AMD Ryzen 7 5800X deal helps it compete with Intel Core i5-12600K

What you need to know

• The Ryzen 7 5800X is down to $330 at Micro Center right now.
• The discount places the Ryzen CPU in the same price range as the new Intel Core i5-12600K.
• You have to order the processor for in-store pickup to take advantage of the deal.

People looking to pick up a new Ryzen CPU for their PC are in luck. Right now, Micro Center has a deal on the Ryzen 7 5800X that brings the processor down to $330. That's $120 off its normal retail price and lower than the discounted price we often see of around $350. Perhaps most importantly for PC builders, the deal brings the Ryzen 7 5800X into the same price range as the newly launched Intel Core i5-12600K.

Directly comparing the best CPUs from Intel and AMD CPUs is complex. Core and thread counts don't tell a complete story, and there are notable differences between the platforms. In our Intel Core i5-12600K review, we compare the chip to both the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 5800X. "The Core i5-12600K will easily give the Ryzen 7 5800X a run for its money across a variety of benchmark tests, leaving it in [the] dust for gaming," concludes the review.

Micro Center's deal also brings the Ryzen 7 5800X within $20 of the Ryzen 5 5600X's current sale price. For only an additional $50, the Ryzen 7 5800X is a significant upgrade over its less powerful sibling.

Moving away from any comparisons to Intel counterparts, AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X is an impressive CPU. Even when the chip cost $450, our Ryzen 7 5800X review highlighted its value, "the Ryzen 7 5800X is a big improvement over its Zen 2 counterparts, and it's clear that AMD isn't slowing down. If you want a top-end CPU for competitive gaming, some specialized work, and don't want to pay more than about $450, the Ryzen 7 5800X should make a great chip for years to come."

Micro Center had a deal that discounted the CPU to just $300 earlier today, so you may need to act quickly before the price goes up again.