Question budget LGA1700, or lack of, at Micro Center

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

It appears that for whatever reason, Micro Center STILL doesn't carry much in the way of budget LGA1700. For quite a while now, I've wanted to bundle a cheap motherboard with an I3 12100F processor for the bundle savings. However, Micro Center simply isn't carrying the cpu, which I think would build a really nice budget system.

Anyone have any ideas why they aren't carrying the processor? I would think it would be a really good seller for them....

 

[VirtualLarry]

Micro Center STILL doesn't carry much in the way of budget LGA1700.

I don't think that there is such a thing as budget 1700 boards.

And I thought that one of the retailers (BestBuy) had exclusivity selling the 12100F in-store.

 

[Tech Junky]

They probably have the CPU in stock but don't' list it online.

When ADL first came out they had a shelf full of them but you had to go in store to buy them because they were being idiots about compatibility and refused to sell them online.

Forget about a bundle though and just find the board that fits your needs.

 

[Rigg]

I understand that this is in the context of a budget build, but I still think the extra $100 or so you would spend on a 12400 /MSI B660M-A pro over a 12100f /garbage tier h610 board is money well spent. If you're trying to maximize value on a CPU and mobo combo from MC wait until the week of thanksgiving. Don't be surprised if you see sub $100 12400 and 5600 deals this year.

 

[shady28]

I think what OP is saying is that MC doesn't carry lower end chips like the 12100 very often. He's right, it's rare to see anything below a 12400 at MC and they sell out immediately.

I looked at MC in other other states and it seems universal, at least for the 6 or so locations I checked, no alder lake CPUs below a 12400. In fact, the overall sku selection on Alder Lake is getting a bit sparse at MicroCenter. 12400, 12600K, 12700, 12700K, 12900K. That's pretty much all they have other than a few 'in store only' 12900KS.

There are at least 3 socket 1700 motherboards showing where I live for under $100. Two are H610 and one is a B660 (MSI B660M-G Pro DDR4). At MC you also get another $20 off if you buy the CPU there so it is effectively $70-$80 for the motherboard. So that is not the issue.

 

[Rigg]

It's true that MC doesn't tend to carry a lot in the way of low end current gen SKU's. I honestly don't know why they don't but it does seem to be the reality.

If it's a mobo deal the OP is after then the best bet is to find an open box board (I'd avoid h610) and bundle it with the cheapest compatible SKU. You can return the CPU without losing the discount and buy an i3 online. The mobo discount will not be applied automatically when it's open box. You will have to have a manager manually apply the discount.

Sign up to get special offer emails and (if possible) get their card so you get an extra 5% off. They had an OEM 5600x and MSI B550 PRO-VDH Wifi combo for $220 that I picked up recently that was only available through an email link.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

>I think what OP is saying is that MC doesn't carry lower end chips like the >12100 very often. He's right, it's rare to see anything below a 12400 at MC

Yes, they don't seem to now, though they have in the past. For example, they had the $80 AMD Ryzen 1600 processor for about a year and a half, a fantastic everyday price.

I figured that these sorts of deals went away as demand skyrocketed during the pandemic, but shouldn't they come back now that things are more or less back to normal again? I tend to build budget builds, then upgrade the cpu a year or two later. If there's no budget cpu, then I'll just hold off and use my old systems.