Fresh Storm Bert wind warning comes into force
A yellow wind warning comes into effect across Northern Ireland until 18:00 GMT on Sunday. 
© 2024 BBCWorld 1:05am Essex Police drops Allison Pearson investigation
The investigation is closed, but there will be a review of the force’s handling of the matter.
© 2024 BBCWorld Fri 7:15am Police officer who shot Kaoss Price used excessive force - IPCA
But the IPCA did not recommend charges be laid against the officer or an employment process take place.
© 2024 RadioNZ Thu 11:35am  Explained: The gang patch ban
A gang patch ban comes into force on Thursday. Explainer Editor Lloyd Burr breaks down how it’ll be enforced, where it will apply, and what constitutes a ‘gang’.
© 2024 Stuff.co.nz Thu 5:15am Black Friday SSD deals: What to expect and early sales
SSDs have cost more throughout 2024, but Black Friday is coming to offer some relief. How do we know? Prices are already dropping as part of early Black Friday deals, as stores once again begin their sales ahead of the big day.
But not every discount is a good discount, even with the overall price hikes since last year. To save the most cash, it pays to know how and where to shop—so to help, we’ve made a list of the best deals, as well as tips for shopping. You’ll find both below.
Best early Black Friday 2.5-inch SATA SSD deals
Kingston A400, 480GB – $35 (22% off on Amazon)
Teamgroup T-Force Vulcan Z, 1TB – $47 (28% off on Amazon)
Prices on many 2.5-inch SATA SSDs have stayed high throughout the year, relative to 2023. But not these two models from Kingston and Teamgroup—perfect news for anyone seeking to replace a hard-disk drive or expand their storage cheaply.
Best early Black Friday M.2 NVMe SSD deals
Crucial P3 Plus, 500GB Gen 4 – $41 (41% off on Amazon)
Samsung 990 Evo, 1TB Gen 4 – $70 (53% off on Amazon)
Corsair MP600 Core Mini, 1TB Gen 4 – $70 (39% off on Amazon)
MSI M482, 2TB Gen 4 – $90 (25% off on MSI.com)
Nextorage NEM-PAB2TB/N, 2TB Gen 4 – $110 (56% off on Newegg)
Crucial P310, 2TB Gen 4 (compatible with Steam Deck) – $160 (40% off on Amazon)
Black Friday should bring even more deals (and likely some additional price drops), but there are already solid deals if you want to buy now. Take, for example, Samsung’s new 4TB capacity for its 990 Pro SSD, which has a sale price that’s dropped even further—you’ll save another $30 compared to earlier this week.
FAQ
1.
When is Black Friday?
For 2024, Black Friday will happen on November 29. But as has been common, the discounts start earlier. Waiting until the actual date can make you miss good discounts, as the deals can sell out.
2.
What should I look for in a Black Friday SSD deal?
A solid Black Friday deal will discount an SSD from a reliable, known brand. An ideal discount starts around 15 to 20 percent, with excellent sales cutting prices even further—but currently, given the generally higher prices for SSDs, seeing prices closer to last year’s is already a good start.
Brands to watch for include Samsung, Crucial, Corsair, SK Hynix, Western Digital (aka WD), Kingston, Solidigm, and Teamgroup. The further afield you go, the more likely you’ll end up with underperforming (aka slow) drives.
Also pay attention to the model on sale. Usually more than one capacity will be discounted, but not all price reductions will make for a good bargain.
3.
What are the best early Black Friday SSD deals?
Right now, the best deals are clustered in the 1TB to 2TB range. If you’re seeking 4TB drives, the price drops have been negligible, as have those for 500GB and below. The exceptions: The deals we’ve found and listed above.
4.
Which SSDs does PCWorld rate the highest?
PCWorld regularly tests and reviews new SSDs. If you’d like to know what we recommend, check out our rankings of the best SSDs of 2024. Over the course of Black Friday, it’s likely some of them will go on sale—though perhaps not to the same degree as other drives.
© 2024 PC World Sat, 16 Nov 7:55am  
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