Must-have Gear for Serious PC Gamers
While it’s easy to argue the benefits of PC gaming over console gaming, it’s worth noting that setting up your PC for gaming takes a bit more effort than plugging in a console. Thankfully, there are plenty of incredible products available on the market to help take your gaming experience to the next level. When crafting your ideal gaming set up, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you want to make sure you’re investing in a high-quality tower that’s bolstered with the best graphics cards available, as well as plenty of RAM. Once you know the PC you have in mind, the next thing you’ll need is a set of high-quality monitors. Anyone who spends their time streaming games or likes to multitask knows the benefits of a dual- or triple-monitor setup, and a set of high-quality displays can help take your gaming experience to the next level. Finally, you should invest in all the add-ons that make your gaming experience worth the effort, including a high-quality gaming mouse, keyboard, and of course, a headset. But how can you be sure you’re choosing the best equipment for your gaming setup?
The PC
This is the heart of your gaming experience. If your gaming setup was a raid party, your PC would be more important than the tank and the healer combined, hands-down. A high-quality gaming PC will not only last you for years to come, it will act as the heart of your gaming experience. A good gaming PC features plenty of storage space, a quality graphics card, and of course, enough RAM to handle the latest games. Of course, you also want to consider things like inputs, overall efficiency, and of course, RGB gamer lights for that added pizzazz. There are a wide range of gaming setups available, and each come with their own ups and downs, so its important to find out what you’re looking for in a gaming PC. If you find yourself downloading the latest DLC for every game in your Steam library, you may want to prioritize memory. If you’re someone who lives for ray tracing and high-quality graphics, a godlike graphics card may be your top priority. Of course, for those not sure what they’re looking to focus on, there are plenty of mid-range gaming computers available on the market, including gaming laptops, to let you take your gaming on the go.
Gaming Monitors, Mics, Headsets, and Webcams
These items all belong in the same general category, considering how much they impact things like streaming and group gaming. You may have the best graphics card known to man, but if your monitor of choice can’t keep up with the output, you’re just wasting resolution. Similarly, you may be all set to take Twitch by storm, but if your headset and mic sound like you’re broadcasting from Apollo 11, you may be in for a dip in viewers. The key with these items is to balance what you expect to use them for with their overall quality. You don’t need a webcam to play the average game, and if you find yourself in a Discord call with friends a sub-par mic isn’t going to be the end of the world. But if you are looking to widen your viewership or just care about quality, you want to put in the time to make sure your equipment lives up to the hype.
When looking for a good gaming monitor, keep in mind the overall size and resolution of the monitor you have in mind. While you may be tempted to buy the largest monitor available, keep in mind your overall desk space, and the eye strain you’ll be getting yourself in for. If you’re a fan of immersion gaming but don’t want to commit to VR, curved monitors are where its at. And if you want to see just how good you can make Skyrim look with mods, be sure to invest in a 4K TV, so you can see just how many polygons you can shove into a single frame. Fans of first person shooters will want to get the highest frames per second monitor they can, while staying at a respectable resolution.
When looking at headsets and mics, its important to balance what you want to get from your device with what you’re willing to pay. While everyone is tempted to snag the top-of-the-line headsets and mics, when you first start out gaming you may be better served to start with practical, comfortable headsets. The true wonder of mics and headsets is that there are so many available on the market today, you can tailor your purchase to your individual needs.
This also applies to webcams. Thankfully, many laptops come with built-in webcams, and for those looking to set their PC up with a high-quality picture there are countless options available today. Just keep in mind the overall picture quality you’re going for, and the environment you’ll be recording in. Even the best camera out there benefits from additional lighting, so keep in mind if you’re going to set up a streaming location that you might want to invest in things like ring lights and greenscreens for added benefit.
Other Gaming Essentials
Once you figure out your monitor situation and make sure your streamer lights are set to rainbow, you’ll want to make sure you have a mouse that can stand up to the wear and tear of gaming. There are countless mice on the market to choose from, and plenty of them focus on things like additional buttons, enhanced sensitivity, and of course, RGB lighting. The thing you want to keep in mind is your own overall comfort, as well as the practicality of your mouse. If you find yourself playing a game with customizable controls where hitting the right button can be a matter of life and death, you may want to look into a mouse with programmable buttons. Similarly, if you find yourself playing League of Legends or any other game with heavy clicking mechanics, durability should be your number one goal. And of course, for those of us who find using a mouse to be a bother, there are plenty of Bluetooth and USB-enabled controllers to help take some of the stress out of first-person shooters.
Another thing to keep in mind is your keyboard. While most PCs come with a keyboard included, you may want to look into a mechanical keyboard, as these allow you to differentiate between different buttons without popping your cooldowns too early. You may also want to look for an ergonomically designed keyboard for large hands, to help fight off carpel tunnel after long gaming sessions.
Once you’ve got the hardware down, it’s time to look into comfort, specifically gaming chairs. Sure, you can game on pretty much any chair, but a gaming chair is meant to offer support to your body while also keeping you comfortable through marathon gaming sessions. A good gaming chair is made to support good posture, while also offering comfort and support. Gaming chairs are usually lighter than the traditional office chair, and can come with things like back pillows, footrests, and, of course, fun colors, to match any gaming setup. You can also invest in things like massaging gaming chairs, and heated gaming chairs, to offer you superior comfort while you game. No matter how serious a gamer you are, having a comfortable chair can be the difference between a winning streak and serious back pain, so it’s worth putting in the time to choose the right chair for you.
As a final note, you want to make sure your ping doesn’t drop while taking on the boss, which is why investing in a high-quality Wi-Fi router is well-worth the effort. Not only does this allow you to get consistent internet when you need it the most, when paired with things like wireless extenders and ethernet cables, you can get consistently fast internet whenever you need it. While a lot of your internet speed depends on your provider, a good router can help bolster your connection speed and help you download the latest patches in no time flat, making it a must-have for any gamer.
Whether you’re looking to improve your current gaming setup or are hoping to start from the ground up, our articles help you choose the right products for your individual needs, allowing you to spend less time shopping and more time playing your favorite games. Whether you’re looking for a basic setup or are ready to go pro, having the right equipment can give you a leg up on the competition, and set you up for success.