Black Friday CPU deals were pretty great last year, and there's every indication the same will be true in 2024. Even since November, we've had some really exciting CPU news on both sides, and it now looks as though we'll have another set of CPUs from Intel and AMD that are compatible with their respective motherboard sockets. That means the last generations are getting even cheaper, and that's wonderful news for deal hunters.
Did you know that according to the Adobe shopping report, November, and the weeks surrounding Black Friday, are when we typically see the biggest drop across the board on the prices of PCs and their components? That means the best CPUs for gaming are an absolute steal around Thanksgiving week, so unless you're in need of an urgent upgrade, now is the time to buy.
Below, we've rounded up our expectations for the best Black Friday CPU deals in 2024. Alongside that, we've tried to supply answers to other frequently asked questions including this year's Black Friday date so you can mark your calendar. Below that, you'll find a list of last year's best deals that should give you an idea of what was on offer and for how much.
Black Friday CPU deals: What to expect
Black Friday CPU deals in 2024 are sure to be tempting for anyone who hasn't upgraded to a DDR5-compatible system yet. AMD and Intel have multiple generations available that will give your system bona fide performance boosts. The best part? They're all going to be very affordable when November hits, especially since throughout this year, we've already seen CPU prices drop through the floor.
For starters, there's Intel, which has had to navigate a bit of a PR crisis this year due to its Raptor Lake processors facing widespread instability issues. Warranties and refunds have had to be involved, and motherboard patches have had to be rolled out - it really hasn't been a good look. That's all been happening as the 13th generation of Intel's CPUs has been getting cheaper, so with a poor reputation now in place, it's going to take some hefty deals to get gamers to build with their chips again come Black Friday.
That stands for team Blue's 13th and 14th generations, but the 12th gen group is still very viable, has DDR5 compatibility, and will be so, so cheap come November. Of course, you could wait for Intel's next generation, but since that'll be the first wave to adopt a new motherboard socket, you're going to be asking a lot of your wallet.
Then, there's AMD. Team Red's MO is to undercut Intel and Nvidia, and its Ryzen 7000 and 8000G processors are going to be extremely tempting for builders this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It'll be interesting to see how desperate Intel will be, and how AMD responds, especially since its Ryzen 9000 Series only launched this year, and could face its first batch of deals.
No matter which team you go for, it's going to be an amazing time to buy gaming CPUs this November. Ready your wallets, check out our reviews, and expect some great deals. If you want an idea of prices from last year, scroll down and check out some of our favorite offers we've saved from 2023.
Black Friday CPU deals: FAQs
When will Black Friday CPU deals start?
Black Friday officially begins on Friday, November 29 this year. As we've seen in previous years, Black Friday CPU deals will likely start in the weeks leading up to that day. We do see the odd deal pop up from the end of October onwards, but the best deals do start to emerge at the beginning of Thanksgiving week. Cyber Monday will happen again this year, but Black Friday usually brings around more deals, and is the safer bet.
Where will the best Black Friday CPU deals be?
In all honesty, it's fairly even in regards to where you'll be able to find the best Black Friday CPU deals. Taking past years into consideration, we saw some of the deepest discounts come from Amazon and Newegg above the majority of other retailers, so we recommend keeping a close watch on these two online storefronts in particular. Also keep an eye on Best Buy and other big-box stores, as they've been keeping up recently as well.
US:
Amazon: The biggest selection of current and previous generation chipsets
Best Buy: Regular discounts on AMD Ryzen 5000 series and Intel CPUs
Newegg: Deep discounts on must-have Ryzen models and 10th gen Intel
Walmart: Average prices with few discounts available right now
UK:
Amazon: Low prices on well-reviewed Intel and AMD Ryzen CPUs
eBuyer: Massive savings available on high AMD Ryzen chipsets
Currys: Good offers on the latest Ryzen processors
Laptops Direct: Minor but consistent deals on 9th, 10th, and 11th gen Intel
Last year's best Black Friday CPU deals
Last year's best CPU deals in the UK
Complete your battle station for less with everything you need to know to get the best Black Friday gaming laptop deals and Black Friday gaming monitor deals.
You can also take a look at our Black Friday RAM deals and Black Friday SSD deals so you have all the bits and pieces you need to build a PC.
