Micro Center
MICRO CENTER AMD 5500 Processor with ASUS TUF Gaming A520M Plus Motherboard
Bottom line: The MICRO CENTER AMD 5500 Processor ($249.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 04:14 UTC): Ryzen 5 5500 with 6 cores, 12 threads and a 4.2 GHz max boost at a 65W TDP; main trade-off: discrete graphics card required, so the board's DisplayPort/HDMI/D-Sub outputs go unused.
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Ryzen 5 5500 with 6 cores, 12 threads and a 4.2 GHz max boost at a 65W TDP
- ✓ AMD Wraith Stealth cooler included, so no separate CPU cooler is needed to get running
- ✓ 802.11ac Wi-Fi plus 1 Gb Ethernet built into the ASUS TUF A520M-PLUS WIFI board
- ✓ Dual-channel DDR4 support up to 128GB, with memory overclocking unlocked on the CPU
- ✓ BIOS FlashBack button, 4 SATA 6Gb/s ports and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port
Cons
- ✗ Discrete graphics card required, so the board's DisplayPort/HDMI/D-Sub outputs go unused
- ✗ PCIe 3.0 only, which limits bandwidth for newer GPUs and Gen4 NVMe SSDs
- ✗ Only one M.2 slot, so any extra drives have to use SATA
- ✗ No ECC memory support on the Ryzen 5 5500
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored MICRO CENTER AMD 5500 Processor using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the processors category. Micro Center's processors lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for processors of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Video review
Building a Budget PC at Micro Center Was Easy — Zach's Tech Turf on YouTube
Key Features
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500 Desktop Processor, 6 Cores, 12 Threads, 4.2 GHz Max Boost, Unlocked Memory Overclocking. L2+L3 Cache 19 MB, 65W TDP, DDR4 Supported, PCIe 3.0 Support. For the Advanced Socket AM4 Platform
- Can Deliver Fast 100 Plus FPS Performance in the World's Most Popular Games; AMD Wraith Stealth Cooler Included; Discrete Graphics Card Required; No ECC Support; Supports Windows 10 and Windows 11 64-Bit Editions
- ASUS TUF Gaming A520M-PLUS WIFI Motherboard, mATX Form Factor, AMD AM4 socket, Support Dual Channel Memory DDR4 up to 128GB, 1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key, 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports, USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s)(1 x Type A), Windows 10 64-bit Support, Ready for AMD Ryzen 5000 Series/ 5000 G-Series/ 4000 G-Series/ 3000 Series/ 3000 G-Series Desktop
- Comprehensive cooling: PCH heatsink and Fan Xpert 2+;/ Ultrafast connectivity: M.2 support, 1 Gb Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A;/ 5X Protection III: Multiple hardware safeguards for all-around system protection
- Made for online gaming: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, TUF LANGuard and TurboLAN technology;/ Gaming Connectivity: BIOS FlashBack button, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 32Gb/s M.2 onboard, SATA 6Gb/s, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, DisplayPort/HDMI/D-Sub;/ Gaming Look and Feel: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including RGB headers and a Gen 2 addressable RGB header for greater customization
Full Specifications
| Brand | Micro Center |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5000 g |
| Platform | Windows 10 |
| CPU Model | Ryzen 5 |
| CPU Socket | Socket AM4 |
| Model Name | 5500ASUTUFGAMA520MPLWF |
| Chipset Type | AMD B450 |
| Connectivity | USB, WiFi |
| Model Number | 5500ASUTUFGAMA520MPLWF |
| Number of Ports | 10 |
| Total Usb Ports | 2 |
| Processor Socket | Socket AM4 |
| Total PCIe Ports | 1 |
| Total SATA Ports | 4 |
| Compatible Devices | Personal Computer |
| Memory Clock Speed | 4400 MHz |
| Compatible Processors | Ryzen 5000 Series/ 4000 G-Series/ 3000 Series Desktop Processors |
| RAM Memory Technology | DDR4 |
| Memory Slots Available | 4 |
| Graphics Card Interface | PCI Express |
| Full listing title | MICRO CENTER AMD 5500 Processor with ASUS TUF Gaming A520M Plus Motherboard | CPU Motherboard Combo, AM4, DDR4, Micro-ATX, M.2 Support, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, DisplayPort, HDMI, Windows 10 Support |
Ready to buy?
MICRO CENTER AMD 5500 Processor with ASUS TUF Gaming A520M Plus Motherboard | CPU Motherboard Combo, AM4, DDR4, Micro-ATX, M.2 Support, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, DisplayPort, HDMI, Windows 10 Support is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.
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