The past decade has seen an incredible increase in the number and variety of gaming consoles, computers, and accessories on the market. In 2009 alone there were over 15 million games sold for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii consoles; a staggering 1.3 billion games were downloaded on to personal computers during that time period. The gaming industry has reached a point where games are available for almost every possible platform such as phones, and tablets.
A perfect gaming setup should provide every gamer with a comfortable and enjoyable gaming experience. The following is a list of the best gaming accessories that I could think of for college students. Please feel free to add any suggestions in the comments below!
1. Keyboard & Mouse
The keyboard and mouse is one of the most important pieces of gaming hardware. A good keyboard and mouse can completely change your experience while playing a video game. There are many keyboards on the market but I personally use the Microsoft Wireless aluminum keyboards. They are lightweight and have customizable back-lighting which looks awesome in the dark. One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of gaming mice and keyboards have extra programmable buttons that can really come in handy when using them for games
2. Monitor
A good monitor is one of the main factors that can affect your overall gaming experience. It should provide a clear image with vibrant colors and be able to display the whole screen at once when playing games on a dual-monitor setup. The two monitors I recommend are the ASUS VS239H 19″ LED LCD (1920×1080) and the ASUS VJ231H 23″ LED LCD (1920×1080). The ASUS screens have great color quality and don’t produce any brightness distortions while gaming. In case you have some pending research papers to write you can opt for a pay for a research paper service like RapidEssay.
3. Gaming Chair
Gaming chairs are also one of the most important accessories when it comes to gaming. If you game for a long period of time every day, your back will thank you for investing in an ergonomic gaming chair.
4. Mouse Pad
A good mouse pad is essential while playing games because it provides more surface area and precision while moving the mouse. A typical gaming mouse can only pick up movement from a few millimeters of the surface, so getting a mouse pad that is as big as possible can really help improve your performance. The biggest gaming mouse pad I have seen is the XTracPads Ripper XL, which measures 40 x 26 inches and can only be purchased online.
5. Headphones
Streaming music, movies, and games while playing games is a great way to pass the time instead of spending money at a movie theater or paying for your favorite show on TV. The two headphones I would recommend are the Sennheiser HD 598 Series (headphones) and the Sennheiser HD379X Series headsets. The Sennheiser HD 598 headphones are open back and very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The Sennheiser HD379X headphones can be used corded or cordless, which allows you to walk around your place or dorm while listening to music.
6. Speakers
A great gaming setup should also include good speakers so that you can enjoy the sound effects that are produced by the games. I would recommend the Audioengine A5+ speakers for a 5.1 surround sound setup on your computer. The Audioengine speakers are designed to produce amazing sounding audio that can be heard in every corner of your room.
7. Game Controller
I also recommend getting a game controller for your gaming experience. A good controller should allow you to use the full range of movement on the analog stick while playing games. It should also be comfortable to hold for long periods of time. The three controllers I would recommend are the Logitech F310 Gamepad, the Logitech F710 Gamepad, and the Dualshock 4 controller. I recommend getting a wired gamepad because it will always be more responsive than a wireless controller that has to connect to your PC via Bluetooth.
8. Headset/Microphone
A good headset/microphone is important when playing games with other players online or with friends in the same room. A headset is good for use with games that don’t require voice chat so that you can still communicate to your fellow gamers and a microphone can be used for voice chat in games. The headset I recommend is the Sennheiser HD 598 Series (headset) and the Sennheiser HD280 Pro gaming headsets. The Sennheiser headphones are lightweight and have great audio quality. The Sennheiser gaming headsets are open back and very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.
9. Monitor Cable
A monitor cable is probably the least important accessory on this list, but I still recommend getting one so that you can set up multiple monitors to be used with games. The two cables I would recommend are the OCZ SilverStone SD-Z1 and OCZ SilverStone GD Series. The OCZ cables are a little bit more expensive but they provide higher quality and durability than the other brands.
10. Headphones Adapter
When using gaming headphones, it is very important to have the right adapter so that you can use your headphones with your gaming setup. I would recommend the Razer Kraken 7.1 USB headset and the Razer Kraken Pro Stereo Gaming Headset. Both of these adapters have a dedicated mic and headphone amplifier on them so that you can continue to communicate while playing games with other people online.
11. Wireless Transmitter
The last accessory I want to mention is the wireless transmitter. This will allow you to place your gaming peripherals on a nearby desk or carpet so that they are out of the way when not in use. The two transmitters I recommend are the Xbox One Wireless Controller and the Razer Lachesis. The Xbox One Wireless Controller can be used with almost any game that is compatible with a standard Xbox controller, which means that you can use it for games on your PC too.
Conclusion
The accessories above can really help improve your experience with PC gaming. Deciding what components to add to your PC gaming build can be a difficult process because you need something that can produce good quality sound, high graphics performance, and great comfort while playing the games you choose to play or work in cg art studio.
