Be sure to visit IGN Tech for all the latest comprehensive hands-on reviews and best-of roundups. Note that if you click on one of these links to buy the product, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, read our Terms of Use.
PC Gamers are a different breed than console gamers, who only need a console, a TV and a beanbag chair. PC gamers need more than just a PC, monitor and chair because we like to upgrade our rigs, stream our games, and keep our battlestation looking top-notch at all times. That means there are accessories you need to get your space under control and keep it that way. Here are some of the most essential items any PC gamer needs, and our recommendation for what to buy:
Gaming Desk - Arozzi Arena
Take a look at your “desk.” Is it Grandma’s old, rickety card table, or some piece of garbage you bought for $20 off craigslist? With the amount of time you spend sitting at your desk feeding your gaming addiction, you need to upgrade. Take a look at our roundup of computer desks, and find one you like. Personally, I’m a fan of a desk that can hold a huge monitor and a full-sized mechanical keyboard but doesn't overdo it, like the Arozzi Arena above. Stop trying to find something decent for $100 or less. You know it’s going to fall apart.
Gaming Chair - Racing Style Chair
Tired of the rickety old bucket you’ve been sitting on while owning noobs in Overwatch? Treat yo glutes and back to a new chair. Though we've listed quite an assortment of chairs in our Best Gaming Chairs article, a lot of gamers swear by the "racing" style chair like this one from DXRacer. They're big in eSports, and offer an extra-tall back so you can recline at your desk and still have full support of your neck and head. It's available in six different colors too.
Mousepad - GLTEK Deskpad
Your mouse just doesn’t work as well on the surface of your desk. A good mousepad is an important, even necessary accessory for every PC gamer. I recommend getting a mousepad that is big enough that you never have to worry about dragging your mouse off the surface mid-game, such as the GLTEK XXL Deskpad. Sure, it's big, but that's the point. You get to keep your desk nice and clean, and have plenty of room for mousing.
Webcam - Logitech C920
Sure, gaming is great, but you need more attention. You’ve been using your Twitch account to watch other people playing, like some sort of chump while those other gamers are getting all the attention you deserve. A Logitech C920 is a great webcam for under $50, with a great 1080p picture quality so everyone can see your handsome mug in all its splendor.
Game Controller - Razer Wildcat
I know, I know, I prefer WASD too. However, there's no denying that certain games just feel better with a controller, either thanks to how they're designed, or the quality of the PC port. I’m looking at you, Dark Souls. You need a controller, even if you only use it rarely, so when the time comes you’ll be glad you have it. I recommend the Razer Wildcat, as it's pretty awesome. It's easy to grip, has four customizable buttons, and feels like it's unbreakable.
Headset Holder - Anchor Under Desk Mount
While you’re squaring your desk away, do something about your gaming headset. Don’t leave it on your desk, or on top of your PC case, or even worse-leave it on the floor. You're better than that. Get yourself something like the Anchor Under-Desk Headphone Stand Mount. It’s the sort of thing you never thought you needed, but once you get it, you won’t know how you gamed without it. It even holds two pairs of headsets, in case you have one for gaming and one for Skype.
Magnetic Screwdrivers - Wiha Precision Set
Though a toolkit can be handy for things like clipping zip ties, all you usually need to fix or upgrade a PC is a good set of screwdrivers. Wihas are the best, with magnetic tips, a textured grip, and spinning ends so you can push it into your palm while you spin the driver around. They are made in Germany and built to last, and will probably be the last precision screwdriver set you'll ever buy.
Extra Screws - Glarks 660 Piece Kit
I lose screws pretty much any time I touch them. One minute, I’m removing them from the back of my PC case, and the next moment, they have spontaneously blinked out of existence, perhaps to an alternative universe, sitting next to a remote I lost in 2003. If you had a Glarks 660 piece kit full of screws and spacers, your motherboard wouldn’t be fastened to your case missing a spacer or standoff, because this kit has everything you need to build a PC. There's brass and aluminum standoffs, fan screws, washers, and even thumbscrews for your case doors. At just $18 you can't afford to not have it handy for your next upgrade.
Headlamp - Lighting Ever LE
Speaking of screws, that one you just dropped into the case while installing a fan? It’s rattling around somewhere, just itching to short something. Too bad you can’t see it because the inside of your PC is darker than GlaDOS’ sense of humor. Also, have you ever tried screwing something in while holding your cell phone for illumination? It’s...not optimal. Quit messing around and get a headlamp. Lighting Ever’s LED headlamp is pretty much the only one you’ll ever need. It’s less than $10, and it can also help your Mr Resetti from Animal Crossing cosplay. If you don't want something on your head you can also get a light you wear around your neck.
Cable Management - Velcro Ties and Sleeving
Look at your cable management. Go ahead, I’ll wait. It’s disgusting, and you know it. Have some pride in your build and get it under control. You have no excuse when a 100 Pack of Velcro ties are only $7.99 from Amazon. That'll take care of the inside of your PC, but how is the back of your rig looking? Probably like the bargain bin at Cables4Less. Get it in shape with some JOTO Cable Management sleeves, and your desk area is going to start to look like you’ve got your life together.
Dust Management - EasyGo CompuCleaner
Tired of going to Walmart for another can of duster? They work fine but are always running out, and you're also constantly losing the red tip too. The solution? EasyGo CompuCleaner. It’s a reusable PC duster that runs of 100v, and will last you a heck of a lot longer than a case of compressed air cans. You can use it to get that stuff out of your keyboard, the cat hair off your fan grills, and even clean your GPU fans without having to worry about that liquid squirting out and killing your video card.
Editor's note: What did we miss? Put it in the comments below, and if we like it we'll add it to the pile.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire