If you ask me, the best gaming PC isn't the most ultra-powerful machine ever thrown together, rocking more graphical power than anyone would ever need. Not everyone is lucky enough to have the budget for that, and so the best option for one player might not be the one everybody should be shopping for. I'm here to help you find that perfect build for you and your gaming ambitions, no matter what resolution you're targeting and which games you like to play.
I've been reviewing all the latest gaming PCs for years now, and I'm always hunting to find the greatest configuration of components available in a prebuilt package. I've tested the ways RAM can impact gaming performance, I've benchmarked graphics cards and made processors sweat. Along with all of that, I've assessed how these parts can play with one another inside full gaming PCs so that you know what makes one worth buying. In my testing here at GamesRadar+, there are a few systems that have really stood out.
The best gaming PC I've tested this year is the Maingear Zero Ruby, a beautiful clutter-free build that keeps its cables hidden from view. It isn't the most powerful build out there, but it's got excellent mid-range components that could play well in any resolution. There isn't just one winner in this world, though, and this year's holiday offers are driving down the expected prices of loads of DDR5-compatible, 40 Series GPU-packing configurations. I've gathered all my favorite PCs across a range of price points and brands - from the monster that is the Alienware Aurora R16 to cheaper starter rigs like the iBuyPower Slate.
Since it's Black Friday, I'm keeping this page updated with live updates each day while I find you the best deals and offer you advice for while you shop.
The 5 best gaming PCs
Today's best Black Friday gaming PC deals
- Newegg: DDR5 PCs under $900
- Best Buy: Thermaltake builds starting at $699
- Dell: Alienware Aurora builds under $2,000
- Walmart: Multiple PCs under $,1,000
- Amazon: RTX 4060 builds starting from $799
- GPUs: Nvidia and AMD cards on offer
- CPUs: AMD Ryzen and Intel chips under $300
- RAM: 32GB DR5 kits for under $100
How I test gaming PCs
When I review a full gaming PC I tackle it in a few different ways. As you can imagine, there's a lot to test out to make sure the full system is getting a workout. The graphics card and processor are pivotal for gaming, but the memory, storage, and cooling are all underrated, and before I come to a verdict, I need to see how all of these elements play with one another. While we've outlined how we test gaming PCs in our full hardware policy, I'll give you another rundown here.
To begin with, there are general usage tests. For starters, I'll pretty much adopt whichever PC I'm testing as though it was my own. This means using it for all my work tasks, as well as any content creation I do after hours. Yes, that means gaming too, and can mean playing loads of different types of games on it. Content creation can give gaming PCs a workout, with video editing and streaming being intensive tasks. I'll do a mix of all of these things and look for certain metrics, or note down any problems I spot to do with temperature control or performance slow-downs.
Next, comes formalized software benchmarking tests that are designed to target each component of the PC. To test the CPU, we'll use Cinebench, to test the RAM, we'll check out some numbers and XMP profiles in the BIOS, as well as CPU-Z. SSD testing is done with CrystalDiskMark, and we use 3DMark to run the GPU and overall configuration of parts through its paces.
Finally, come the gaming-centric FPS stress tests. We use Hitman World of Assassination, Returnal, Total War: Warhammer 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Cyberpunk 2077 for these, and use their built-in benchmarking tests to compare a PC's performance to other builds we've tested. We'll crank all of the settings in these titles up to full, take a score, and then play around with ray tracing and DLSS to see how the results change.
🔴 Live updates
How to choose a gaming PC
If you've never been a PC gamer before, choosing a gaming PC can be a tough task, especially because all of the component names and serial numbers can seem like hieroglyphs. Doing some wider research can be a big help - whether that's YouTube explainers, or reading reviews, or just googling something you're unsure of.
The main thing I'd recommend having a handle on are what all the major components of a PC do, and who the biggest players are. From there, you can look at your setup, and think about what you'd use a gaming PC for. Is there a certain resolution you're targeting? Is there a certain type of game you're planning on playing more than others? Are you going to be using the PC for any content creation tasks or other intensive programs?
From there, it's all about finding the best value for money, and luckily, if you read enough of our coverage, we try to do that part for you to ensure you're getting a good deal when you checkout.
And we're off! Let's start with a deal at... Amazon?
Let's get things rolling with a deal at Amazon - which we might not see too often. Black Friday gaming PC deals don't tend to be the best at the world's largest retailer, and the prices for equivalent specs at Newegg, Best Buy, and Walmart are almost always better.
Still, allow me to present to you an MSI Codex R2, which, if you're looking for a 4060 Ti build, is pretty reasonable. You will come up short in a CPU fight against some of the other deals we've spotted as we head into Black Friday, but what I especially love about this is the price. I'm a firm believer that you don't need to spend over a grand to get a playable gaming PC at this time of year, and this PC (just about) proves that.
Specs: Intel Core i5-14400F, RTX 4060 Ti, 16GB of DDR5, 1TB SSD
MSI Codex R2 | $1,999.99 $999.99 at Amazon
How I test the best gaming PCs
Next up, I thought it might be helpful for you to know how we test gaming PCs here at GamesRadar+, since every reviewer will slightly differ on this process.
When I review a full gaming PC I tackle it in a few different ways. As you can imagine, there's a lot to test out to make sure the full system is getting a workout. The graphics card and processor are pivotal for gaming, but the memory, storage, and cooling are all underrated in my opinion, and before I come to a verdict, I need to see how all of these elements play with one another. While we've outlined how we test gaming PCs in our full hardware policy, I'll give you another rundown here.
To begin with, there are general usage tests. For starters, I'll pretty much adopt whichever PC I'm testing as though it was my own. This means using it for all my work tasks, as well as any content creation I do after hours. Yes, that means actually playing games on it too, which can sometimes get lost in the testing sauce. Whatever I happen to be playing, whether it's a new indie title, Hunt: Showdown (one of my favorite titles), or the latest AAA game. Content creation can give gaming PCs a workout too, with video editing and streaming being intensive tasks. I'll do a mix of all of these things and look for certain metrics, or note down any problems I spot to do with temperature control or performance slow-downs.
Next, comes formalized software benchmarking tests that are designed to target each component of the PC. To test the CPU, I'll use Cinebench. To test the RAM, we'll check out some numbers and XMP profiles in the BIOS, as well as readings from CPU-Z. SSD testing is done with CrystalDiskMark, and I use 3DMark to run the GPU and overall configuration of parts through its paces.
Finally, come the gaming-centric FPS stress tests. We use Hitman World of Assassination, Returnal, Total War: Warhammer 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Cyberpunk 2077 for these, and use their built-in benchmarking tests to compare a PC's performance to other builds we've tested. We'll crank all of the settings in these titles up to full, take a score, and then play around with ray tracing and DLSS to see how the results change.
Why switch to PC gaming?
In the last five years, I've converted to playing basically all of my games on a PC, when I used to be a self-confessing PlayStation fanboy. I have a lot of friends who ask me why PC gaming has been so much more appealing lately, and I always have a few reasons for them.
Simplicity and convenience
Consoles lean so heavily on the fact that they're simple and easy to use, but I don't think people realize how convenient it is to plug in a PC (especially a prebuilt one), and get playing. Windows 11 isn't a perfect operating system, and yes there is a bit of a learning curve to running games on PC, but it really is as easy as plugging in, setting up, and installing the games you want to play. It's no different from playing a console game, and you actually have more control over the settings you care about. That's a faff to some, but added convenience to me.
You don't need to learn the layout of a motherboard, you don't have to build the thing yourself. PC gaming has never been more simple or convenient, and when consoles like the PS5 Pro stray into the tech-enthusiast lane, the PC world offers a lot more benefits if you want to get nerdy about it all.
The best of both worlds
A gaming platform is only as good as the games on it, and these days, everything is on PC. Xbox has adopted its "everything is an Xbox" strategy, meaning you can access the Game Pass library on any machine you want. PlayStation is putting its flagship titles on PC, and Steam and Epic continue to have a slew of indie games and unmissable experiences on them.
Plus, have you ever compared the deals on Steam to the ones on the PlayStation digital store? It hurts to think how much money I burned before making the switch to PC.
Accessories
There are loads of reasons to switch to a PC, but one of my favorites as someone who reviews gaming peripherals is the sheer scope of controllers, audio devices, and other accessories you can hook up to a PC to enhance your gaming experience. Talk about keypads, mice, keyboards, or stream controllers - you can play the way you want, and the way that's comfortable for you. Consoles are so much more limited in this respect, and for me, it's a reason to make the switch.
Want a couch and TV setup? This is a game changer
Plugging a gaming PC into a TV is a great way to enjoy games like you would on a console, and if you have a TV with a high refresh rate, it's as good as investing in a solid gaming monitor.
This handy invention makes gaming on a PC from the couch so, so much better if you want to use a mouse and keyboard. I've even used it for working from home and planning a summer holiday with my girlfriend sitting next to me.
It's essentially a USB hub built into a carbon fiber worktop, which sits atop some memory foam cushions. You get the benefit of six USB 3.0 ports in total, which is plenty for plugging in all those essential gaming accessories. It's currently seeing a Black Friday discount, so it's worth investing in now while it's cheap.
Couchmaster CYCON2 | $189 $179 at Amazon
The best gaming PC deal this Black Friday?
You can spot this featured in the selection above, but it might well be the best pound-for-pound gaming PC deal this Black Friday - especially if you're looking to buy your first-ever rig, or you haven't upgraded in ages and you're on a tight budget.
For $699 (the price of a PS5 Pro), you get a DDR5 compatible machine that you'll be able to play the latest games on, and you'll also be able to upgrade it with plenty of RAM, storage, and CPU power as time goes on. Thanks to the RTX 4060 graphics card, you'll have access to all of Nvidia's latest upscaling and frame-generation wizardry too.
Specs: Intel Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060, 1TB SSD, 16GB of DDR4 RAM
Yeyian Yumi gaming PC | $1,199.99 $699.99 at Newegg
How about a handheld gaming PC?
Handheld gaming PCs are super viable this Black Friday as well, and if you're looking for a capable device for playing the latest games, there's none better than the Asus ROG Ally X. If you're someone who likes to take their gaming to-go for commuting, traveling, or just for playing in different places around the home, a handheld might be more appealing to you - especially since you can always buy a dock and play with it as you would a conventional gaming PC.
The Ally X is the one I use, and it's currently on offer at Best Buy with a $100 saving.
Asus ROG Ally X | $799.99 $699.99 at Best Buy
A Maingear Ruby? On sale??
Annoyingly, the Maingear Zero Ruby (my favorite overall pick for best gaming PC in the US right now) isn't seeing a discount for Black Friday. That said, the brand's most beloved range is actually its MG-1, and the Ruby configuration of that PC is discounted down by $420 (hehehe).
The deal is actually on a special "Holiday" edition that comes in white and still rocks Maingear's custom liquid cooler. The only real difference between this build and the Zero Ruby is that the motherboard here uses connectors on its front, so you'll be able to see a few headers and connections poking out. Still, this is a brand that builds with love and care, and I reckon the cable management will still keep this looking as clean as anything.
In fact, this gets you 32GB of DDR5 RAM, where the Zero Ruby only nets you 16GB. Bargain? I think so.
Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, RTX 4070 Super, 32GB of DDR5, 1TB SSD
Maingear MG-1 Ruby | $2,297 $1,877 at Maingear
It's a great time to buy high-end builds too...
Black Friday isn't just great for first-time buyers and those on a tight budget. If you've been saving up for a top-of-the-line build that rocks an RTX 4080 Super, it might surprise you to learn that the most affordable one we've found this Black Friday is under $2,000. For the amount of 4K power that gives you, that's an excellent price to pay. Before now, these rigs have always stayed well above that price, so to see quite a few flirting with the $1,900 price point is excellent.
Frustratingly, my favorite 4080 Super build this Black Friday has now gone into backorder mode, but that's no reason not to grab yours while it's cheap. The biggest downside here is that its CPU is air-cooled, so depending on how hard you work it, you could be facing some angry noise levels. Still, that's always upgradable later.
Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, RTX 4080 Super, 32GB of DDR5, 1TB SSD
ABS Kazer Ruby | $2,399.99 $1,949.99 at Newegg
This PC uses my graphics card of choice, and it's discounted by $220
The graphics card I use is the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, which rocks 16GB of VRAM and provides pretty stellar performance in 4K. If you're targeting 1440p, you'll have an even better time with frame rates almost always in the hundreds. I'd argue it's a cheaper alternative to an RTX 4070 Super which happens to have more VRAM. I haven't seen this underrated GPU inside any prebuilt gaming PCs until this very moment.
A Skytech Azure at Newegg is offering some really hefty mid-range specs for its price right now, and its RAM is making me tempted to recommend it to content creators, in particular.
Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD
Skytech Azure 2 gaming PC | $1,599.99 $1,379.99 at Newegg
AMD vs Intel - which CPU should you buy?
Whether you're upgrading for the first time in a number of years, or you're new to this whole gaming PC thing, it can be very confusing to know which CPU is which because of all those product numbers.
If you've found yourself asking which CPU should you buy, I wrote a handy guide in the lead-up to Black Friday which might shed some light on things and make it easier to decide between team red and team blue.
The best WASD alternative is discounted for the first time
If you read enough of my content, you'll know that I'm not a big fan of playing games on a keyboard. For some reason, they just don't agree with my brain, and I was never able to wrap my head around using the WASD keys to move an in-game character - it just feels unnatural to me. I do love using controllers, but aiming with a mouse is so much better in first-person games.
Fortunately, Azeron's Cyborg gaming keypads are here to help, and give me the best of both worlds. Since adopting the first Azeron Cyborg in 2021, I've used it for every first-person game I've played on PC. These days, I really can't imagine my gaming setup without one of these ergonomic keypads. I'm currently testing the new Azeron Cyborg 2, and not to step on the toes of my review, but I love it to death. It gives me the movement of a controller's thumbstick with the speed and utility of a gaming keyboard, so what more could I want?
This new version of Azeron's controller-keyboard hybrid only launched this year, so it's yet to get its first official discount. If you're willing to opt for the black and blue version at Amazon, however, you can currently get a sneaky $24 saving.
Azeron Cyborg II | $240 $216 at Amazon
Black Friday deals: Should you buy now or wait until the end of the week?
Here I am, waxing lyrical to you about all these great Black Friday deals, and some of you may well be thinking it's a bit early. Black Friday officially starts this Friday, and continues through the weekend until Cyber Monday takes up the call of duty. So with that in mind, should you not wait until Thursday is out of the way?
Well, every year, we've seen Black Friday offers start earlier and earlier. I've been covering Black Friday tech deals for years now (I hate to think how much it's aged me), and in my experience, the best offers actually come during Thanksgiving week, or even the week before it. Right now might still seem early, but all of the best discounts are already in, and even if a few appear later on in the week, you're actually saving yourself the bother of dealing with the masses of competitive shoppers that will emerge at the end of the week if you buy now.
This is undoubtedly the best time of the year to grab yourself gaming PCs and component upgrades, no matter what specs you're looking for. If I were you, I wouldn't wait until the end of the week. If you see your desired machine on offer now, it isn't likely going to get cheaper by the week's end, and if it does, it probably won't be significantly cheaper than it is now.
This iBUYPOWER deal is worth planning for
Walmart has an iBUYPOWER Slate 6 that's preparing for takeoff right now. This is actually a version of the Slate we had seen last week and given a spotlight to for its price of $999. It's about to drop through the floor to $699 in, at the time of writing, 2 hours and 45 minutes. That's a deal you should definitely try and make the most of if you're looking for an RTX 4060 machine. It's also one for Assassin's Creed fans to know about since it'll come with a free copy of AC Shadows.
The big draw here is that you get liquid cooling, which isn't common for an entry-level machine, especially in iBUYPOWER's Slate range. You also get a free mouse and keyboard in the box, so the value just keeps going. This is about to be an amazing offer, so set those timers!
If you're a Walmart+ member you can make the most of it now.
iBUYPOWER Slate 6 Mesh | $999 $699 at Walmart
To DDR5, or not do DDR5, that is the question.
Should you upgrade to DDR5 RAM this Black Friday? Yes, if you can.
If you can be bothered with the hassle of a new motherboard, and you have the budget for the CPU and RAM upgrades, this is absolutely the time to do it. There are so many great processors available that are all seeing discounts, there are motherboards that have never been cheaper, and there are 16GB kits of DDR5 memory that won't break the bank.
If you're buying a new system, please don't buy something with a motherboard that's locked to DDR4 RAM. DDR4 builds are still capable machines, especially on the AMD side since newer CPUs exist for the AM4 platform, but buying something that isn't DDR5 compatible will be like travelling forward a year or two into the future and shooting yourself in the foot.
With gaming PCs as costly as they are, you're better off thinking of the long-term investment and getting something that you'll be able to upgrade for years to come. If you can, opt for DDR5 this Black Friday.
The MSI Claw is now cheaper than the Steam Deck LCD
Most Windows 11 handhelds are more expensive than the Steam Deck by default, but you can now grab an MSI Claw for under $370 at Walmart. The deal specifically applies to the lower-spec Intel Ultra 5-135H, so you won't be getting anywhere near the same juice as the Asus ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go. But, it's still going to provide you with access to storefronts like Steam, Xbox Game Pass, and the Epic Game Store on a 1080p 120Hz screen. If you're really only looking to run indie games and classic capers, this could be a solid option at its current price.
MSI Claw (Ultra 5-135H) | $437.49 $366.49 at Walmart
This Ventus MSI GPU is one of the better RTX 4070 Black Friday deals right now
Sometimes finding Black Friday graphics card deals that hit the right notes is hard, especially when it comes to RTX 40-series options. Thankfully, there are offers like this MSI Ventus 2x GPU discount that are worth looking at, as the card has nosedived from its usual price of $540 to under $490. Keep in mind this model features a factory overclock and a custom cooler, so seeing it for a bit less than a vanilla card is great to see.
If you've still got a RTX 20-series GPU, or you're aiming to put together a solid 1440p rig, this RTX 4070 deal is well worth checking out. MSI's card is one of the cheapest Nvidia 70-class options available right now, and stock can always be temperamental during events like Black Friday.
MSI Ventus 2x GeForce RTX 4070 | $599.99 $489.99 at Amazon
Where are all the Black Friday RTX 4090 deals?
If you're keeping up with this year's Black Friday PC price cuts, you've no doubt thought about the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 at least once. I'd love to say I've found the flagship Nvidia GPU at a record low price, but sadly, the premium card is rarely ever even available at MSRP. In fact, you can often pick up an entire mid-range rig for the same price as most custom 4090 options at Amazon, which is a bit infuriating to say the least.
Of course, I'd argue that now is actually a terrible time to buy an RTX 4090, as Nvidia is likely gearing up to release the RTX 5090 in the New Year. Instead, I'd recommend picking up a solid base machine, or putting one together yourself, that you can then upgrade with a shiny new GPU later. We'll be sharing plenty of builds like that throughout the whole of Black Friday, but if any premium card offers do pop up, you'll be the first to know.
Some bang for your buck
This sort of deal is why I love Black Friday gaming PC deals - it's all about getting you as much bang for your buck as possible. The 4060 Ti takes this above most PCs of this price, but you also get a 14th Gen i7 processor, which is very capable. The icing on the cake is the 2TB SSD, giving you enough space for loads of applications and games.
It's a shame there's no liquid cooling, but the transparent case does look nice, putting those RGB fans on display to great effect.
Specs: Intel Core i7-14700F, RTX 4060 Ti, 2TB SSD, 16GB DDR5
CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme | $1,249.99 $1,089.99 at Best Buy
Liquid Cooling vs Air Cooling explained
If you're new to this whole computing thing, you may see some PCs listed with liquid-cooled processors, and others cooled with air. Air cooling is very much your standard form of thermal control for the innards of PCs. Cases will have airflow paths that will direct cool air into the case, across the motherboard, and then exhaust fans that dispense hot air out. In the middle of that airflow path, you'll have your CPU fan, which will take the cool air and direct it down onto the processor to keep it calm.
Air cooling works a treat most of the time, and depending on your chassis and processor model, will probably be all you need. The only downside is that it can be noisy, and especially if you have a beefy 13th gen Intel CPU like the Intel Core i7-13700K, you may struggle to keep it cool with air alone.
The alternative method is liquid cooling. This involves the use of an AIO (all-in-one) cooler, which comprises a pump header that attaches to the CPU, some liquid coolant that runs through its pipes and across your processor, and a radiator that dispenses heat away from your motherboard. This is almost always more efficient, and it's popular with gamers for many reasons. You can build custom cooling loops yourself, but you can also get full cooling systems that don't involve you needing to actually fill liquid into them.
For a start, liquid cooling is much quieter, so your PC doesn't sound like it's going to take off when you make it work hard. It's much prettier too, since you get different colors of coolant, and some AIOs come with funky LCD pump headers that can be set to display whatever you like.
If you see a prebuilt gaming PC with liquid cooling, it's got some added value, but for the most part, this is something you can upgrade later if you want to, and it isn't always a necessity. This is especially the case for beginners since AIO coolers have more things that can break down and cause headaches. Air cooling is nice and simple, which can be a bonus.
This HP Omen 25L should be on your entry-level radar
Most entry-level/budget gaming PCs are pretty stingy when it comes to storage and RAM. It's the way they can justify the reasonable prices overall - by using lesser components for the cheaper bits, and not giving you as much of them. Most budget builds will give you 16GB of DDR5 at most, and sometimes won't even go that far, slotting in DDR4 memory on a DDR5-compatible motherboard.
HP is one of the few brands this is almost never the case for though. In its Omen PCs you'll find Kingston RAM and WD Black SSDs - two brands that usually cost a premium if you buy their components separately.
All that to say, this white HP Omen 25L is reduced by $400 right now, and it's packing 32GB of DDR5 RAM along with its RTX 4060 and very up-to-date 14th Gen i5 CPU. Not bad for $900.
Specs: Intel Core i5-14400F, RTX 4060, 32GB of DDR5, 1TB of SSD
HP Omen 25L | $1,299 $899.99 at Best Buy
The best CPU (in my opinion) is only $200
I'm fully expecting some angry emails and maybe even a few tweets for this (jokes on you, I don't use Elon's platform much anymore), but I think the best CPU for most gamers is the Intel Core i5-13600K. It's super powerful, DDR5 compatible, doesn't break the bank, and gives you ample threads and cores for the money you pay for it.
Now, I'll come out straight away and say that there are better CPUs, and I know that. I've benchmarked better processors personally. But in terms of what most gamers actually need, versus what they could spend on a computer brain, this is really all you need. I've used this chip for 4K gaming and content creation, and it never lets me down - and has hardly ever slowed down, actually.
Right now, it's down to the lowest price I've ever seen it go for at Amazon. $200 for a processor this good is a joke, and if you've been waiting to upgrade, this is the one I'd point the majority of users towards. You really won't need any more unless you're a professional content creator and you want the extra headroom at higher resolutions and in demanding tasks.
Intel Core i5-13600K | $255 $200 at Amazon
iBUYPOWER's best deal is now live!
If you've been following along thus far, you may have seen me post about an iBUYPOWER deal that was gearing up for launch at Walmart. It's now available, and well worth considering if you're looking for a liquid-cooled, entry-to-mid-range gaming PC. You also get a copy of Assassin's Creed Shadows for no extra cost. Hit the link below to access it now. I have a sneaky suspicion this one won't last long before going out of stock.
Specs: Intel Core i5-13600KF, RTX 4060, 16GB DDR5, 1TB SSD, AIO Liquid cooler
iBUYPOWER Slate 6 Mesh | $1,199 $699 at Walmart
The best value RTX 4070 Super builds so far...
The RTX 4070 Super is a great GPU that gives you a lot of versatility for targeting 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, so I wouldn't blame you for seeking out a prebuilt gaming PC with this at its heart this Black Friday.
We've spotted two that are particularly good value. The first is on backorder right now, which is a sign it's been popular.
Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, RTX 4070 Super, 32GB of DDR5, 1TB SSD
ABS Cyclone Ruby | $1,699.99 $1,349.99 at Newegg
The second has been at its Black Friday price for a few weeks now, and it's still excellent value, particularly for a well-known brand. It isn't quite as affordable as the ABS machine linked above, but it's still worth considering, especially if you want to buy something that isn't on backorder.
Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 7700, RTX 4070 Super, 16GB DDR5, 1TB SSD
Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 8 | $2,079 $1,499.99 at Lenovo
And with that, I'm signing off for today...
That's day one of Thanksgiving Week down, but there's a lot more still to come as Black Friday approaches. If you're still looking for a gaming PC deal, or some gaming PC buying advice, keep this page bookmarked and I'll be back tomorrow to keep you updated.
For now, feel free to have a peruse of the offers I've showcased today, and happy bargain hunting.
A good morning to you all!
I have returned, and I'm ready to seek out today's best gaming PC deals in the Black Friday aisles of the digital retailers. If you're shopping around, I'll be around to help with great system recommendations, as well as some information about gaming PCs I feel you might need to know while you shop.
What on earth do all these numbers mean?
First up today, I'm going to give you some product ladders that might be a helpful reference point for when you shop. These may seem basic if you've been doing your research and preparation for Black Friday, but to anyone new to the gaming PC market, these product names and numbers can be extremely confusing.
Take Nvidia for example, a lot of people don't know where each of its GPU options actually places within the rest of its range, so let's go through that now. Basically, the bigger the number on the end, the more powerful the GPU. The starting number tells you a graphics card's generation, so an RTX 4060 means it's a 40 Series product (the most recent generation).
From weakest to strongest, Nvidia's 40 Series product range is as follows:
- RTX 4060
- RTX 4060 Ti
- RTX 4070
- RTX 4070 Super
- RTX 4070 Ti
- RTX 4070 Ti Super
- RTX 4080
- RTX 4080 Super
- RTX 4090
And yes, the "Ti" after the numbers denotes a little extra power for that particular model, but it'll share the same main architecture as the non-Ti variant. "Super" essentially denotes the same thing - these options are a bit newer and worth grabbing if you can get them cheaper.
What about AMD? People are more readily familiar with Nvidia's naming scheme, but Team Red's is actually very similar. Again, the first number signifies the generation, and the example we'll use here is its Radeon RX 7000 family (again, the most recent). Similarly, the second number tells you a graphics card's power ranking within its family.
From least to most powerful, AMD's GPUs are as follows.
- RX 7600
- RX 7600 XT
- RX 7700 XT
- RX 7800 XT
- RX 7900 GRE
- RX 7900 XT
- RX 7900 XTX
Then, we have CPUs, which actually share a similar naming convention. We'll start with Intel, which will use the naming convention Intel Core i5, i7, or i9, and then a serial number. The first two numbers in the pattern show you its generation, then the second two show you its power level, and then you might see some letters. A "K" means it has an unlocked multiplier, and an "F" means it has no integrated graphics so you'll need a GPU like the ones detailed above.
From lowest to highest, here are all of Intel's 14th Generation processors you may come across when shopping for consumer CPUs or gaming PCs:
- Intel Core i5-14400
- Intel Core i5-14400F
- Intel Core i5-14600F
- Intel Core i5-14600KF
- Intel Core i5-14600K
- Intel Core i7-14700
- Intel Core i7-14700F
- Intel Core i7-14700KF
- Intel Core i7-14700K
- Intel Core i9-14900
- Intel Core i9-14900F
- Intel Core i9-14900KF
- Intel Core i9-14900K
And finally, we come to AMD's CPUs. You'll see here an AMD Ryzen 5,7, or 9, and then a serial number. Again, the first number points to its generation, then the rest shows you its place in the family. You may see a Ryzen CPU end with an X, or an X3D, and these are more powerful options.
From lowest to highest, here are AMD's Ryzen 7000 options:
- AMD Ryzen 5 7500
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D
These RTX 4070 systems are throwing down the gauntlet
I've just spotted two RTX 4070 gaming PCs at Newegg that are at newly low price points - at least for what I've found this Black Friday, and I've been tracking gaming PC costs like a hawk for the past two months.
The first is this Yayian Tanto, which is only $80 more expensive than the cheapest RTX 4060 Ti build I've seen (The MSI Codex R2 from yesterday). It comes with a saving of $519 right now and costs just $1,079 at Newegg.
Specs: Intel Core i5-13400F, RTX 4070, 16GB of DDR5, 1TB SSD
Yeyian Tanto | $1,599 $1,079.99 at Newegg
The second is arguably just as impressive if not moreso, because it comes with an RTX 4070 Super and manages to stay well under that $1,450 price point we've been hoping other rigs with that graphics card would limbo under. Take a look at the specs for this Skytech Shadow, which is currently reduced by $600 at Newegg.
Specs: Intel Core i5-14400F, RTX 4070 Super, 32GB of DDR4, 1TB SSD
Skytech Shadow | $1,899.99 $1,299.99 at Newegg
How cheap is too cheap?
There are gaming PCs out there that are well under $500 right now, but should you buy them? If you're on a budget, PCs like this Zhic gaming desktop PC might be quite alluring at $449 at Walmart. The problem in my mind is that PCs this cheap don't come with a graphics card, and that means you're going to struggle if you're buying it with the expectation you'll be able to play games. As someone who bought my first PC without a graphics card, I can tell you it's a bit disappointing to find yourself in that situation. Integrated graphics in your CPU can only take you so far, and that's only partly the problem.
Rigs that are this cheap also come with older motherboards that are locked to last-gen RAM. So if you do want to buy and upgrade the one above, you'll be locked into DDR4 and AM4 CPUs. Even if you buy yourself a graphics card later on, you'll run into bottlenecks down the line.
If that's okay with you, and you don't want to keep saving for something a bit more future-proofed, then go ahead, but it wouldn't be my first recommendation.
These PCs should be considered by streamers looking for a second PC to add to their setups though. You really don't need high specs for that kind of task if you're running games through a beefed-up gaming rig. Again, I'd probably recommend a basic DDR5 build over it, but it could be all you need.
Are Gen 5 SSDs worth it?
I hear you, you just bought a shiny new motherboard thanks to Black Friday deals, and it has an M.2 port that can sit a Gen 5 SSD. Gen 4 drives are super speedy, so Gen 5 options must bring an end to all loading screens in any game, right?
Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but as someone who uses one in their own gaming PC every day, and as someone who reviews SSDs, I'm not sure I'd recommend one to most gamers yet. The support just isn't there for it, and with the money you spend on one like the Crucial T700 ($124.99 for 1TB at Amazon right now), you'd be better off grabbing a top-drawer Gen 4 option instead. For more details and comparisons, read my Crucial T700 review.
Looking for a Gen 4 alternative worth buying? Check out the Corsair MP600 Elite, which is on sale for $63 in its 1TB form at Amazon right now.
Can I interest you in some DDR5 in this trying time?
One of the goals for Black Friday, for me, is to find you 32GB of DDR5 RAM for under $100. T-Force's Delta RGB DDR5 is one of my favorite kits, and you can actually find it in a lot of prebuilt machines because it's relatively cheap but still very effective. It also sports some lovely lighting to illuminate your motherboard, and Newegg has it going cheap right now.
It's white, so the RGB is extra shiny. Here, you get 32GB (2 x 16GB) of it for $94.49.
T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 RAM 32GB | $119 $94.49 at Newegg
I love this little RTX 4080 Super PC
I spotted this deal a few days ago on the white model of this cute RTX 4080 Super build, but it quickly disappeared. Now, the turquoise version with the same inner components is on sale at the same level, and I love it.
If you know me, you'll be aware that I'm a big fan of smaller gaming PCs, especially the ones that can actually sit on top of a desk. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the bulky ones that are so big they have to lurk underneath, but I like desktop PCs that can actually live up to their namesake.
This clever build from Thermaltake packs some immense gaming power into its inverted chassis, and it's not a bad price compared to other 4080 Super builds I've found this Black Friday.
Specs: Intel Core i7-14700KF, RTX 4080 Super, 32GB of DDR5, 2TB SSD
Thermaltake LCGS Reactor i480S | $2,499.99 $2,199.99 at Best Buy
What's the deal with Alienware?
Alienware is a bit of a notorious brand when it comes to gaming PCs, because years ago they were probably one of the most popular brands around, but their use of proprietary motherboards and other parts can make upgrading their prebuilt rigs impossible. I've heard horror stories of people buying from this brand, trying to upgrade a minor part years after purchase, and the entire system being bricked.
Still, this is a manufacturer (now owned by Dell) that makes some extremely premium machines for those who want a plug-and-play experience. The other problem is that its PCs tend to cost more than the majority of brands on the market, which you can see from this Aurora R16 deal at Amazon.
For $1,229.99, most PC deals at the moment are offering at least an RTX 4060 Ti, maybe even an RTX 4070 as we saw in one of this morning's earlier posts. This rig, however, has some ok specs for its price. It's still a deal I'll recommend thanks to its storage, and because if anyone is hunting down Alienware this Black Friday, it's good to know where the discounts are.
Specs: Intel Core i7-14700F, RTX 4060, 16GB of DDR5, 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD
Alienware Aurora R16 | $1,449.99 $1,229.99 at Amazon
Like playing with a controller? Up your game with this pro pad
Just because you play on a PC doesn't mean you need to use a mouse and keyboard. Some games are just better suited to a controller, and WASD isn't for everyone, anyway. If you want the most pro gamepad out there to stay competitive with mouse and keyboard players, my favorite is the Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox. It has a modular design so you can swap out so much of its build to suit you, making it a versatile and endlessly useful gaming tool.
The Xbox version has the upper hand over its original PS5 model thanks to the addition of some rumble motors, and it's seeing its first discount at Amazon for Black Friday. If it's the best PC controller you seek, stop your search.
Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox | $179.99 $159.99 at Amazon
Running out of handheld PC storage? This SSD deal will see you right!
Did you know you can actually upgrade your handheld gaming PC's internal storage? Well, now you do! All you need to do is get hold of a 2230 M.2 SSD like the WD Black SN770Mand you'll be able to permanently expand your capacity. It will involve taking the back off of your Steam Deck OLED or Asus ROG Ally, so be prepared for a bit of DIY action. But, it's not the most complicated mod in the world, and it will let you swap things out for 1TB of space.
WD Black SN770M 1TB | $129.99 $89.99 at Best Buy
Intel graphics cards are still a thing, and they're getting seriously cheap
It's easy to forget that Intel is jogging in back of AMD and Nvidia on the graphics card track, but sticking with the blue team could be your ticket to a better value GPU. For example, the Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 is currently sitting under $230 at Newegg, and considering it's a 16GB card with decent 1440p capabilities, that's a pretty decent Black Friday saving. Sure, you'll be missing out on new-fangled AI upscaling abilities, but you'll have more VRAM than most entry-level options and enough oomph to run new releases with tweaked settings.
Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 | $399.99 $229.99 at Newegg
Interested in a soundbar but don't have the space?
Soundbars can be a great addition to a gaming PC setup, as any of the best computer speakers can. You don't always want to wear a headset, after all. Still, the difficulty of a soundbar lies in where you sit it, because if you don't have a two-tiered desk or monitor mount, it'll eat into your worktop's real estate.
The BlueAnt Soundblade is here to fix that problem for you. It's an excellent speaker first and foremost, but it has a practical and attractive design that sits nicely underneath any gaming monitor's weird feet. It comes in some different colorways too!
BlueAnt Soundblade | $199.99 $119.99 at Amazon
Some brands you should know about
There are so many brands operating in the gaming PC landscape that it can be easy to forget some. In this post, allow me to give some shoutouts to a few of my favorites that aren't the massive names of component makers.
Fractal is a Swedish brand that makes all sorts of stylish PC cases and cooling options. This year, the brand branched out into making a gaming chair, the Fractal Refine, which went straight to the top of our best gaming chair list. I actually built us a new testing PC with one of Fractal's cases earlier in the year, and I can attest to the fact their designs are as practical as they come. If you're hunting for great PC parts to assemble and build your own machine this Black Friday, check out Fractal.
Noctua makes some of the most underrated and quiet PC fans on the market, and its wares are perfect for anyone who isn't so interested in the RGB components you see everywhere else today. Earth tones, stylish blacks, and great prices can be found at Noctua. Make sure to check them out if you need a new CPU cooler in particular.
NZXT makes AIO coolers, PC cases, and its own range of prebuilt machines that you might want to know about. It also makes some other peripherals like a capture card and microphone. Its motherboards are also a point of interest for many PC builders since they come with white and black paneling which can help you to control the visage of your build.
Now, I'm off to think of some more brands that I've definitely forgotten for this post.
One for the VR lovers out there
One of my other gaming hardware loves is VR headsets. If you share that love, and you're shopping around for the best gaming PCs this Black Friday, you might be wondering which VR headset would pair nicely with it. For PC, your options are very open. You've got the Meta Quest headsets to think about, there's the Valve Index, and there are options from HTC Vive.
As of this last summer though, you now have the option of getting PSVR 2 to use for SteamVR titles. I can't recommend PSVR 2 enough this Black Friday because it's seeing a massive price reduction down to $349 at Amazon - easily the biggest discount it's had since launch.
If you plan to use it to play PC games, you will need to get its PC adapter as well, which will set you back a total of $400, but that's still better value than the Meta Quest 3, in my opinion, and a lot cheaper than one of HTC Vive's headsets which usually costs around $1,000 all-told.
PSVR 2 | $549.99 $349 at Amazon
Here's one of my favorite PC deals - now back in stock
It's approaching the end of the work day for me here in the UK, so this may well be my last post of the day. Allow me to round things out with one of my favorite PC deals I spotted over the last week, which disappeared quickly. It's definitely one for the power-hungry among us with budgets that'd make the rest of us jealous.
This Skytech King 95 Gaming PC is now back, and cheaper than ever, partly because it now sports a lesser GPU. It was an RTX 4080 Super machine before the stock shortage, but it now rocks an RTX 4070 Ti Super, which is still worth your attention. Going for under $2,000, you get some beefy specs to support it, including a fancy AIO cooler, and some beautiful RGB in a white, mostly transparent case.
Specs: AMD Ryzen 9 9700X, RTX 4070 Ti Super, 2TB SSD, 32GB of DDR5
Skytech King 95 Gaming PC | $2,299.99 $1,949.99 at Newegg
...
And that'll do it for me today! I'll be back tomorrow morning (UK time) to feed you more deals and give you some more gaming PC-buying advice. Until then, happy hunting, and I hope the posts from today will help you this Black Friday.
Maingear wishes you a good morning...
Good morning, Black Friday shoppers!
Through the night, I was contacted by the lovely folks at Maingear to tell me they've dropped more configurations of the Holiday Edition MG-1, and while they're both pricier than equivalent builds from other retailers, they both include the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D - touted by many to be the most super-powered processor for gaming.
Keep in mind that with either build, you'll get the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Nvidia bundle, but you can take a closer look at the specs below.
Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 4070 Super, 32GB of DDR5, 1TB SSD
Maingear MG-1 4070 Super Holiday Edition | $2,537 $2,066 at Maingear
Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 4080 Super, 32GB of DDR5, 2TB SSD
Maingear MG-1 4080 Super Holiday Edition | $3,227 $2,687 at Maingear
This processor is ridiculous value right now
When I tested out the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G CPU, I was shocked at its 4K potential despite being a Ryzen 5, and because it has far fewer cores and threads than an equivalent Intel Core i5-13600K. That Intel chip is down to $200 thanks to Black Friday, as I explained in a previous post the other day. However, the AMD option currently sits at $160 at Amazon, which is no short of silly money for a desktop CPU that is this capable.
For more info, check out my review linked above, but if you're searching for a new AM5 processor, this is definitely one to consider no matter the resolution you aim to play at.
AMD Ryzen 5 8600G | $229 $160 at Amazon
A perfect ITX chassis for $70
Last year I built myself an ITX (small form factor) gaming PC, which I now use every day for gaming, work, and content creation. The case I chose was a nifty little creation from Corsair called the 2000D RGB Airflow. It's completely mesh covered, so there's no transparency for you to peer at your RGB components. Then again, that's often the case with small-form-factor builds.
Nonetheless, this chassis can fit a 360mm AIO cooler, and a full-size RTX 4080 GPU in it. It comes with three RGB fans on its front, but leaves the rest up to you. If you're building your own ITX gaming PC this Black Friday, I couldn't recommend this case more at its current price of $69.99 (was $154.99)
Corsair 2000D Airflow RGB | $159.99 $69.99 at Newegg
A worthy tool for a builder
When it comes to PC-building tools and screwdriver sets, it can be easy to get carried away and overspend. Truth be told, this Amazon Basics magnetic ratchet screwdriver has helped me with a plethora of PC surgeries and multiple builds. It's currently going cheap at Amazon, and if you're buying a load of pricey components, it's a nice way to get a tool that will do the job while keeping your costs down.
The base of the handle pops open and offers you loads of screw heads and Allen Key sizes, and they're all magnetic which is perfect for carefully lowering loose screws into a PC case so you don't lose them. The ratchet feature is also great for preventing you from over-tightening and damaging your motherboard.
Amazon Basics Magnetic Ratchet Screwdriver | $13.27 $9.29 at Amazon
My favorite deals under $750
You could buy a PS5 Pro this Black Friday, but with gaming PC deals as good as they are, I'm not sure why you would.
One of my favorite PC deals under a grand has to be the Yeyian Yumi over at Newegg. It's not the ideal PC - it gives you DDR4 RAM on a DDR5 motherboard, but I actually like that for its price of $699 (the same as a PS5 Pro) because deals like these are all about giving you a platform to upgrade and make your own as the years go on.
Specs: Intel Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060, 16GB of DDR4, 1TB SSD
Yeyian Yumi | $1,199.99 $699.99 at Newegg
Alternatively, you could opt for the iBUYPOWER Slate Mesh 6 at Walmart - which I'm shocked to still see in stock. For the same $699, you get a liquid-cooled RTX 4060 build with a newer processor and 16GB of DDR5.
Specs: Intel Core i5-13600F, RTX 4060, 16GB of DDR4, 1TB SSD.
iBUYPOWER Slate Mesh 6 | $1,199.99 $699 at Walmart
Looking for a bit more control?
Streaming controllers aren't just for content creators. There are loads of ways to use these nifty little gadgets that can help with gaming, general everyday computing, and even just the ease of having applications open at the touch of a key.
The one I use, the Razer Stream Controller X, is currently seeing a pretty great discount at Amazon. It's discounted by 30%, bringing it from $149 down to $104. If you're looking for a quality-of-life boost to your current gaming PC, this could be a nice addition to your setup.
Razer Stream Controller X | $149.99 $104.99 at Amazon
Do you need a GPU bracket?
One frequently asked question is about whether or not you need a support bracket for your graphics card. To keep things simple, it certainly doesn't hurt to have one holding up the off-side of your GPU, but depending on what card you actually have, they may not be necessary. For cards with three fans that actually stretch the width of your MoBo, you can often see a bit of a sag - you do need to be careful with this because it can cause damage to your GPU and motherboard. For this type of graphics card - the heavier, more powerful options, it might be good to invest in a support bracket. It's certainly better than realizing at some point down the road that the sag has been slowly eroding your PC's lifespan.
For the majority of setups though, I've found they just aren't really needed. Secure the GPU onto the motherboard properly and screw it into place on your PC case's IO tray, and most of the time you'll be absolutely fine.
Luckily, GPU brackets are usually fairly cheap, unless you go for a very extra RGB option. This simple one from nkomax, like the one pictured above, is only $9.99 at Amazon right now, and you can apply a 5% coupon to bring down the price even more.
TLDR: They're not always necessary, but you're better safe than sorry.
The retailer power rankings so far
You may be wondering where to find the best gaming PCs at discounted prices this Black Friday, so allow me to share my power rankings with you. As you may guess if you've been looking at enough of these deals, the clear winner has to be...
With loads of great offers and options from third-party sellers, Newegg has the best overall selection of gaming PC deals available right now. The prebuilt selection is especially good, with options spanning the budget bracket all the way up to full-powered 4080 Super builds.
Coming in a close second and third are Best Buy and Walmart, who both have a really solid selection of prebuilt PCs, but tend to be a bit more conservative with component prices. Graphics cards can be priced really well at Best Buy especially, but CPUs, SSDs, and RAM tend to be better found at...
Since it's the world's largest retailer, Amazon may be the first place you look for gaming PC deals, and fair enough if you're a Prime member. Annoyingly the selection of full PCs isn't so great here, and the number of discounts is even less. What you should absolutely buy here though, are the smaller components, your CPU, your RAM, your SSDs, your building accessories. CPUs are especially good value at Amazon, with prices often beating out the retailers above.
A very alluring 4070 Super build
The longer I look at this Yeyian Mirage, the more it pulls me in. The front of this case is something else, with vertical RGB lights guarding some colorful fans that look almost blurred by the glare. Take a look at the inside, and things get even better.
A 4070 Super will run the show gaming-wise, but a 13th Gen i9 processor and 32GB of RAM is lovely too. I can spy an AIO liquid cooler in there too, so that's some extra bang for your buck.
Specs: Intel Core i9-13900KF, RTX 4070 Super, 32GB of DDR5, 1TB SSD, 750W
Yeyian Mirage | $2,099 $1,599.99 at Walmart
Need a volume boost?
If you need a set of speakers for one of the best gaming PCs, I can recommend the SteelSeries Arena 7, which is currently on offer at Amazon in a Black Friday deal. This set comes with two RGB-backed speakers and one subwoofer, and since it's made by SteelSeries, it benefits from the Sonar app you can use to customize sound profiles.
These speakers are actually so good I use them for my couch setup. Don't settle for monitor speakers or only wearing a headset - your lugs deserve better.
SteelSeries Arena 7 | $299.99 $239.99 at Amazon
4TB SSDs are rarely worth it, but this one is
In all honesty, 4TB SSDs are almost always too pricey to be worth it. Having that much storage space is extreme futureproofing, but isn't really necessary when most motherboards in the best gaming PCs can hold more than one NVMe drive.
Still, if you're going to spend big on a 4TB drive, make it this one. It's so speedy, and while this Black Friday offer doesn't bring it down to its lowest-ever price, $10 off isn't something to complain about.
Samsung 990 Pro | $307 $269.99 at Amazon
You don't often see Corsair DDR5 RAM this affordable
I don't often recommend Corsair's RAM, and not because it's bad. Actually, by all accounts, Corsair is one of the best manufacturers of RAM you'll find. Unfortunately, it's also one of the biggest names in the market, and that means you rarely get its memory as cheap as you do other makers.
Black Friday has brought Corsair's Vengeance RGB DDR5 down to the same level as my favorite RAM for gaming though, the Klevv Cras XR5 RGV DDR5 (pictured above). Indeed, you can get 32GB of Corsair's memory for $90 at Newegg right now, which I'd recommend doing if you're building your own machine.
Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM | $107.99 $90 at Newegg
Another $699 price tag arrives as Best Buy gets competitive
So right now, there's a $699 gaming PC at Newegg in the form of a Yeyian Yumi, there's an iBUYPOWER Slate Mesh 6 at Walmart going for the same $699, and now I've just spotted Best Buy's attempt.
iBUYPOWER is proving itself to be a wonderful brand to shop for during Black Friday because this Scale Gaming PC is going for $699, and it's powered by some really competitive specs versus the PCs mentioned above.
Specs: Intel Core i5-14400F, RTX 4060, 16GB of DDR5, 1TB SSD
iBUYPOWER Scale Gaming PC | $949 $699 at Best Buy
ICYMI: You don't need to play at a desk if you don't want to
Playing on PC doesn't need to mean playing at a desk where you spend all your hours working as well. You can make very effective couch and TV setups to increase your work-life balance by plugging a gaming PC into one these days - this works especially well if you have a high refresh rate display.
Steam has big picture mode, which helps you to navigate your menus with a controller, but there are also ways to hook up a mouse and keyboard, and the funky couchmaster CYCON2 is my favorite. I use it for playing games, doing some content creation, and sometimes even working from home. If you missed my post about it earlier in the week, you can get this excellent couch desk at the discounted price below.
Couchmaster CYCON 2 | $189 $179 at Amazon
I'll be back tomorrow!
And that's 5.30pm UK time, which means I'll be clocking off for the evening now. Fret not, however, for I shall return tomorrow afternoon with more Black Friday deals to show you. For now, enjoy the posts from earlier today, and happy deal hunting! Also, happy Thanksgiving when it comes.
The Yeyian Yumi is on backorder - which is why you shouldn't wait too long
Howdy folks! Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating today.
To begin with today, I have some rather sad news - the Yeyian Yumi, one of the best, and longest-lasting gaming PC deals from the past few months, is finally on backorder. It costs $699 at Newegg and I've now highlighted it a few times as an example of a great DDR5 build for newcomers to PC gaming. It isn't out of stock yet, so you can still grab it, but luckily, there are other rigs priced at $699 that might even be a better fit for you.
The reason I think this is worth highlighting is because it goes to show that waiting around during Thanksgiving week when the deals are already live can only mean you miss out. Thank goodness there are other offers at this price ready to pick up the slack, but to avoid stock shortages, I'd get serious about pulling the trigger now.
- Yeyian Yumi (RTX 4060, Intel Core i5-12400F): $699 at Newegg
- iBUYPOWER Slate 6 (Intel Core i5-13600KF, RTX 4060): $699 at Walmart
- iBUYPOWER Scale (Intel Core i5-14400F, RTX 4060): $699 at Best Buy
Who'd have thought that RTX 4070 PCs would be under $,1200
I've been seeing plenty of RTX 4060 Ti builds drop to the $1,100-$1,200 range in the lead-up to Black Friday, but I didn't expect to see 4070 builds at that level. Newegg's ABS brand is firing on all cylinders right now though, because this Cyclone Aqua (which is confusingly not liquid-cooled) build doesn't just come with that excellent mid-range GPU, it comes with 32GB of RAM. For this amount of money, that's excellent value.
Specs: Intel Core i5-14400F, RTX 4070, 32GB of DDR5, and 1TB SSD
ABS Cyclone Aqua | $1,599 $1,149 at Newegg
Why I wouldn't recommend an RTX 4090 gaming PC this Black Friday
If you've been looking at the higher-end gaming PC deals I've been recommending on this live blog so far, you may be wondering why I've neglected the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090. In truth, I think they're impossible to find good value for. If you look at any of the go-to retailers with honest Black Friday gaming PC deals, you'll see that even they come up short with RTX 4090 builds. The RTX 4080 Super is another story, because those are coming down to the $1,900 mark, and have genuine discounts from their $2,000+ prices.
I can't see a single RTX 4090 build under $3,000 if it hasn't been refurbished first. I'm sorry to enrage some folks reading, but I don't think the performance bump to a 4090 is worth a whole extra grand more than you'd pay for a 4080 Super machine like the ABS Kaze Ruby ($1,949 at Newegg).
There's also the point to be made that the 4090 was never really designed for gamers. It was made for the Bitcoin miners and shoppers from the pandemic days who were running much more demanding tasks than playing Stardew at 4K, max settings.
With the RTX 5090 likely coming down the pipe in early January, it's probably not worth seeking out the 4090 if you have that budget right now. Wait and see what kind of prices and performance next-gen GPUs can get you.
The brand new HP Omen 35L is a steal here
HP's latest prebuilt option is the Omen 35L, which I think is a massive aesthetic upgrade over its previous Omen chassis designs. This is the first time I've seen it come down in price at a retailer that isn't HP, and it's actually great value for money.
Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 8700G, RTX 4060 Ti, 16GB of DDR5, 1TB SSD
HP Omen 35L | $1,499.99 $999.99 at Best Buy
PSA: Steam sales are unholy
If you're looking for a reason to convert from console to PC, Steam sales might honestly be one of the ones I throw in your face. The Steam Autumn sale is currently going on, and just to give you an idea, I have 46 games on my wishlist, and 30 of them are now discounted because of that sale.
In comparison, of 44 games on my PlayStation store wishlist, only 7 are discounted while that store's Black Friday offers are going on.
Now, I'm aware this small experiment might just tell you I need to wishlist fewer games, but believe me when I tell you that since moving over to the PC world, the amount I've spent on games has been way less. Some of these currently discounted Steam games from my wishlist are over 60% off, which brings a lot of them under $10. Black Friday is meant to be a time to buy hardware, and I can already hear my bank balance crying from the games I'm about to buy.
