Cyber Monday SSD deals are going to be life saver in 2024 for many PC players, as they'll make picking up new or replacement storage less painful. Some of you will have simply held off on expanding your PC or console capacity, while others may be in need of a drive to replace a faulty one. I really hope that doesn't happen to anyone this November, but if it does, I'll be on hand to point you towards excellent drive discounts.
I'd be lying if I said I thought SSDs where the most exciting thing you'll find among Black Friday gaming deals. However, they are crucial, as they're now responsible for holding out gaming libraries and memories across various platforms. Investing in an upgrade has the power to prevent any annoyances when you're trying to just get some time in with a PS5, Xbox Series X, or PC game, and don't get me started on when my Steam Deck OLED runs out of space.
Of course, if you've got performance and speed in mind, you'll be looking at a more significant investment. The best SSDs for gaming typically use PCIe gen 4, which typically costs more but can help speed up load times and installation. To take full advantage of the sales, it's important to settle on specific specs for your needs and budget, which in turn will result in you obtaining the right drive for the perfect price.
FAQ
When do Cyber Monday SSD deals start?
Cyber Monday 2024 kicks off on November 28, with Cyber Monday serving as a second wind event on Monday December 2. However, you'll want to come back here beforehand for plenty of early offers and insights, as not every retailer holds off until the big weekend.
Where will the best Cyber Monday SSD deals be?
If previous Cyber Monday is anything to go by, then Amazon is definitely the frontrunner when it comes to SSD deals. Newegg also offers up some respectable drive discounts at this time of year, and you might even find some exclusive offers at big box stores like Best Buy and Walmart. To help you stay in the loop, we've got a list of retailers who should see you right this year:
US:
Amazon: Frequently has some of the best consistent prices and sales online
Newegg: Right now you can save $130 on WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD
Best Buy: Great deals on SATA SSDs as well as Samsung and WD NVMEs
Walmart: Minor, but consistent, deals on all major SSD brands and formats
B&H Photo: Most of the deeper savings is on SATA and external SSD makes
UK:
Amazon: Regularly has some of the best prices online on all SSD formats
Currys: Competitive prices on SATA and external, most deals for NVMe
eBuyer: Few discounts available right now with minor savings on SATA
CCL Computers: Low prices on SATA and NVMe SSD from top brands
Cyber Monday SSD deals: What to expect on the day
Typically speaking, you're going to find the biggest SSD discounts at Amazon, with previous sales resulting in a Samsung 980 1TB drive dropping from $139.99 to $79.99. This year, we're hoping to see more PCIe 4 drives join the fold, and we suspect similar discounts could occur now that PCIe 3 prices are naturally dropping to new lows.
M.2 SSDs aren't the only parts likely to fall in price during Cyber Monday, as chonky SATA drives tend to take a pretty big price cut. Last year, the Samsung 870 EVO 2TB dropped from $259.99 to $159.99, but that same model is now available for just $129.99. Naturally, that means it should end up even cheaper during Cyber Monday, and we'll potentially see prices dip below the $100 mark.
On the PS5 side of things, the WD Black SN850 is perhaps the drive to watch. Just be wary that the WD Black SN850P could show up for the same price while offering seemingly worse performance, as both retail for $149.99 right now at Amazon.
Technically, the Xbox Series X uses 'expansion cards', but since they still use SSDs tucked away inside, including them in the conversation makes sense. During Amazon's recent Prime Big Deal Days event, we spotted great deals on the WD Black C50, with a $20 discount making it a better buy than Seagate's expansion card. We'd suggest keeping a close eye on both during Cyber Monday, as we might see a price cut standoff between the two brands.
It's worth noting that since the best gaming handheld options use SSDs, more 2230 drives may show up for the Cyber Monday party. WD Black now has its own SN770M drive, but existing rivals like the Sabrent Rocket are likely to receive a discount. Regular deals mean you can normally grab one for under $100, but we reckon 512GB variants may drift closer to the $50 mark this year.
The best Cyber Monday SSD deals in the US
How to choose the right SSD for you on Cyber Monday
With all this talk of different SSD types for the Cyber Monday SSD deals, we know it can be a little confusing to tell the difference between the different models, luckily, we've rounded up all you'll need to know to make a confident, and informed, purchasing decision on the day.
Here's what you need to know:
SATA III SSD: This storage type uses the same form factor as what can be found in traditional 2.5-inch hard drives. While more expensive than the, typically, slower mechanical HDD units, SATA-style solid-state drives are by far the cheapest way to benefit from faster read and write speeds. Plus, 2.5-inch drive bays are incredibly common in all the best gaming PC cases, not requiring a specialized port on the motherboard, meaning they're easier to install overall.
External SSD: Similar in size and functionality to their SATA equivalents, external SSD drives are simply just a portable variant of the same hardware which connects to your PC, or games console, through either standard USB (normally USB 3.1 nowadays) or USB Type C for the fastest, and most stable data transfers.
PCIe/NVMe/M.2 SSD: The newest, and fastest, storage format utilizes an incredibly small form factor and slots directly into the relevant port on your motherboard. Due to the possible read and write speeds far exceeding what SATA can do, they tend to be far more expensive, especially when considering that some sticks can go up to 2TB capacity, but expect to pay a lot for this privilege when deals aren't on.
Cyber Monday SSD deals: FAQs
Is it worth waiting for Cyber Monday to buy an SSD?
Cyber Monday SSD deals aren't quite as good as what's available on Black Friday, so if you're after a specific, expensive, model of SSD (such as a Gen 4.0 NVMe from the likes of WD Black) then we would advise targeting the Friday (or the weekend) instead of specifically waiting until Monday. It's worth remembering that you'll definitely get a better deal on Cyber Monday as opposed to the average daily going rate, but do keep that fact in mind: buy one on Black Friday if you have the option.
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