Are you interested in getting into gaming but unsure of the best way to get yourself set up? Do you want to take your gaming to the next level (pun intended) with a setup that would make an E3 exhibit shed a tear? If so, then you need to learn all that you can about the gaming setup essentials and how they factor into your spread.
There are several must-have items that many people skip over and, in so doing, sabotage their own gameplay experience. Be sure to read below for an in-depth guide on what you need and all of the essentials for a gaming setup that you can’t afford to skip over.
1. Invest In A High-Quality Laptop
You might not think it off the top, but the laptop that you invest in plays a huge role in your overall gaming experience. Everyone tends to focus on the PC and monitors for their home setup, but what about the times when you’re taking your gaming on the go? What will you do if you’re going to a friend’s house to mash and you are stuck using a laptop with poor performance?
Your games will lag so much you might consider tossing it out the window. Some gamers try to avoid paying for a laptop because they fear that it will cost too much. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, you can find so many incredible deals on laptops right now that it will be easy and cost-efficient to line yourself up with a great computer.
You’ll enjoy finding any excuse to take your laptop over and hook up to play around with friends, whether you’re playing league of legends at your college’s library or going to a friend’s house to watch movies and grind out a few levels in the process.
2. Get Yourself A Nice Chair
You wouldn’t believe the types of chairs that they’re coming out with these days. Not only are they ergonomic and made of breathable materials, but they’re also made specifically with gamers in mind. Now that’s power! Believe it or not, there can be significant injuries that can stem from PC gaming or gaming with consoles. If you use an unideal sitting situation, such as laying down on a bed or in a chair that’s too stiff, your spine will suffer the consequences.
Many experts and professional gamers will point you to tried and true brands such as Cougar or Secretlab. However, the main things to look for are materials, ergonomics, and price points. You don’t have to break the bank to get yourself a high-quality gaming chair. In fact, finding a price-friendly option will help you justify the purchase.
When shopping around, be sure to pay attention to the online reviews. Which ones are customers happiest with? Does the chair hold up well? Is it comfy to sit in for hours on end? Are the consumers noticing any injuries as a result of the chair? All these answers will point you in the right direction.
3. Great Gaming Desk
In the professional world, there’s a saying that you’re only as productive as the size of your desk. If that’s true, then passionate gamers should be prioritizing the size of their gaming desks as well. Many of you hope to one day turn your passion for gaming into a source of income. If so, then there are many ways to do that. You could start a podcast, begin a YouTube channel, or even become a professional gamer!
If that’s your dream, then set yourself up for success with your desk. Be sure to think through the dimensions, ensuring that you find an ideal height, width, and depth for the desk. The depth is crucial for ensuring it can hold your PC, monitor, keyboard, etc. without having you feel crammed.
You should also consider the aesthetic and style of the desk. For example, if you’re short on available space in your room, then you might consider an L-shaped desk that you can fit in the corner of your room and fit everything on it comfortably.
Also, be sure to the colors of your PC, Monitor, laptop, keyboard, chair, and everything else. While it might sound silly, that plays a big part. Lastly, make sure the desk fits comfortably with the dimensions of your chair or vice versa, depending on which one you bought first.
4. Find A PC With A High ROI
You’ll notice that this header didn’t say “find the most expensive PC on the market” or “find the PC with the highest performance on the market”. Why? Because you don’t need to pay out the wazoo to get your hands on a great PC. In fact, we’d be willing to bet that you can find a PC that’s the perfect fit for your needs for under $1,000. The $1,000 price range is ideal for anyone getting serious about their gaming.
If you’re planning on monetizing your gaming, then you can invest in a more expensive PC down the line as your gaming business becomes more scalable. If you only want to use it as a hobby, then that PC will accomplish everything you need.
Be sure that you’re shopping for PCs that are geared for gaming. Gaming PCs are focused on giving you as high performing hardware as possible. It can help heighten your gaming experience and have far less lag.
5. Purchase A Gaming Keyboard
Make sure that you’re purchasing a gaming keyboard for your needs. As the name would imply, these types of keyboards are better suited for your gaming, but how so? Gaming keyboards are focused on giving you as quick of a response time as possible. That means putting all its effort into reacting to your controls and applying it to the game that you’re playing. Typical keyboards, on the other hand, have a typing-first focus.
The keys might be spaced further apart or even lack ideal key sizes for your gaming needs, such as the standard keyboard on a Macbook. Gaming keyboards also typically offer more backlighting, which—believe it or not— plays a vital role in your gaming production.
Typically, gamers like to dim the lighting so they can focus on the flow of the gameplay. However, if you were to dim the lights in your room with a keyboard that didn’t have backlighting, you wouldn’t be able to see the keys!
That backlighting ensures you can see all keys, and their essential functions, without having to hesitate. As all gamers know, even the slightest of setbacks can be the difference between winning and losing. Give yourself an advantage with the keyboard you use.
6. Find A Great Monitor
If you’re a console gamer, then your mind might automatically go to purchasing the biggest monitor you possibly can. However, in the PC Gaming world, size doesn’t play as big of a factor. In fact, most expert PC gamers that anything over 24 inches is overkill.
The more important features are price point and HDR support. The visual display is of critical importance to make sure you enjoy the experience at every turn. Keep in mind the compatibility between your monitor and PC. If your PC is a bit older, it might slow down with all the performance that the monitor demands of it.
7. Purchase The Right Gaming Headset
Many gamers skimp out on a good headset and try to suffer along with their old-timey iPhone earbuds. However, you need to invest in a great headset to ensure your multiplayer gaming is as functional as possible.
Investing the money into a high-quality wireless headset allows you to communicate with all of your friends hands-free. You should also consider purchasing a headset older, one for each of the headsets that you have.
You’ll also want to purchase a nice case for the headphones so that you can take them anywhere you please without risking them being damaged in the rain, sabotaged by dust build-up, and so forth. The last thing is to make sure you have a place to store all your headsets safely. If your desk doesn’t have shelving, you’ll want to purchase some containers to place them in.
Invest In All Of These Gaming Setup Essentials
Now that you have seen an elaborate list of all the gaming setup essentials, you need to take your gaming up a notch, be sure to knock them off one by one. It might be advantageous for you to start this process by creating a budget.
That way, you can ensure that your gaming purchases don’t sabotage your personal finances. By doing this, you could avoid doing something like taking out a registration loan to finance your upgrades, which may or may not be the right move for you.