1 GHz and features a substantial 100MB cache for enhanced performance. This processor supports unlocked memory overclocking and is compatible with the AMD Socket AM4 platform, ensuring good upgradability. A liquid cooler is recommended for optimal cooling, although one is not included. With an impressive rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from 779 users, it has gained popularity among gamers and PC builders alike.
This dominant gaming processor can deliver fast 100+ FPS performance in the world’s most popular games, 8 Cores and 16 processing threads, based on AMD“Zen 5” architecture, 5.5 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 40 MB cache, DDR5-5600 support, For the state-of-the-art Socket AM5 platform, can support PCIe 5.0 on select motherboards, Cooler not included
The Ryzen 7 7700X offers 8 cores and 16 threads, 5nm process node, base clock speed of 4.5 GHz, which can boost up to 5.4GHz under heavy workloads, DDR5 memory, support for PCIe 5.0, AM5 socket compatible, 105W TDP (Thermal Design Power).
Intel® Core™ i7-14700K New Gaming Desktop Processor
Game Without Compromise. Play harder and work smarter with Intel Core 14th Gen processors, 20 cores (8 P-cores + 12 E-cores) and 28 threads. IntegratedIntel UHD Graphics 770 included, Up to 5.6 GHz with Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 gives you smooth game play, high frame rates, and rapid responsiveness, Compatible with Intel 600-series (with potential BIOS update) or 700-series chipset-based motherboards, DDR4 and DDR5 platform support cuts your load times and gives you the space to run the most demanding games
Stream, create, and compete at the highest levels with industry leading features and the latest hybrid architecture, 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) and32 threads, Up to 5.8 GHz unlocked. 36MB Cache, Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 included, Compatible with Intel 600 series (might need BIOS update) and 700 series chipset-based motherboards
7950X: 16 Cores / 32 Threads, Based on AMD’s Zen 4 architecture, Base Clock: 4.5 GHz, Boost Clock: Up to 5.7 GHz, Built on TSMC’s5nm process, L2 Cache: 16 MB, L3 Cache: 64 MB, Supports DDR5 RAM up to 5200 MHz, PCIe 5.0. MSI MEG X670E: AMD X670E chipset, E-ATX form factor, 4 DDR5 DIMM slots, supporting up to 128GB of RAM, 4x PCIe 5.0 Slots, 4x M.2 slots with PCIe 5.0 support NVMe SSDs, 6x SATA 6Gb/s ports for additional storage, OLED display, RGB lighting with MSI Mystic Light.
