Your PC in instalments (up to 12x)
By the FlowUP team, PC gaming assembler in Genappe (Belgium) · Updated 28 September 2026
Every year, it’s the same avalanche: “-40%” everywhere, flashing countdowns, and gaming PCs presented as the deal of the century. Some really are. Many hide an older-generation graphics card, a low-end power supply, or a crossed-out price padded up for the occasion.
In short: Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday 27 November, followed by Cyber Monday on 30 November. To spot a genuinely good deal on a gaming PC, compare the lowest price from the last 30 days, check the graphics card generation, the power supply quality and the memory configuration, and choose your system based on your screen, not the discount percentage.
When is Black Friday 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Black Friday | Friday 27 November 2026 |
| Cyber Monday | Monday 30 November 2026 |
| Early deals | Often starting mid-November at many retailers |
Black Friday always follows Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In practice, promotions now stretch over one to two weeks. No need to rush at the first morning offer: what matters is knowing what you’re buying.
How to spot a real deal on a gaming PC?
Look at the reference price, not the percentage. In France, since 2022, a stated discount must be calculated based on the lowest price the seller has charged during the 30 days before (article L112-1-1 of the Consumer Code, detailed by the DGCCRF). So a raised crossed-out price from early November shouldn’t be fooling you anymore.
- Follow the price for a few weeks beforehand: note it down, or use a comparison tool with price history.
- Compare configurations, not discounts. A PC at -30% with a 2023 graphics card can be less interesting than a newer PC at -10%.
- Add up the components. If the discounted PC only costs a bit more than its parts sold separately, it’s a real deal: the build, testing and warranty are almost given away.
The 6 traps of a discounted gaming PC
A heavily discounted gaming PC isn’t necessarily a bad PC. But it’s during Black Friday that low stock levels and unbalanced configurations come out of the closet. Here’s what we check ourselves before recommending a system.
If a seller doesn’t provide the exact reference for the power supply, the motherboard or the memory, be wary: those are often the parts they skimp on.
| Trap | Why is that a problem | What to aim for |
|---|---|---|
| Older-generation graphics card | A discounted RTX 40 or RX 7000 can cost the same as a faster, more power-efficient current card | Compare with RTX 50 and Radeon RX 9000 (which GPU to buy in 2026Too small SSD |
| No-name power supply | A budget power supply puts all components at risk | Well-known brand, certification 80 Plus Bronze at minimum, Gold ideally (power supply guideToo small SSD |
| A single stick of RAM | In single-channel mode, the processor loses gaming performance | 2 sticks, 16 GB minimum, 32 GB recommended (RAM guideToo small SSD |
| 8 GB graphics card at 1440p | Recent games quickly max out 8 GB of video memory | 12 to 16 GB of VRAM for 1440p (how much VRAMToo small SSD |
| Too small SSD | 500 GB is three or four big games | 1 TB minimum on NVMe |
| Unclear warranty and after-sales service | A built PC also means after-sales service | Warranty length, who repairs, how quickly |
Which gaming PC to choose based on your screen?
Choose your resolution first, then the machine. An oversized PC for a 1080p screen is money sitting idle, while a PC that’s too underpowered for a 1440p at 165 Hz screen becomes a daily frustration. Here are the tiers from our current range, without prices, because they move around during Black Friday:
| Your screen | Recommended graphics card | FlowUP examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p, 144 to 240 Hz | RTX 5050 or RTX 5060 | PC Corvus, PC Banger |
| 1440p, 144 to 180 Hz | RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB, RTX 5070 or RX 9070 | PC Swift, PC Umbra, PC Sakura |
| 1440p ultra and 4K | RX 9070 XT, RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 | PC Apex V2, PC Rainbow V2, PC Ascent X3D |
PC Banger: GeForce RTX 5060
Core i5-12400F and RTX 5060: the entry point for gaming at 1080p with DLSS 4.
PC Umbra: GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB
Ryzen 5 7500F and RTX 5070: the balanced choice for 1440p at high refresh rates.
PC Apex V2: Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB
Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 32 GB DDR5 and 16 GB of VRAM: for 1440p in ultra and 4K.
For more ideas within your budget, read our selection best gaming PC in 2026 for your budget, or our detailed configurations Gaming PC for €1,000 and Gaming PC for €1,500 for 1440p.
Built PC or parts separately during Black Friday?
Buying only the components often gets you the biggest discounts. On paper, building it yourself therefore costs less. In practice, though, every part needs to be on promotion at the same time, you have to manage compatibility, the assembly, the installation of Windows, and in case of a breakdown you’ll have to identify the faulty part yourself in order to return it to the right seller.
A built PC means one warranty, a machine that’s already been tested, and a single point of contact. If you like tinkering and have time, spare parts are a great playground. If you want to be gaming that same evening, a built PC makes perfect sense.
To see one of our PCs in action, here is the test of our Orion PC (GeForce RTX 5080) on our YouTube channel:
FlowUP, Orion RTX 5080 PC review, January 2025.
Your checklist before confirming the basket
- Your monitor: what resolution and what refresh rate? Is the graphics card suitable?
- Is the graphics card from the current generation, with enough VRAM?
- Is the memory dual-channel (2 sticks), with at least 16 GB?
- Is the power supply from a well-known brand, certified 80 Plus?
- Does the SSD have at least 1 TB?
- Is the displayed price really lower than it was 30 days ago?
- What warranty, what delivery time, what after-sales service?
Frequently asked questions about Black Friday gaming PCs
What is the date of Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday 27 November 2026, and Cyber Monday on Monday 30 November. Many retailers roll out their offers from mid-November.
Is Black Friday really the best time to buy a gaming PC?
It’s often a good time, but not necessarily the best. Discounts are real on a portion of the products, but some deals are aimed at clearing old stock. Compare the configuration and the price from the last 30 days before you decide.
How do you know if a discount is real?
In France, the discount must be calculated based on the lowest price the seller has used in the 30 days prior. Note the price a few weeks before, or use a price history tool.
Should you buy an RTX 40 graphics card on offer?
Only if its price is significantly lower than that of a current card with equivalent performance. Otherwise, an RTX 50 or a Radeon RX 9000 offers better technologies, such as DLSS 4 or FSR 4.
Built PC or parts separately during Black Friday?
Buying individual parts is often more discounted, but you still need to assemble everything and manage multiple warranties. A built PC provides a single warranty and a tested machine, ready to game.
Get ready for Black Friday now
Find the configuration that matches your screen and your games: you’ll immediately be able to recognise the right deal on the day.
