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The ultimate gamer's equipment guide

The ultimate gamer's equipment guide
The ultimate gamer's equipment guide

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Many gamers don't buy all of their gaming equipment at once. Gaming is usually considered a hobby so a complete set of gaming accessories is unusual. You either don't have time or can't afford the luxury. It's likely you're not aware of which gaming equipment you should buy.

Here is a guide to different gaming accessories and gadgets you should include in your gaming set up and how to decide which brand to choose.

1. Computers

Gamers usually buy a computer before anything else, but it's not always necessary. If you do decide to buy a computer, you need one with a high-quality video card and high RAM.

Make sure these two components are compatible. You wouldn't want a computer with an extremely high RAM and a low-quality video card. It won't be able to keep up. Likewise, a low RAM will only put a high-quality video card.

Since games are evolving, its advisable the computer is virtual reality (VR) ready, overclockable, and compatible with 4K resolution. But take note that these features aren't necessary so you can forget about these features, at least for now.

2. Keyboards

Naturally what you want is a keyboard with smooth keystrokes. When hitting a key, the computer should pick it up immediately, or in other words, the keyboard should be responsive. If you're planning on gaming for extended periods, you might consider getting a keyboard with a wrist rest area. Otherwise, you can just use foam of some sort to improvise.

Lastly, remember that Mac and PC keyboards have some differences. Some keys exist in one but not on the other. Take this into consideration before you choose a keyboard.

3. Mouse

If you're playing on a computer, then you'll have to accompany your keyboard with a high-quality mouse. However, before that, you need to choose between a wired or wireless mouse:

Wired: This is the more common type of gaming mouse. One problem players often experience is the mouse's cables can get in the way of their gaming.

Wireless: If you use a wireless mouse, you don't have to worry about the cable getting tangled up or being too short, but there's a slight delay between the mouse's actual movement and your cursor's movement.

Regardless of what type you choose, you should find a mouse that stops the moment you want it to stop, without delay. Its movement should also be smooth. Stores will also display the number of inches per second or IPS of the mouse-the higher, the better.

One recent gaming mouse feature is the programmable buttons that can serve as shortcuts for the most commonly-used commands in popular games.

The ultimate gamer's equipment guide
The ultimate gamer's equipment guide

4. Headsets

The majority of the popular games in the community require teamwork and communication. Even with single-player games, there are specific audio cues that are essential to the game. Hence, if you want to perform well in your matches, consider buying headsets that can isolate sound and prevent background noise from interferring with your experience.

A good headset should also have light and comfortable pads to avoid ear-aches. Ensure the headset consists of a high-quality microphone since you wouldn't want your teamwork to be one-sided.

5. Monitors

There's not much to consider when choosing a monitor. The size, the proportions of its dimensions, the resolution-these are pretty much the only things you need to consider It is your preference whether you want a wide monitor or a slim one. If money's not an issue, then you can go all-out by choosing a monitor that has a high refresh rate. For your reference, refresh rate refers to how often the monitor updates its images.

The higher the refresh rate, the less delay there is between what's really happening within the game and what you can see through the monitor.

6. Chair and desk

Although it's not a priority, it would be a great idea to buy a chair dedicated to gaming. A comfortable chair is preferable if you want to spend long days and nights gaming. A high-quality gaming chair should be able to prevent back pain to an extent. And while you're at it, you should also consider buying a neat desk where you can place everything you need.

Wrapping up

While going all-out with your gaming equipment sounds fun you don't need to get everything at once. Remember you can upgrade your equipment later on. Choose the best equipment you can afford and those that have decent specs while still being a good price.