Black Friday gaming setup checklist

Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, and Cyber Monday follows on November 30. A gaming setup is four buys, and each has one spec that is easy to miss.

This checklist uses real specs from our catalog. Every number comes from the maker’s own page, as of November 2026.

What goes on a Black Friday gaming setup checklist?

Short answer: four parts, in order: monitor, mouse, keyboard, headset. For each one, check the spec in the table before you look at the price. Then compare the store’s price with the maker’s list price on the day.

Step	Part	Spec to check	Example from our catalog
1	Monitor	Refresh rate over the port you will use	ASUS XG27ACS: 180 Hz over DisplayPort or USB-C, 144 Hz over HDMI 2.0
2	Mouse	Weight and battery type	HyperX Haste 2 Core Wireless: 70 g, one AAA
3	Keyboard	Layout and polling per connection	Keychron V1 Max: 75%, 1000 Hz on 2.4 GHz, 90 Hz on Bluetooth
4	Headset	Platform list	HyperX Cloud Stinger 3 Wireless: no Xbox listed

Want a ready-made combination? Our Setup Builder picks parts by goal and budget.

Step 1: the monitor and its ports

Short answer: the big refresh number on the box often needs DisplayPort. Check what the HDMI port can do if a console will plug in. Then check the HDR label and the stand.

The ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS runs 180 Hz over DisplayPort or USB-C. ASUS notes its HDMI 2.0 port tops out at 144 Hz.

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ3A has the same 180 Hz and the same HDMI cap. It lists HDR10, not a VESA DisplayHDR tier, and its stand has no height adjustment.

The Dell 27 Plus 4K (S2725QC) has two HDMI 2.1 ports. Dell lists 4K at 120 Hz over HDMI 2.1. PlayStation’s support page says the PS5 supports HDMI 2.1 and 4K 120 Hz output.

For PC-only fast games, the Alienware AW2725DF runs 360 Hz over DisplayPort. Dell lists its HDMI 2.1 port at up to QHD 144 Hz.

Refresh rate basics are in our refresh rate explainer. HDR labels are decoded in DisplayHDR explained.

Step 2: the mouse

Short answer: check weight with its qualifier, then the battery. A light wired mouse and a heavier wireless one can share a shelf. Logitech says 250 Hz polling or below is enough for most users, and all three examples here list 1000 Hz.

• HyperX Pulsefire Haste 3: 44 g, wired.
• HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wireless: 70 g operating weight, one AAA, up to 100 h in 2.4 GHz mode.
• Logitech G305 Lightspeed: 99 g with its AA, up to 250 h in performance mode.

The G305 is 55 g heavier than the Haste 3. That is more than the whole Haste 3.

Step 3: the keyboard

Short answer: pick the layout first, then check how it connects. Some wireless boards poll much slower over Bluetooth, so game on the dongle or the cable.

The HyperX Alloy Origins Core is a wired tenkeyless board with an aluminum body. It weighs 898 g with its cable.

The Keychron V1 Max is a 75% board with 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.1 and USB-C wired modes. Keychron lists 1000 Hz on 2.4 GHz and wired, but 90 Hz over Bluetooth. Its switches are hot-swappable, which our hot-swap explainer covers.

Read the spec for the connection you will actually use, not the best one on the box.

Step 4: the headset

Short answer: check the platform list for your console first. Sound and battery come second. A headset that skips your console is the most expensive mistake on this list.

Sony’s PS5 FAQ says third-party Bluetooth headsets are not supported. Xbox Support says the Xbox One has no Bluetooth. So consoles need a USB dongle or a cable.

• HyperX Cloud Stinger 3: wired 3.5 mm, lists PC, PS5, Switch in dock mode, Mac and mobile.
• HyperX Cloud Stinger 3 Wireless: 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.2, at least 80 h. No Xbox listed.
• Turtle Beach Recon 70: wired 3.5 mm, lists Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC and mobile.

A worked total: the wired setup

Short answer: a wired setup of the Dell S2725QC, Haste 3, Alloy Origins Core and Stinger 3 totals $544.96 in maker list prices, checked Nov 8, 2026. Store prices change and may be lower or higher.

Part	Pick	List price from maker (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Monitor	Dell S2725QC	$349.99 from Dell
Mouse	HyperX Pulsefire Haste 3	$39.99 from HyperX
Keyboard	HyperX Alloy Origins Core	$104.99 from HyperX
Headset	HyperX Cloud Stinger 3	$49.99 from HyperX
Total		$544.96

The monitor is about 64% of that total. That is why it goes first on the list.

On Black Friday, compare each store’s price with these list prices (List price from Dell, checked Nov 8, 2026, and List price from HyperX, checked Nov 8, 2026). Our Black Friday plan and Cyber Monday plan have the watchlists. Before you trust a “was” price, read how to spot a fake Black Friday deal.

Shopping for a mouse only? See our Black Friday mouse guide. Our methodology explains how we pick.

The parts, side by side

List prices come from each maker's own US page. They are not store prices or sale prices.