[US] i3-10100F - $69.99 at Micro Center (in store only)

[Aereldor]

1 hour ago, Paul Rudd said:

 

Ultra textures depends on what resolution. At 1080p and even 1440p most of the time it's almost impossible to distinguish between high and ultra options, even as early on as The Witcher 3, yes even when you have your nose in the textures. Especially if you're using anisotropic filtering. In some newer titles I can lower textures to medium with 16x AF and not be able to tell them apart from Ultra unless I really nitpick.

 

There are smarter ways of doing foliage that developers haven't got around to implementing. There's a famous Skyrim mod called 'grass FPS mod' which increases grass density, variety, and actually improves performance over vanilla. Pretty sure it's just basic occlusion culling too.

[Dedayog]

10 minutes ago, Aereldor said:

You buy that CPU, it's $69.99. You buy a compatible motherboard, you get a further $20 off on the purchase. You don't get that if you only buy the CPU. You also don't get that if you only buy the motherboard. 

Okay, so at best it's a $10 off each.  Tho their wording of "eligible" m CPU or motherboard means the discount is contingent, tho haven't seen any uneligible items.

 

Moot point anyway, link says no longer available 

 

 

[Aereldor]

2 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Okay, so at best it's a $10 off each.  Tho their wording of "eligible" m CPU or motherboard means the discount is contingent, tho haven't seen any uneligible items.

You either get $20 off with the combined purchase of any compatible CPU and Motherboard or you don't. If you get $2 cashback if you buy 2 steaks, you're not getting a steak for a dollar off because the offer doesn't exist if you just buy one steak.

 

It's in-store, pretty sure they just check whether the chipset is compatible with the CPU generation and give you the discount.

[Dedayog]

21 minutes ago, Aereldor said:

You either get $20 off with the combined purchase of any compatible CPU and Motherboard or you don't. If you get $2 cashback if you buy 2 steaks, you're not getting a steak for a dollar off because the offer doesn't exist if you just buy one steak.

 

It's in-store, pretty sure they just check whether the chipset is compatible with the CPU generation and give you the discount.

Nm, lost in translation.  

 

Like I said, it's moot now.  Deal is done.  Need another cheap Intel CPU to play with now.

[Dedayog]

i5 10400F is $129... decent deal...

 

https://www.microcenter.com/product/623073/intel-core-i5-10400f-comet-lake-29ghz-six-core-lga-1200-boxed?rf=PDP_altSell+>+Cross_Sell+>+Cross+Sell+CPUs+Intel+1200+Specific

 

 

 

[aisle9]

2 hours ago, Aereldor said:

You either get $20 off with the combined purchase of any compatible CPU and Motherboard or you don't. If you get $2 cashback if you buy 2 steaks, you're not getting a steak for a dollar off because the offer doesn't exist if you just buy one steak.

 

It's in-store, pretty sure they just check whether the chipset is compatible with the CPU generation and give you the discount.

Cost factors in too. I’ve heard that there’s a blanket policy of nothing under $100, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. They’ve explicitly left Ryzen 3 CPUs out of that promotion in the past, nor will you get the deal on a Pentium or Craperon. 
 

On a more local level, the Duluth store has refused to do the deal for me with a used motherboard. Meanwhile, at the Marietta store a few years ago, I was able to buy an FX 8350 for $100 and through the magic of math get a used AM3+ board for free after the combo.

2 hours ago, Dedayog said:

Nm, lost in translation.  

 

Like I said, it's moot now.  Deal is done.  Need another cheap Intel CPU to play with now.

Might still be active, just OOS at my store. Not sure.

[aisle9]

22 hours ago, Dedayog said:

Nm, lost in translation.  

 

Like I said, it's moot now.  Deal is done.  Need another cheap Intel CPU to play with now.

Well would you look at that... now that the $70 10100F is no longer a thing, cheap H410 and H470 boards are in stock at my store.

 

 Though I won’t lie, a $130 10400F with a $60 H410 board, minus the $20 discount, is a hugely tempting prospect. $170 for the guts of a system... that’s less than the 10400F would’ve cost a few months back.

[Dedayog]

4 minutes ago, aisle9 said:

Well would you look at that... now that the $70 10100F is no longer a thing, cheap H410 and H470 boards are in stock at my store.

 

 Though I won’t lie, a $130 10400F with a $60 H410 board, minus the $20 discount, is a hugely tempting prospect. $170 for the guts of a system... that’s less than the 10400F would’ve cost a few months back.

Agreed, magically showed up...

 

https://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?N=&cat=&Ntt=h410m&searchButton=search

 

May spring that setup you mention.

[aisle9]

2 hours ago, Dedayog said:

Agreed, magically showed up...

 

https://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?N=&cat=&Ntt=h410m&searchButton=search

 

May spring that setup you mention.

Duluth has that and a $100 H470 board that, frankly, is a much better product. Either way, I don’t need it. I want it, but I don’t need it. My 8086K, even with no overclock, still beats the 10400F. Unless the 10100F comes back into stock at $70 and I can get a CPU+board for $110, it’s not worth it to me.

[aisle9]

Update: it looks like the 10100F is back in stock at $70, but MC has taken it off of the list of CPUs eligible for a bundle discount, so no $50 CPU for you. Those motherboard are how they get you on the really amazing CPU deals. 
 

Of course, $130 for an i3 and an H81 board to go with it is still a damn solid deal if you need to upgrade and that’s all the beef you require, but it’s not good enough for me to jump in and buy stuff I don’t need.

[Dedayog]

3 minutes ago, aisle9 said:

Update: it looks like the 10100F is back in stock at $70, but MC has taken it off of the list of CPUs eligible for a bundle discount, so no $50 CPU for you. Those motherboard are how they get you on the really amazing CPU deals. 
 

Of course, $130 for an i3 and an H81 board to go with it is still a damn solid deal if you need to upgrade and that’s all the beef you require, but it’s not good enough for me to jump in and buy stuff I don’t need.

I'm swinging between the 10400f and the 10100f for a 13 year old's PC.  I have a 1050Ti to pair with, so just trying to get a decentish cheap machine built.

 

Probably going to go with the 10100f for now, not even sure how much they'll use the machine since kids are all about ipads and laptops vs desktops.

[aisle9]

2 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

I'm swinging between the 10400f and the 10100f for a 13 year old's PC.  I have a 1050Ti to pair with, so just trying to get a decentish cheap machine built.

 

Probably going to go with the 10100f for now, not even sure how much they'll use the machine since kids are all about ipads and laptops vs desktops.

I’d just go with the i3. If you have a Micro Center nearby and all you’re pairing it with is a 1050 Ti, and you’re not planning on upgrading the GPU soon (not that any of us will be upgrading between now and 2027), it’s still a really solid deal.

[Dedayog]

14 minutes ago, aisle9 said:

I’d just go with the i3. If you have a Micro Center nearby and all you’re pairing it with is a 1050 Ti, and you’re not planning on upgrading the GPU soon (not that any of us will be upgrading between now and 2027), it’s still a really solid deal.

I'm near you roughly, I'm 10 minutes from the Duluth store and my office is a 75/285 so the Marietta store is close as well.

 

Good advice, the i3 + 1050Ti is a good pair.

[aisle9]

38 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

I'm near you roughly, I'm 10 minutes from the Duluth store and my office is a 75/285 so the Marietta store is close as well.

 

Good advice, the i3 + 1050Ti is a good pair.

I’m still deciding lol. It’s either that or an X58 board that just showed up for $50 elsewhere, but considering that I’d be using it for an HTPC or retro gaming platform, the monstrous power draw of X58, even at stock, might be insanely unnecessary.

 

 I’m also considering getting the i3 by itself and the board from Amazon, where I have a ton of credit socked away.

[Dedayog]

15 minutes ago, aisle9 said:

I’m still deciding lol. It’s either that or an X58 board that just showed up for $50 elsewhere, but considering that I’d be using it for an HTPC or retro gaming platform, the monstrous power draw of X58, even at stock, might be insanely unnecessary.

 

 I’m also considering getting the i3 by itself and the board from Amazon, where I have a ton of credit socked away.

I too had some giftcards so went with this, a good cheap board but can handle a better CPU if that happens later:

 

 

ASROCK H410M-HDV/M.2 Supports 10th Gen Intel Core Processors (Socket 1200) Motherboard

 

I reserved a 10100f at the Duluth store just now as well, they only had 5 showing and wanted to nab one.

 

 

[aisle9]

10 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

I too had some giftcards so went with this, a good cheap board but can handle a better CPU if that happens later:

 

 

ASROCK H410M-HDV/M.2 Supports 10th Gen Intel Core Processors (Socket 1200) Motherboard

 

I reserved a 10100f at the Duluth store just now as well, they only had 5 showing and wanted to nab one.

 

 

I did the same. I honestly don’t know if I’ll end up buying it, but it looks damn good. Who knows, I might even go B460 or H470 and nab a 10700 or 10900 down the line. Lots of options with that CPU, and thanks to the 5% credit card discount plus Gwinnett’s wonderfully low sales tax (for Atlanta, anyway), it’s a true $70 i3.

[Dedayog]

10 hours ago, aisle9 said:

I did the same. I honestly don’t know if I’ll end up buying it, but it looks damn good. Who knows, I might even go B460 or H470 and nab a 10700 or 10900 down the line. Lots of options with that CPU, and thanks to the 5% credit card discount plus Gwinnett’s wonderfully low sales tax (for Atlanta, anyway), it’s a true $70 i3.

Duluth store does NOT ring up the $20 discount, but the manager came over after I mentioned it to the clerk.  He gave it to me.

 

So I got the i3 10100f and AS Rock H410M-HDV MATX for $109.98 plus tax.  $116.58

 

 

[aisle9]

4 hours ago, Dedayog said:

Duluth store does NOT ring up the $20 discount, but the manager came over after I mentioned it to the clerk.  He gave it to me.

 

So I got the i3 10100f and AS Rock H410M-HDV MATX for $109.98 plus tax.  $116.58

 

 

F life, I'm going in tomorrow after work. Maybe during lunch. The only thing I don't like is that board. Weird form factor and the PCIe x16 is in a weird-ass place. Of course, if they still have that B460M-HDV...

[Dedayog]

7 hours ago, aisle9 said:

F life, I'm going in tomorrow after work. Maybe during lunch. The only thing I don't like is that board. Weird form factor and the PCIe x16 is in a weird-ass place. Of course, if they still have that B460M-HDV...

Yeah, not happy it's MATX but for the money I can't argue.  Good luck, let us know how it goes.

 

Incase you have any issues, here...

 

 

 

 

[Paul Rudd]

On 2/11/2021 at 8:41 PM, Dedayog said:

So I got the i3 10100f and AS Rock H410M-HDV MATX for $109.98 plus tax.  $116.58

That is one hell of a deal. Superb snag. You literally bought the CPU and got the motherboard for free... Plus an $18 discount(since the 10100F is $128 an Amazon right now).

On 2/12/2021 at 8:45 AM, Dedayog said:

Yeah, not happy it's MATX but for the money I can't argue.

Why not happy? Don't you know some bright sides of MATX? It's literally 2.4" smaller with one less GPU slot. Were you planning on cross fire?

 

MATX actually promotes better airflow and leaves room for greater expansion.

 

Sure the VRM setup is non-existent on this board and the RAM is limited to DDR4 2666 but it's still gonna provide a good experience for that price.

 

I'm interested in the clock speed you're able to achieve. Sometimes you can win the silicon lottery. I fortunately did on an ASRock B450M-HDV. Hope you do the same. I wonder if you can throw on a heatsink similar to the one on the B450M-HDV. It's probably like $10 on Amazon/eBay if you can find one that's compatible.

 

One thing I like a LOT about ASRock is the BIOS. Another bright side that you should immediately notice.

 

Another thing about MATX is that having just 2 RAM slots actually benefits clocking RAM :). After you setup drivers and what not, RAM would be the very first thing I'd try to get to that DDR4 2666 clock speed.

[Dedayog]

1 hour ago, Paul Rudd said:

That is one hell of a deal. Superb snag. You literally bought the CPU and got the motherboard for free... Plus an $18 discount(since the 10100F is $128 an Amazon right now).

Why not happy? Don't you know some bright sides of MATX? It's literally 2.4" smaller with one less GPU slot. Were you planning on cross fire?

 

MATX actually promotes better airflow and leaves room for greater expansion.

 

Sure the VRM setup is non-existent on this board and the RAM is limited to DDR4 2666 but it's still gonna provide a good experience for that price.

 

I'm interested in the clock speed you're able to achieve. Sometimes you can win the silicon lottery. I fortunately did on an ASRock B450M-HDV. Hope you do the same. I wonder if you can throw on a heatsink similar to the one on the B450M-HDV. It's probably like $10 on Amazon/eBay if you can find one that's compatible.

 

One thing I like a LOT about ASRock is the BIOS. Another bright side that you should immediately notice.

 

Another thing about MATX is that having just 2 RAM slots actually benefits clocking RAM :). After you setup drivers and what not, RAM would be the very first thing I'd try to get to that DDR4 2666 clock speed.

You make great points.  My primary gripe with mAtx is the size and fit in the case.  I like a case balanced and filled, but I do see the benefits you mentioned.

 

I went with the CM Q300L for now, but may change that up if I can find a white case under $50 that's decent.

[Paul Rudd]

52 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

I went with the CM Q300L for now

If you do, make sure you...

Mod it 

52 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

but may change that up if I can find a white case under $50 that's decent.

Fractal Design Focus G Black - $49 (it comes in white but for $63 right now)

darkFlash DLM 22 White - $53 ($55 for mesh front panel, may or may not be worth it for better airflow bc you can always mod the $53 non-mesh front panel one)

 

And if it helps, the FD Focus G is almost 4 years old in May and the dF DLM 22 is almost 2 years old in May. The CM Q300L just turned 3 years old a few days ago.

[Dedayog]

13 hours ago, Paul Rudd said:

If you do, make sure you...

Mod it 

Fractal Design Focus G Black - $49 (it comes in white but for $63 right now)

darkFlash DLM 22 White - $53 ($55 for mesh front panel, may or may not be worth it for better airflow bc you can always mod the $53 non-mesh front panel one)

 

And if it helps, the FD Focus G is almost 4 years old in May and the dF DLM 22 is almost 2 years old in May. The CM Q300L just turned 3 years old a few days ago.

Good info, thank you.  I'd love to mod the Q300L and have interchangeable panels for it, since they're just magnetic.

 

I'm hoping the 212 Evo will work with this config, I have one left over from my previous build.

[Paul Rudd]

2 hours ago, Dedayog said:

Good info, thank you. I'd love to mod the Q300L and have interchangeable panels for it, since they're just magnetic. I'm hoping the 212 Evo will work with this config, I have one left over from my previous build.

No problem. Yes, the 212 EVO will work with this config.