Cyber Monday 2025: A Huge Year For GPU Upgrades
Cyber Monday and the following Cyber Week have become some of the best times of the year to upgrade your gaming PC. In 2025 that is especially true for graphics cards, with strong discounts on mainstream and mid range GPUs from Nvidia, AMD and Intel in both the US and UK.
Do not expect deep cuts on every card though. Ultra high end GPUs like the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 are holding or even climbing above their launch prices due to demand and limited stock. On the other end, true entry level GPUs have thin margins, so retailers rarely slash them heavily.
The real sweet spot this year is firmly in the mid range. Cards like the RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070 and AMD RX 9070 offer excellent performance for 1440p gaming and some 4K, while Intel’s Arc B570 and B580 push aggressive value for budget builders.
Best Value GPUs To Target This Cyber Monday
With such a long list of models and deals it can be hard to know where to focus. Here is a breakdown of the standout categories and what type of gamer they suit.
Budget and entry level: solid 1080p performance
If you just want a capable 1080p card without breaking the bank, there are some strong options.
- Intel Arc B570 and B580 offer a lot of shaders and VRAM for the money. The B570 is only slightly slower than the previous gen Arc A770, while the B580 adds more cores and 12 GB of GDDR6. They can be extremely fast in some games, but Intel’s drivers can still be inconsistent so they are best for tinkerers who do not mind the occasional quirk.
- Nvidia RTX 5050 sits roughly around RTX 4060 performance. It is only really worth picking if you specifically want Nvidia’s DLSS 4 upscaling and frame generation on the absolute cheapest GPU that supports it. For most buyers an AMD RX 9060 XT or Intel B570 at similar prices will deliver better raw frame rates.
- RTX 5060 is not a huge leap over the RTX 4060 but adds full DLSS 4 support and uses GDDR7 memory for better bandwidth. At current Cyber Monday prices though, the slightly more expensive RTX 5060 Ti or RX 9060 XT often make more sense.
Mid range sweet spot: best bang for your buck
This is where Cyber Monday really shines in 2025. If you are gaming at 1080p high refresh or 1440p, these are the cards to pay attention to.
- Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti comes in 8 GB and 16 GB versions using super fast GDDR7. The 8 GB models are cheaper and great value, but the 16 GB versions are better long term as new games demand more VRAM. Performance jumps nicely over the 4060 Ti especially at higher resolutions.
- AMD RX 9060 XT in 8 GB and 16 GB flavors trades blows with the RTX 5060 Ti. It usually wins in raw GPU power and even ray tracing in some cases, but AMD’s upscaling and frame generation are not quite as strong as DLSS 4. The 16 GB models in particular are aggressively priced and very appealing for 1440p gaming.
- Nvidia RTX 5070 is one of the most balanced upgrades this generation. It is much faster than the RTX 4070 and brings DLSS 4, yet Cyber Monday deals are already putting it below MSRP in both the US and UK. For many gamers this is the ideal 1440p card with room for some 4K.
- AMD RX 9070 is AMD’s star mid range card this gen. It is typically faster than the RTX 5070 in pure gaming performance and ships with 16 GB of VRAM. Now that prices have finally dropped closer to AMD’s own MSRP, it often edges out Nvidia on value if you do not rely heavily on ray tracing.
High end and halo cards: big speed, bigger prices
If you are chasing top tier performance for high refresh 4K gaming or heavy creative workloads, Cyber Monday has options, but value is mixed.
- RTX 5070 Ti performs a lot like an RTX 4080 but with DLSS 4 and fast GDDR7, making it a monster for 1440p ultra and 4K. Discounts are modest though, and AMD’s RX 9070 XT undercuts it in price while being close in raster performance.
- AMD RX 9070 XT is described as AMD’s best gaming card in years. It can be as fast as RTX 5070 Ti in many titles and is often far cheaper during Cyber Monday, especially in the UK. It falls behind in heavy ray tracing, but for traditional rendering it is excellent.
- RX 7900 XTX and RTX 5080 are not great value right now. Both were cheaper or more competitive earlier in their lives and have crept up again due to stock and demand. You get serious performance and loads of VRAM on the AMD side plus DLSS 4 on the Nvidia side, but the cost per frame is not attractive.
- RTX 5090 sits alone at the top. It is the fastest gaming GPU on the planet with 32 GB of GDDR7 and huge shader counts, but Cyber Monday deals still leave it at eye watering prices well above its already high MSRP. Only consider it if money is genuinely no object and you already have a top tier CPU and power supply.
How To Shop Smart For A GPU On Cyber Monday
With so many numbers flying around it helps to follow a simple plan.
- Decide your resolution and refresh rate first. For 1080p a B570 or RTX 5050 is fine, 1440p calls for at least an RTX 5060 Ti or RX 9060 XT, and for serious 4K look at RTX 5070, RX 9070 or above.
- Think about VRAM. Newer games are eating more memory. At 1080p you can scrape by with 8 GB, but for 1440p and above a 12 GB or 16 GB card is a safer long term choice.
- Consider features. DLSS 4 with frame generation is a big plus for Nvidia if you play a lot of supported games. AMD’s FSR is improving, and both AMD and Intel offer good raw performance per dollar if you care less about upscaling.
- Compare against MSRP, not just sale tags. The article lists official MSRPs for most modern GPUs, so you can quickly see if a “deal” is actually a discount or just marketing.
- Watch retailer price guarantees. Some stores like Newegg and Best Buy occasionally offer Black Friday or Cyber Monday price guarantees. You lock in a card early and if the price drops later in the event, you pay the lower amount.
If you plan ahead and target the right tier, Cyber Monday 2025 is a great time to give your gaming PC a serious graphics upgrade, especially in the mid range where competition between Nvidia, AMD and Intel is pushing prices down and performance up.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/cyber-monday-graphics-card-deals/
