Written with AI assistance and edited by PlanMyPC. How we write
Build or Buy a Gaming PC This Black Friday?
Each Black Friday 2026 build below is set against a curated prebuilt PC with the same graphics card, or one in the same performance class, and every price on the page shows the UTC time we recorded it. Across 2 tiers, building costs less in 1, the prebuilt costs less in 1, and 0 are close calls.
As an Amazon Associate, PlanMyPC earns from qualifying purchases. We may also earn from other stores linked here. How we make money
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
1080p Entry Build
Built for 1080p at high settings
Build it yourself
- Graphics card
- Gigabyte WINDFORCE OC GeForce RTX 5060
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600
- Memory
- 16 GB
- Storage
- 1 TB
- Windows
- Not included
Total of the parts $1,173.94
Prices checked Nov 4, 18:02 UTC – Nov 5, 02:00 UTC
As an Amazon Associate, PlanMyPC earns from qualifying purchases. How we make money
Buying 7 parts? Put them in one Amazon cart.
Adds 7 of 7 parts to one Amazon cart
Buy a prebuilt
No matched prebuilt right now: none with this class of graphics card has a price we can show.
No like-for-like comparison right now
1440p Mainstream Build
Built for 1440p at high settings
Build it yourself
- Graphics card
- ASRock Steel Legend Radeon RX 9070 XT
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Memory
- 32 GB
- Storage
- 1 TB
- Windows
- Not included
Total of the parts $2,106.84
Prices checked Nov 4, 20:02 UTC – Nov 5, 04:03 UTC
As an Amazon Associate, PlanMyPC earns from qualifying purchases. How we make money
Buying 8 parts? Put them in one Amazon cart.
Adds 8 of 8 parts to one Amazon cart
Buy a prebuilt
Skytech Shadow 5
- Graphics card
- RTX 5070
- Processor
- Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
- Memory
- 32 GB
- Storage
- 1 TB
- Windows
- Included
$2,395.99 · Amazon · Nov 5, 01:25 UTC
View at AmazonBuild it: the parts cost $289.15 less than the prebuilt, before a Windows licence the prebuilt includes.
- The prebuilt has a different graphics card in the same class: RTX 5070 vs RX 9070 XT in the parts list.
- The prebuilt includes Windows; the parts total does not.
1440p High-Refresh Build
Built for 1440p at high refresh rates
Build it yourself
- Graphics card
- MSI VENTUS 3X GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D
- Memory
- 32 GB
- Storage
- 2 TB
- Windows
- Not included
Total of the parts $3,092.01
Prices checked Nov 4, 16:01 UTC – Nov 5, 04:03 UTC
As an Amazon Associate, PlanMyPC earns from qualifying purchases. How we make money
Buying 8 parts? Put them in one Amazon cart.
Adds 8 of 8 parts to one Amazon cart
Buy a prebuilt
ZOTAC MEK Gaming PC
- Graphics card
- RTX 5070 Ti
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- Memory
- 32 GB
- Storage
- 1 TB
- Windows
- Included
$2,599.99 · Amazon · Nov 5, 01:25 UTC
View at AmazonBuy the prebuilt: it costs $492.02 less than the parts and comes assembled with Windows.
- The prebuilt has less storage: 1 TB vs 2 TB in the parts list.
- The prebuilt includes Windows; the parts total does not.
What a prebuilt price includes
- Windows. A gaming prebuilt usually comes with Windows installed, and each comparison here says whether its prebuilt does. A parts total covers the parts only, so a build needs a licence on top, or one you already own.
- Assembly and testing. A prebuilt arrives built, with its parts tested together. Building your own takes a few hours.
- One warranty. A prebuilt's seller covers the whole system under one warranty; check its length on the listing. Parts bought separately each carry their own maker's warranty, and a claim goes to that part's maker.
- The parts it does not name. A listing names the graphics card, processor, memory and storage, but often not the power supply, motherboard or memory speed. The parts lists here name every part, so compare the full specs before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is each prebuilt matched to a build?
By graphics card: a prebuilt with the build's own card first, otherwise one whose card is in the same performance class. A faster or slower class is never used. Of the matches, the one with the lowest price no more than 24 hours old is shown.
How is the verdict decided?
We take the parts total from the prebuilt's price. If the parts cost $100 or more less, build it. If the prebuilt costs the same or less, buy it. Anything between is a close call, about what Windows and assembly are worth.
Does the parts total include Windows?
No. A parts total covers the processor, cooler where one is listed, motherboard, memory, storage, graphics card, power supply and case. When a prebuilt comes with Windows, its comparison says so rather than pricing a licence.
How old are the prices on this page?
Each price shows its store and the UTC time we recorded it, and none is more than 24 hours old when the page is generated. The store's price when you check out is the one that applies.
Why does a build show no verdict?
A verdict needs both sides: every part of the build priced, and a matched prebuilt with a price we can show. When either is missing, the build shows what it has and says there is no like-for-like comparison.
Which prebuilts are compared?
A short list of gaming desktops we picked at Amazon and HP. Each one's graphics card, processor, memory and storage come from the store's own listing, and a listing that names a different graphics card is not priced.