Let’s get you (and your wallet) ready for Black Friday!

You want to know:

• Is Black Friday 2025 still the best time to build or upgrade a PC?
• Which parts are actually good buys this year, and which ones are sneaky traps?
• How much will AI, tariffs, and The Great RAM Meltdown of 2025 mess with your plans?

Short answer: Yes, Black Friday is still the best overall time of year to build or upgrade a PC. But what you buy matters more than ever.

For context: I’ve been building PCs for 34 years and hunting Black Friday hardware deals for 13. I’ve watched prices go up, down, sideways, and occasionally set themselves on fire. 2025 is one of the weirder years, but that actually helps careful builders.

Black Friday 2025 is shaping up to be a weird one, but weird is good if you know what you’re doing.

Why Black Friday is (almost always) the best time to build

The PC hardware cycle looks something like this:

• Manufacturers overproduce something.
• Retailers panic a little.
• Marketing shouts “MEGA BLOWOUT” and slaps stickers on things.
• We swoop in, cackling quietly, and buy the good stuff.

Traditionally, Black Friday is when:

• Old inventory gets cleared out (last-gen CPUs, GPUs, SSDs, etc.).
• Less popular models get huge discounts, turning “meh” parts into absolute steals.
• Stores do short, limited quantity lightning deals at silly prices to get you in.

This year, that pattern still holds. But AI data centers, rising memory costs, and weird tariff politics mean some parts will be screaming bargains and others will be “ugh, I guess.”

Let’s go piece by piece.

Graph showing 2025 CPU prices down about 20% and staying steady, with solid deals across AMD and Intel.

Big 2025 forces shaping prices

Three macro things matter for Black Friday 2025:

1. AI data centers are hoovering up hardware
   • AI workloads are extremely hungry for GPUs, DRAM, and SSDs.
   • DRAM and NAND prices have risen sharply in late 2025. RAM has doubled in price since July, and forecasts suggest elevated prices into 2026 (or longer!).
   • Analysts are already warning about a “pricing apocalypse” for RAM and SSDs if AI demand keeps compounding.
2. Power, not chips, is becoming the bottleneck for AI giants
   • Microsoft’s CEO has literally said they have AI GPUs sitting on shelves because they don’t have enough power and data center capacity to plug them in.
   • That’s slowing the pace at which AI can devour even more hardware, which helps consumer GPU supply a bit.
3. Tariffs still poke certain categories
   • Some stuff (like many PSUs, coolers, and fans made in China) still carries extra cost thanks to U.S.-China tariffs.
   • Other parts (GPUs, cases, many motherboards) are currently exempt but vulnerable to policy flip-flops.
   • There are ongoing negotiations where some tariffs could be halved, which would especially help lower end PSUs and cheap cooling.

So when we talk about “good time to buy,” there are real structural forces behind it.

CPUs: Good time to buy, with a side of “Watch Intel”

State of the market:

• CPU prices dropped ~20% in early 2025 and have been relatively stable since then. You’re already getting better bang for your buck than a year ago, and there are strong deals across both AMD and Intel.
• Mid-range gaming and productivity CPUs are very competitive: you can find discounted Intel i5/i7 and Ryzen 5/7 chips at genuinely good prices.

• 

  Graph showing 2025 CPU prices down about 20% and staying steady, with solid deals across AMD and Intel.

What’s coming next:

• AMD Zen 6 is coming sometime in 2026. Great for the future, not something you can actually buy right now.
• Intel Panther Lake might show up as early as January. Intel has had… let’s say… “mixed success” with launches lately. If Panther Lake is on time, good, and in stock (three big “ifs”), it could shake up pricing.

So: Buy now or wait?

• If you want to build this Black Friday:
  • Yes, it’s a good time to buy a CPU. Prices are already down, and BF will stack extra discounts on top.
  • Don’t stress too much about Zen 6 or Panther Lake. Early-adopter prices and limited availability can erase any gains, especially in the first few months.
• If you’re ultra-patient and chasing the cutting edge:
  • You could wait a few months to see how Panther Lake lands.
  • If Intel actually crushes it, AMD might respond with cuts, giving you even better value mid-2026.

Verdict:

Black Friday 2025 is a great time to buy a CPU. Especially mid-range. Future launches might tweak prices, but they’re not a reason to skip good BF deals.

Future chips are coming, but Black Friday deals are real today.

GPUs: Still pricey, slowly calming down

State of the market:

• GPU prices have finally come down from the “sell a kidney” heights of the crypto era. Mid-range is much healthier now, with AMD and Nvidia competing and Intel nibbling at the low-end.
• Prices have been stable to slowly dropping through 2025, especially in the mid-range segment.

GPU prices are finally cooling off. Still high, but trending the right way.

But:

• AI data centers still want as many GPUs they can get, not leaving much for the rest of us.
• US power generation and grid constraints (remember those “GPUs sitting on shelves” quotes) are moderating demand a bit, but…
• The high end is still owned by Nvidia, who will still charge you a kidney for an RTX 5090.

Black Friday behavior:

• Best deals:
  • Previous-gen cards (think 2023 – 2024 GPUs, last-gen flagships, upper mid-range). Check our GPU Comparison chart for some ideas.
  • Slightly awkward SKUs (questionable VRAM sizes, less popular brands) that retailers are trying to move.
• Weak deals:
  • Absolute top-end cards and brand-new launches. Those still sell themselves, AI or no AI.

So: Buy now or wait?

• If you’re targeting mid-range (where most builders live):
  • Black Friday is very likely your best shot in the next 6 – 12 months.
  • Decent competition and availability + holiday discount pressure = a nice recipe.
• If you only want a 5080 or 5090:
  • BF might only give you a tiny discount or a game bundle.
  • There isn’t really any incentive for Nvidia to give you deals.

Verdict:

Black Friday is a good time to buy a mid-range GPU, a decent time for upper-mid, and “meh” for absolute flagships.

AI wants every GPU it can grab. The rest of us get what’s left.

RAM: The Problem Child of 2025

This is the part where I pat you gently on the shoulder.

State of the market:

• DRAM prices are climbing. Fast. Prices are increasing as much as 25% per quarter.
• DDR5 is getting squeezed by AI servers and HBM production.
• Some reports show DDR4 prices doubling on certain modules, with DDR4 occasionally more expensive than DDR5. Goodbye, DDR4, it was nice knowing you.

RAM’s having a moment, and not the good kind. Prices are climbing fast across DDR4 and DDR5.

Translation:
2025 is objectively a bad year for RAM bargains, and 2026 doesn’t look friendlier.

Black Friday behavior:

• You will see “RAM Deals!” banners.
• But many of these are just “less bad than they’ll be later,” not truly amazing low prices.
• TrendForce and other analysts expect DRAM prices to remain elevated into 2026 due to AI demand and restrained production.

So: Buy now or wait?

• If you need RAM within the next 6–12 months:
  • Honestly, Black Friday is probably as good as it’s going to get.
  • It may still hurt, but waiting is more likely to hurt more.
• If you’re just thinking about upgrading from 32GB to 64GB “for the vibes”:
  • Maybe… don’t.
  • Or at least wait for a truly standout deal, not just a “10% off” sticker.

Verdict:

It’s a bad era for RAM, but Black Friday is still your least-bad window if you’re going to buy in the next year.

RAM deals this year aren’t good, just less bad. If you need it soon, Black Friday’s your least painful option.

SSDs: Quietly entering “Buy Now Before It Goes Up” territory

State of the market:

• Consumer SSD prices fell for years and have felt pleasantly cheap… until AI showed up with a credit card and no self-control.
• AI data centers are gobbling NAND flash for massive storage arrays. Analysts now expect NAND / SSD prices to rise into 2026.
• Some sources say consumer-sized drives (1-4TB NVMe) will be less affected than giant enterprise SSDs, which matches what we have seen so far – but the trend is still upward.

SSD prices have been great, and that’s exactly why they won’t stay that way.

Right now:

• Retail SSD prices are still pretty good by historical standards.
• But the era of “2TB NVMe for pocket change” is probably ending.

Black Friday behavior:

• Expect:
  • Strong deals on SATA SSDs, PCIe 3.0/4.0 drives, and older models.
  • Small discounts on top tier PCIe 5.0 drives.
• Even if the discounts aren’t spectacular, you’re buying at what is likely the bottom of the curve before prices creep up.

So: Buy now or wait?

• If you think you’ll want more storage in the next 12-18 months:
  • Black Friday is the time.
  • Grab that 2TB (or 4TB) NVMe now and enjoy not thinking about storage for years.

Verdict:

SSDs are a “buy now” category. Black Friday deals may not be legendary, but the baseline price is likely better now than it will be in 2026.

Black Friday’s the smart time to stock up on SSDs

Motherboards: Boring (which is great)

State of the market:

• Motherboard prices are pretty stable.
• Production has already diversified away from China, smoothing out tariff risk and supply shocks.
• Most meaningful pricing shifts this year came from CPU platform changes and feature sets (PCIe 5, more M.2 slots, better VRMs), not random volatility.

Black Friday behavior:

• You’ll see:
  • Discounts on mid-range and older boards, especially for last-gen sockets.
  • Some nice bundle deals (CPU + motherboard combo, sometimes with RAM).

Buy now or wait?

• If you’re building a new system this Black Friday, go ahead and grab a board with your CPU.
• Just make sure you’re not walking into a dead-end platform unless you’re fine with that (e.g., buying the cheapest board for a one-off gaming rig you don’t plan to upgrade). AMD AM5 should support Zen 6, Intel LGA 1851 should support Panther Lake.

Verdict:

Motherboards are a stable, safe Black Friday buy. Look for bundles and last-gen mid-range boards at good prices.

Motherboards are calm, prices are steady, and that’s exactly how we like it.

PSUs & Cases: The Black Friday heroes

Power Supplies (PSUs)

State of the market:

• PSU prices are mostly stable, but:
  • They’ve been elevated somewhat since 2019 due to tariffs on many units made in China.
  • AI and gaming PCs both want higher-wattage, higher-quality PSUs, which adds gentle upward pressure.

The good news?

• PSUs are classic Black Friday discount fodder. Retailers love to throw big percentage-off tags on them because:
  • They’re easy to stock in volume.
  • They’re a great upsell category.

Even with tariffs in the background, discounts can more than erase that extra cost.

Cases

State of the market:

• Case prices are stable.
• Most are still made in China, but as of late 2025 many are under tariff exemptions, so prices haven’t spiked the way you might expect.

Black Friday behavior:

• Expect excellent deals on:
  • Slightly older but still excellent case models.
  • Non-RGB or “weird but good airflow” cases that didn’t hit TikTok virality.

Verdict for both:

Black Friday is prime time for buying PSUs and cases.
This is one of the easiest wins in a hardware build – get something better than you thought you could afford.

PSUs and cases quietly win Black Friday every year. Solid deals, no drama, and easy upgrades that actually feel good.

Coolers, Fans, and “The Little Stuff”

• Many budget coolers and fans are still made in China and feel the tariff pinch.
• They’re relatively cheap items, so the absolute dollar impact isn’t enormous, but it adds up in a whole build.
• Black Friday usually brings:
  • 3-pack fan deals
  • Discounts on popular AIOs
  • Clearance on older cooler models when a new revision launches

If you’re already shopping, this is a great time to upgrade from “stock cooler shrieking at 95°C” to “whisper-quiet and cool.”

Black Friday’s perfect for the little upgrades. Quieter fans, better cooling, less shrieking at 95°C.

So… Is Black Friday 2025 still the best time to build or upgrade?

Putting it all together:

• CPUs:
  • + Already cheaper than early 2024; BF adds extra savings.
  • = Only wait if you specifically want next-gen Intel/AMD and can delay your build.
• GPUs:
  • + Mid-range: great time to buy, especially last-gen and “odd” SKUs.
  • – High-end: modest discounts at best; AI and enthusiasts keep demand strong.
• RAM:
  • – Prices rising and expected to keep rising into 2026.
  • + Black Friday is probably your least-painful moment if you’re going to buy anyway.
• SSDs:
  • + Very strong candidate for “buy now before the curve bends upward.”
  • = Even “okay” deals are worth taking.
• Motherboards, PSUs, Cases, Cooling:
  • + Classic Black Friday winners.
  • + Great time to upgrade quality (better VRMs, quieter PSUs, nicer airflow) without spending much more.

My verdict:

Yes. Black Friday 2025 is still the best overall time of year to build or upgrade a PC.
It’s especially good for CPUs, GPUs (mid-range), SSDs, PSUs, and cases.
RAM is the only real heartbreak category. But even there, BF may be the best you’ll see for a while.

How to win Black Friday (without losing your mind)

Here’s a practical strategy you can follow:

1. Make a build plan before the deals hit

• List your must-have parts (GPU tier, CPU tier, total RAM, SSD capacity).
• Add acceptable alternatives:
  • “If 9800X3D isn’t on sale, I’ll take a discounted 7800X3D.”
  • “If Brand A 2TB NVMe is pricey, I’ll grab Brand B if it drops.”

Have a build plan before the chaos starts. Future-you will thank you.

2. Know normal prices now

• Check current prices for the parts you’re eyeing. (Our builds are updated with current early-mid November prices)
• That way, you can spot fake deals where a retailer raises the “original price” then pretends a small drop is huge.

3. Watch early Black Friday listings

• Stores like Amazon, Newegg, Micro Center often leak or list Black Friday deals in advance.
• Bookmark:
  • “Black Friday 2025 PC Hardware Deals” pages.
  • Join our email list to get our deals roundups as soon as they go live!

4. Be there for the Midnight (and Lightning) Deals

• Many of the best offers:
  • Hit right at midnight Thursday -> Friday
  • Or appear as short-lived lightning deals with limited quantities.
• If you’re chasing a particular GPU or SSD, this is when the magic happens.

5. Aim for “unpopular” SKUs

Generally, the best discounts are on:

• Previous-generation hardware the store really wants off the shelves.
• Slightly awkward models:
  • Questionable VRAM GPUs
  • Non-RGB but otherwise excellent
  • Less flashy brands trying to gain market share

A “meh value” part at MSRP can become a screaming deal at -25%.

6. Let us do the sleep deprivation for you

We’ll lose the sleep so you don’t have to.

At Logical Increments, we’ll be:

• Staying up late, trawling through Amazon/Newegg/other stores.
• Comparing real performance, real prices, and real value.
• Publishing curated selections of the real Black Friday PC deals so you can just skim and click instead of doom-scrolling.

We’re also in the middle of a major, long-needed update of our main PC build tiers:

Storage, RAM, cases, and PSUs are already updated for the 2025 reality.

CPUs, GPUs, and motherboards are being refreshed now. Mostly minor shifts because they were already in good shape, plus some swaps for better-priced boards and cases.

PS: You may know that Logical Increments runs entirely on affiliate links. It’s how we keep the lights (and GPUs) on. If you find our guides useful, buying through our links costs you nothing extra and directly supports the site. It lets us keep researching parts, tracking prices, and staying up late to write posts like this one. Thanks for helping us and helping thousands of builders get more PC for their money.

What to do next

If you want to be ready:

1. Check out our current recommended builds
   • See how we’re adjusting for RAM prices, SSD trends, and power needs.
2. Join the Logical Increments mailing list
   • We’ll send:
     • Black Friday deal roundups,
     • “Buy this, skip that” guidance,
     • And alerts when a truly ridiculous bargain pops up.

Think of it this way:

You can absolutely hunt every deal yourself with 47 open tabs and three pots of coffee.

Or you can let someone who’s been doing this for decades help you spend less and get more frame-rate.

Either way, Black Friday 2025 is a very solid time to build or upgrade. As long as you know where the real value is hiding.