Update 11/30/24: Even though Black Friday has technically passed, there are a ton of great CPU deals that are still going on through the weekend. In fact, a lot of the deals below have gotten a bit better, and we’ve updated all the prices to their latest info. Also, we think the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is probably one of the better deals, and while the discount isn’t as steep, it is an excellent mid-range CPU option that should work for pretty much everybody. Either way, be sure to check back as we update this article regularly!
There are still a lot of excellent Black Friday deals on CPUs that are happening today, especially if you’ve been holding off on making the splurge for a while. We’ve collected some of our favorite deals for both Intel and AMD CPUs below, so be sure to check everything out before making your choice for building your own PC.
We’ll be investigating all of the best deals that have emerged in the category shortly. But first, you might also be interested in these Black Friday gaming laptop deals or even these Black Friday all-in-one PC deals. And, if you’re interested in stylish gaming hardware, you’ll need to check out Alienware Black Friday deals, too.
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X — $247 $279 11% off
This one is a go-to value pick. Its 6-core, 12-thread setup provides midrange power at sub-$300 pricing, and especially at the $249 it is now at. Our AMD Ryzen 5 9600X review considers this a great pickup if you haven’t upgraded to AM5 yet.
AMD Ryzen 5 8500G — $149 $179 17% off
The big deal with this 6-core, 12-thread processor? It has integrated graphics. Now, that’s not going to be RTX 4090 level, of course, but you can get a 1080p at 30 fps experience on even some AAA games with it. At $149, this is excellent for the gamer that isn’t all about graphics.
Intel Core i5-13600K — $210 $329 36% off
This processor sits at the top of our best Intel processors list for its affordability and surprising punch-for-the-cost. Our Intel Core i5 13600K review is actually a bundled review (meaning other Intel CPUs are reviewed alongside it) but it was reviewed most favorably, with references to its ability to edge out the Ryzen 5 7600X. It has 14 cores and 20 threads.
Intel Core i7-13700K — $273 $419 35% off
This 13th-generation Intel i7 is a great mid-to-high-end option for those who feel like the i5 isn’t powerful enough and that the i9 is way too much. For most folks, including those who game on mid-level GPUs, this is likely going to be more than enough, and the 35% discount sure make it well worth grabbing.
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X — $383 $499 23% off
The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is an interesting processor, and even though it’s one of the newest CPUs, it’s actually comparable or a couple of percentage points worse than the Ryzen 9 7950X below. That said, it has a 23% discount that makes it cheaper, and for relatively comparable performance, it’s worth grabbing this if you don’t quite need the best of the best and want to save a little extra.
Intel Core i9-14900KF — $436 $620 30% off
One of the most premium Intel processors you can get right now, the Intel Core i9-14900KF rocks 24 cores, 32 threads, and has integrated graphics. Our Intel Core i9-14900K review show the improved gaming performance and can tell you more about the 14900KF’s AI-assisted overclocking.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X — $465 $699 33% off
This 16-core, 32-thread processor holds a special place in our hearts, topping both our best AMD processors and best processors for video editing lists, showing that it’s a pretty versatile component. Our AMD Ryzen 9 7950X review described it as “overkill” back in 2022 when the review was released, making a cheaper option more likely to be the better choice. But two years have passed, the price is $234 cheaper, and now is the time to strike.
How to choose a CPU deal on Black Friday
Our CPU buying guide breaks down every factor. And it can get quite complex — you’ll want to know about cores and threads, power and thermals, cooling, and get a deeper understanding of CPU generations to make the absolute best choice. But, generally speaking, more cores and threads are better, and later generations have the latest tech.
However, for most of you, one of the biggest considerations you’ll face is whether to go with an AMD or Intel CPU. The specifics, once again, can get quite overwhelming if you let it, but we can also break it down more simply. For typical browsing or laptop job work, you’ll probably do fine with either. For higher-end applications on the desktop, however, AMD CPUs tend to be somewhat better and have more uniform performance. Then, there is the recent memory of Intel CPU voltage fails that have many nonplussed with the brand.
Finally, remember to check the price. The CPU isn’t everything in your PC, and you’ll still need RAM, an SSD (or two), and the all-expensive GPU to round out your creation. There’s no need to blow your entire budget on the CPU.
How we chose these CPU Black Friday Deals
We highly encourage you to take a look at the following guides: The best processors, the best Intel processors, and the best AMD processors. Why? Our experts have spent a ton of time researching these articles, including our noted gaming hardware enthusiast, Jacob Roach, among other hardware enthusiasts. This is to say that the products we looked at above were not picked in isolation — they’re vouched for. We also have plenty of CPU reviews to consult, and we’ll make sure to link them to the above when applicable.
Next, this is a deals segment and we do have our ways of finding good prices for value. They will represent — at the time of writing — one of the best deals you can find on a given product from a reliable retailer or brand page. Note that “at the time of writing,” and be sure to bookmark this page to see updates as the deals season evolves.
