[Tip] BEST BUDGET PC GAMING ACCESSORIES

 Your PC is a project, and building and maintaining it takes special tools. Aside from the obvious holy quadripartite of PC gear (mouse, keyboard, headset, monitor), this is the stuff you should keep handy for building, cleaning, and keeping your PC performing at its best.

My checklist for PC gaming accessories is rather simple

• Comfortable keyboard and mouse with proper, stable with drivers installed at best.
• Mouse pad rated/advertised for at least optical mice - no need to pay extra for "gaming mats",
• A good set of game-pads for older/emulation stuff. Other than that, to have a PS2-to-USB adapter which allows me to use a wired PS2 controller as a game-pad, is not a bad choice.
• A comfortable chair. When you're in it for the long haul, your back will thank you to have a comfortable place to sit.
• A set of nice headphones will let you enjoy to the fullest.

 Keyboard 

How's a gamer to choose? Don't worry, we know what's the best route. In the slides that follow, you'll find our recommendations for best-in-class keyboards, ranging from gaming on the cheap to no expense spared.

There are a lot of features commonly associated with gaming keyboards that are actually quite useful for everyday tasks or even work. Macros can be extremely handy for performing multiple actions in games with one keystroke, or even for everyday tasks that require multiple repetitive keystrokes. Also having multiple user profiles allows you to keep your work macros separate from your gaming ones. 

N-Key Roll Over is also a popular feature, which essentially means that a certain amount of keys can be simultaneously pressed and registered. This is extremely useful around the WASD cluster. The last thing you want is for important skills not to register because too many keys were pressed simultaneously. 

Finally, mechanical keyboards are all the rage now, and for good reason. Simply put, they're much more reliable than most standard keyboards, as each key resides atop a mechanical switch as opposed to a rubber dome (which have a tendency to break down pretty quickly over time). Best of all, mechanical boards come in multiple flavors that cater towards specific preferences. Here's a breakdown on the most common mechanical switch types if you're considering a mechanical keyboard: 

Blue: Tactile, Non-linear, Clicky, 50g Actuation
Great for typing. Loud (not ideal if sound is an issue). Double tapping can be cumbersome.

Brown: Tactile, Non-linear, 45g Actuation
The middle-ground of mechanical switches. Generally recommended for most games.

Black: Linear, Non-tactile, 60g Actuation
Noticeably stiffer than the rest in order to prevent accidental keystrokes. Generally preferred for FPS games. 

Red: Linear, Non-tactile, 45g Actuation
Similar to Browns, but without tactile feedback.

Razer BlackWidow Tournament Edition ($79.99)

-6 key rollover / 10 key rollover
-Mechanical keys (Cherry MX Blue switches, or Cherry MX Brown in Stealth Edition)
-In-game macro recording
-Compact "tenkeyless" layout
-Detachable USB cable

Pricing for most mechanical keyboards can be intimidating. Most start at over $100, which in itself makes the Razer BlackWidow Tournament Edition an easy choice, especially for someone looking to purchase their first mechanical keyboard. This particular model doesn’t have a keypad, the lack of which is often denoted by the term "tenkeyless." Gamers who use extra large mouse mats may find tenkeyless options to be a saving grace for desk space. The Tournament Edition may be small, but it certainly doesn't slack in features. All of the keys can be programmed, and macros can be recorded on the fly with up to 20 software profiles giving you enough room to create profiles for each of your favorite games and then some. It is also available in two flavors: Cherry MX Blue or Cherry MX Brown in Stealth Edition, depending on your mechanical switch preference. There is also a full 104 key layout version available for Mac users at the same price.

  

Mouse 

  Most gaming mice come with anywhere from five to ten programmable buttons (which you can assign to specific functions such as sprinting, crouching or reloading), while an MMO-style mouse might cram 20 or more onto its chassis. These can give you a leg up on the competition, when used correctly.

Many also offer various backlighting options to make them more attractive to look at. Occasionally a mouse comes with removable weights, allowing you to make the mouse heavier or lighter until you’ve found your “perfect” weight.
Wired mice vs wireless is another consideration you might have, but our view is that wired is best. The breadth of choice is much bigger if you opt for a wire, and you don't have to faff around with replacing batteries. Some gamers also say they can notice a lag with some wireless mice.
Whatever you're after, whether you're a twitch-gaming fanatic looking for the perfect precision headshots or a MOBA gamer trying to maximise your DPS, there's a mouse that'll suit your needs, and after using one, you'll never go back.

 SteelSeries Rival ( £53)

 For a price of around £53, the  SteelSeries Rival is a contender for the best gaming mouse on a budget. Why? Even though when compared to other gaming mice, the Rival looks a bit ‘basic’, it’s far from it under the hood. It features an advanced PMW3310 optical sensor that is said to offer zero hardware acceleration and true 1:1 tracking, enabling precise movement – and you can tell the difference instantly. Even at higher sensitivities, the SteelSeries Rival is extremely accurate and has enabled us to react quicker than we’ve been able to in the past. Its adjustable CPI is amazing, and offers adjustments from 50 to 6500, enabling gamers to find the perfect cursor sensitivity for their style of gaming. The best part is that you don’t have to settle on one setting – there’s a button directly beneath the scroll wheel that allows you to switch between various CPI profiles for different situations. SteelSeries Engine 3 enables gamers to access various Rival customisation settings, including programmable buttons, polling rate, angle snapping and acceleration and deceleration speed.

Controller

Your mouse and keyboard are irreplaceable, but what’s more PC than being able to steal and use the input devices of any other platform? Both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 controller work on PC with an ounce of supplemental help, but our budget favorite is the wired Xbox 360 pad. More and more game pad-friendly games are populating Steam, and more same-screen co-op games seem to come out every week.

Logitech’s name is closely associated with the finest PC gaming peripherals there is. The Logitech

Logitech Gamepad F310

Gamepad F310 is proof of how great their gaming devices are. It’s design is comparable to the DualShock controller used with PlayStation consoles. All 10 of its buttons can be programmed to fit your style of play and it comes with an 8-way D-Pad that’s pretty simple to program. This gamepad primarily works with Windows-based gaming software.

• Great design with a nice mix between the DualShock and Xbox 360 controller

• Allows customization options that can be attached to several player profiles
• Cheap price
• Works with most games

 

Chair

A good chair can last you a decade, and you’re not going to be upgrading to spine 2.0 anytime soon. I set out to find the best chairs for long gaming sessions by talking to an ergonomist and spending three months researching and testing chairs with the PC Gamer staff. 

DXRacer FE11/NI Black Indigo Formula Series

 
The DXRacer FE11/NI Black Indigo Formula Series is a racing-style bucket gaming chair that features ergonomic and lumbar support. This stylish chair is priced at $299. Features:

• Ergonomic design - bonus headrest & lumbar support cushion
• Extra high backrest supporting neck & spine
• Flexible, adjustable seat back
• Breathable material: Smooth PU vinyl cover & strong mesh
• Soft armrests with adjustable pieces for shoulders & wrists
• Heavy duty aluminum base with footrests & tilt

Headphones

These days, if you want to get the full gaming experience, you’re going to need a headset. While it’s possible to use a separated combo of headphones and microphone – which may actually be preferable in some cases, which we’ll explore later – the convenience of a two-in-one headset is hard to pass up.
But top-notch gaming headset will put a dent in your wallet. If you need utmost quality and have a few hundred dollars to spend, consider browsing through what Sennheiser, SteelSeries, and Razer can offer. On the other hand, if you’re willing to forego some quality in order to save money, you’ll want to look elsewhere. Let’s say your budget is capped at $25. What’s available in that range? The pickings won’t be amazing, but you may be surprised by how much that can buy.

Logitech H390 Clear-chat Headset ($25)

Logitech is one of the most reliable brands when it comes to affordable computer peripherals. It’s not uncommon to hear about Logitech’s mice, keyboards, and headsets lasting for five to ten years without any issues. I can personally attest to it as well.
So it’s mind-blowing that their products are sold at such low price points. This Clear Chat headset is only $25, yet it comes with a noise-cancelling microphone with inline controls for volume and muting. The design is sleek, the headphone pads are comfortable, and the reviews are stellar.


Author : Saatvik Awasthi