If you’ve been planning to build a new PC or upgrade the components of your existing one, then Micro Center has a bundle for you. Through it, you can grab some important components for your rig at a discounted price, helping you save money that you can invest elsewhere.
However, it is important to keep in mind that the bundle is available for in-store pick-up only. So, you’ll have to visit a nearby Micro Center branch to pick it up after you place an order. With that key detail out of the way, let’s jump straight into the bundle.
What does the Ryzen 9700X bundle offer?
The current Micro Center 9700X bundle offers a CPU, motherboard, and RAM. You’ll have to buy the other components from somewhere else, such as the case, PSU, cooler, and GPU.
Here’s everything included in the bundle:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
To begin with, the bundle includes the Ryzen 7 9700X processor. This is a part of the latest AMD 9000 series lineup, so it offers Zen 5 architecture. For those who don’t know, Zen 5 is the new architecture being used by AMD, a ‘ground-up redesign‘ that offers various improvements over last-gen such as support for faster memory speeds.
The 9700X comes with 8 cores and 16 threads. On top of that, it has a base clock speed of 3.8 GHz, which can go up to 5.5 GHz. Aside from that, the CPU has a fairly low TDP of 65W, which is significantly lower than the 105W TDP of its predecessor, the 7700X. Do keep in mind though that motherboard providers are now enabling a 105W TDP mode for these processors if you want to push them further. While you don’t need a high-end power supply with it, we still recommend getting one of the best PSUs for the 9700X to avoid running into any power-related issues.
Motherboard: Gigabyte B650 Gaming X AX V2
For the motherboard, Micro Center has included the Gigabyte B650 Gaming X AX V2. This is a mid-range motherboard, one that offers the LGA 1718 (AM5) socket. So, it is compatible with Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series CPUs which use the AM5 socket – a platform which AMD plans to have a lot of longevity for. Keep in mind that this also means you won’t be able to switch to an Intel processor later if you have this motherboard.
The board can support up to four DDR5 8000 (OC) RAMs with a maximum capacity of 256 GB. On top of that, it has a Direct 8+2+2 Digital VRM Design, so you shouldn’t face any performance or stability issues thanks to it. There are also three M.2 slots to connect your M.2 SSDs and four SATA 6 GB/s for additional storage.
Additionally, you’ll find plenty of ports for connecting your peripheral devices, and there’s also a 2.5G LAN port for high-speed internet connections. The board also offers a fully covered MOSFET heatsink, ensuring the motherboard stays cool during extended sessions.
RAM: G.Skill Flare X5 Series
Finally, for the RAM, we have G.Skill Flare X5 Series. The bundle offers two 16GB DDR5 sticks, each with a maximum speed of up to 6000 MHz. 32GB of RAM should be more than enough for demanding games and productivity software, but you can always upgrade it in the future.
A great bundle with a decent price
The three components individually will cost you $619.97 in total. However, if you opt for the Micro Center bundle, you can get them for only $449.99. In short, the bundle will help you save $169.98 at the time of writing. You can use this money to buy one of the best airflow PC cases, a suitable gaming PSU, and a powerful AIO cooler to help keep the temps low. You may also want to check out the best GPU for Ryzen 7 9700X, where the majority of your gaming PC build spend will likely go.
In case you want to explore more Micro Center bundles, you can check out their recent 4-in-1 AMD bundle and 7600X3D bundle.
