Micro Center is selling this 12th-gen Intel bundle that costs way less than a single new Core Ultra CPU
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Some of the Intel Core Ultra CPUs were launched today, showcasing the latest Intel architecture. However, these CPUs come with a hefty price tag that many may find unaffordable; for example, the Core Ultra 285K costs over $600. But what if we told you that you could get three key components for half that price? It might sound too good to be true, but Micro Center offers a bundle that can help you save a significant amount of money.
Micro Center 3-in-1 12700K bundle
What does the Micro Center 3-in-1 bundle offer?
The bundle pairs the Core i7-12700K CPU, a mid-range option from the Intel 12th-gen lineup, with the MSI Z790-P Pro WiFi DDR4 motherboard and 16GB of RAM. You can learn more about them below.
CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K
For the CPU, we have the Intel Core i7-12700K, a mid-range CPU from the 12th-gen lineup. This processor provides a great blend of price and performance and is a great option for those who don’t want to overspend on a CPU but still want something that can handle intensive tasks smoothly.
As far as its specifications are concerned, it packs 12 cores in total. Eight of them are Performance cores, which handle demanding tasks like video editing and gaming. On the other hand, the remaining four are Efficient cores, designed for light tasks such as browsing and creating documents.
The CPU operates at a base frequency of 2.7 GHz, but the P-cores are capable of reaching 4.90 GHz when required. It also has a base TDP and max TDP of 125, so we recommend pairing it with one of the best power supplies for gaming.
Motherboard: MSI Z790-P Pro WiFi DDR4
Micro Center has included the MSI Z790-P Pro WiFi DDR4 motherboard in this bundle. This is a pretty basic-looking motherboard with an all-black design. There’s nothing fancy like RGB that can help improve the aesthetics of your build. But if you don’t prefer lights coming out of your rig, then this won’t bother you.
The board comes with four x 288-pin DIMM DDR4 RAM slots, which can support a max capacity of 128GB. Aside from that, it offers the LGA 1700 socket, so you can easily upgrade to a better 12th or even 13th/14th gen CPU in the future. For connectivity, you’ll find 12 USB ports on the back, including one Type C port. You can also use the 2.5G Ethernet port in the rear to establish a fast and stable wired connection, but since the board supports WiFi 6E, you’ll be more than fine with a wireless connection.
For SSDs, the MSI Z790-P Pro WiFi DDR4 offers four M.2 slots. There are also six SATA 6G ports, which can be used to connect standard hard drives.
RAM: Crucial 16GB 3200 MHz
For the RAM, Micro Center has included 16GB DDR5 RAM. The kit comes with two 8GB sticks, each offering a speed of up to 3200 MHz. These are basic RAM sticks with no heatsinks, but they’ll get the job done. If you ever need more RAM in the future, you can upgrade easily, as the motherboard that comes in this bundle can support up to 128GB.
How much will you save?
If you buy the three components individually, you’d have to spend $432.97. But thanks to Micro Center, you can get them for only $299.99, saving around $132. The money you save can be used to get the remaining components for the build, such as one of the best airflow PC cases and one of the best AIO coolers.
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