Bundle & Save With Intel: Seven Great Processor Combos
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There’s never been a better time to start your next Intel build. With seven different bundle options through Micro Center, the possibilities are just about endless. Ranging from budget-friendly to next-gen powerhouse, these bundles provide the perfect base to start building. But which one is right for your next build? Let's break down the options.
The Next Gen Build: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and ANY Intel Z890 Motherboard
Photo: Micro Center The Core Ultra 7 265K is the latest upper-mid-range processor from Intel, powered by all the newest features, like an on-board NPU and increased efficiency. Right now, you can save $120 on the Ultra 7 265K, but if you pick up an Intel Z890 motherboard at the same time -- all are valid for this bundle -- you can save an additional $70. That's $190 in savings on a processor that’s barely three months old and ready for gaming, content creation, and AI work.
The New-Builder Bundle: Intel Core i9-12900K bundled with an ASUS Z790-Plus TUF Gaming WiFi D5 MB and G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32GB DDR5 6000 Kit - Processor Pre-Installed
Photo: Micro Center The first time I put together a PC, by far the scariest step was putting the CPU into the motherboard. It’s hard not to worry that you’ll bend a pin or close the lid without fully slotting the CPU in. Thankfully, this bundle takes that stress away by installing the top-of-the-generation Intel Core i9-12900K into the ASUS Z790 motherboard before you even take it home. From there, the build is up to you; whether it becomes a killer gaming PC or an editing workhorse, the Core i9-12900K is ready for it.
Last Gen’s Top-Of-The-Line Build: Intel Core i9-14900K, ASUS Z790 Gaming WiFi7, G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32GB DDR5 6000 Kit
Photo: Micro Center Only a bit over a year old, Intel’s 14th Generation of processors were powerhouses when they released and still deliver more than enough oomph to handle just about everything you could want. With the top-of-the-generation Core i9-14900K, an ASUS Z790 gaming motherboard and 32GB of DDR5-6000 RAM, this bundle is ready for 4K AAA gaming and high-end video and photo editing -- just add a graphics card! If you want to bump up your build even further, you can upgrade the motherboard to the ASUS Z790-Plus TUF for only $50 more.
Last-Gen’s Upper-Mid-Range Build: Intel Core i7-14700K, ASUS Z790 Gaming WiFi7, G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32GB Kit DDR5 6000
Photo: Micro Center Like the Core i9-14900K in the bundle above, the Intel Core i7-14700K is still a more-than-capable processor that’s ready and able to handle the latest games and programs without much worry. While it lacks the on-board NPU of the latest generation, it still features the powerful Intel E- and P-Cores; 12 Efficiency and 8 Performance cores, to be precise. For a bit more power and only $50 more, you can upgrade the motherboard to the ASUS Z790-Plus TUF.
Budget-Friendly Powerhouse: Intel Core i9-12900K, ASUS Z790-V Prime AX DDR5, G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32GB Kit DDR5 6000
Photo: Micro Center If you're looking to build a computer that's still got more than enough processing power to game, edit, and create, but need to stay on a budget, the Intel Core i9-12900K bundle is the perfect choice. The i9-12900K is jam packed with 16 cores -- eight Efficiency and eight Performance -- and 24 threads, keeping it competitive with some of the latest generations of processors. Also included is the ASUS Z790-V Prime motherboard and 32GB of DDR5 RAM, the latest and fastest generation of RAM.
Budget-Friendly Mid-Range Build: Intel Core i7-12700K, MSI Z790-P Pro WiFi DDR4, Crucial 16GB DDR4-3200 Kit
Photo: Micro Center A small step back from the Core i9-12900k bundle, the Intel Core i7-12700k bundle is perfect for budget-conscious builders who are still looking to build a machine that can handle gaming and other heavy work loads. With 12 cores -- six Efficiency and six Performance -- and 20 threads, this bundle is a great base for a family PC that will still let the kids earn those Fortnite wins.
Budget-Friendly Entry-Level Build: Intel Core i5-12600KF, MSI Z790-P Pro WiFi DDR4, Crucial 16GB DDR4-3200 Kit
Photo: Micro Center For under $300, the Intel Core i5-12600KF bundle is the perfect budget-conscious chameleon bundle. Since the 12600KF does not have on board graphics, a GPU is a must have. But whether you pick up an inexpensive NVIDIA GT 710 and turn the bundle into a family computer and work machine or splurge on a higher-end GPU and turn it into a great mid-range gaming machine is entirely up to you. With an MSI Z790-P Pro and 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, this is a bundle that is ready to be whatever you need it to be.
With seven different Intel bundles currently available through Micro Center, we have a bundle for everyone. Still not sure which bundle is right for you? Stop into your local Micro Center and speak to one of our associates. We were recently rated the #1 Electronics Retailer by PC Mag and our associates are more than willing to help show you why we're the best computer store in the world.
Bundle contents and prices taken at time of writing and are subject to change. Check the Intel Bundle Page for the latest on Intel CPU bundles.
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