Just in case you missed it, Intel recently launched its new ‘Arrow Lake’ CPUs, now known as the Core Ultra 200S series. One of the cheapest options from the initial batch is the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, a chip we recently reviewed. We called it “an underwhelming entry” and the value for money isn’t really there yet, especially as you’ll need to bundle it up with a new Z890 motherboard.
Turning back our attention to AMD now, the Ryzen 9000 series launched a couple of months ago and utilizes Team Red’s latest Zen 5 architecture. It’s based on the AM5 socket which should be supported for years to come, with new processors through 2027+. That means it’s a great time to upgrade to AM5 and the 9000 series is a great way of doing so.
Micro Center 3-in-1 9600X bundle
Ryzen 5 9600X bundled with B650M motherboard and 16GB DDR5 RAM
With everything above in mind, we think this Micro Center bundle is a steal. We found the cheapest available 245K at Newegg and B&H Photo Video for $319.99 – it was a little more expensive on Amazon and Best Buy at the time of writing; the MSRP is set at $309.99 for reference.
To compare, the Micro Center bundle in question costs just $329.99 – just $10 more than the 245K, all the while kick-starting your brand new AM5 bundle with two other compatible components. Keep in mind that this bundle is available for in-store pickup only, so you’ll need to collect it at your local MC store.
Ryzen 5 9600X
First up is the centerpiece of this bundle, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, a processor we’ve reviewed. Initially providing a highly efficient 65W TDP, more recent BIOS updates allow this chip to run at 105W if you so wish. It’s currently the entry-level option in the 9000 series and offers excellent gaming performance against its low price tag. It features 6 cores, 12 threads, and a boost clock speed of 5.3Ghz which makes it ideal for gaming and some productivity tasks.
In our gaming tests at 1080p low when paired with the RTX 4070 Ti we saw 325 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 and 246 FPS in Day’s Gone. This represents a decent uplift over the previous-gen 7600X and even the 5800X3D in the Cyberpunk’s case. It also offered excellent stability as the 1% lows were noticeably higher than last gen.
ASUS B650M-A Prime AX II
The next thing to talk about is the motherboard paired with the 9600X, the ASUS ASUS B650M-A Prime AX II. This AM5 motherboard provides everything you need including PCIe 5.0 M.2 support for your NVMe SSDs, on-board Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and plenty of USB ports, including Type-C. It also includes a BIOS FlashBack button for troubleshooting and easier BIOS updates and “comprehensive cooling” with VRM and PCH heatsinks.
While the B650M chipset is not the highest-end offering from AMD, it is suitable for a more mid-range chip for the 7600X and can handle overclocking; this board supports AMD Extended Profiles for Overclocking (EXPO).
Flare X5 Series 16GB DDR5-6000 RAM
Lastly is the RAM, 16GB of memory which is suitable enough for gaming these days. This single-channel memory offers up to 6000MHz speeds, which isn’t the fastest you can get from DDR5, but well exceeds the 3200MHz of last-gen DDR4. Since it is single-channel, that leaves you plenty of room to upgrade if you’re looking for more RAM in the future. It is also compatible with AMD EXPO, so you can also overclock the RAM without too much hassle.
Should I buy this bundle?
This bundle is similar to another deal we recently saw from Micro Center, where a 7800X3D bundle is only $10 more than Intel’s new flagship Ultra 9 285K. So, off the back of the Arrow Lake launch, we’re witnessing a bunch of great AMD deals that should tempt you to go for Team Red instead – and we think it’s the right play.
AM5 is guaranteed to see support for years to come and upgrading your outdated build with a latest-gen 9600X and two compatible parts for just $320 is amazing value. If you’re putting together a completely new PC, you can put the $114.98 you save here towards a new CPU cooler or the best PSU for 9600X.
