Gaming as a career option has become more and more popular. Whether you’re already making money gaming or just streaming to a small crowd in Discord, this list will help you find out which pieces of hardware you should look to upgrade next.
Gaming PC
PC builds come in all shapes and performance levels. Entry-level machines tend to start at around $500 to $750. These will be able to run most games such as Zodiac on average graphic settings with acceptable framerates.
If you’re looking to run the newest games at the best framerates you’ll start to see price tags approach up to $2,500. Building high end on a budget is still possible though, you simply need to pick out the best hardware for the price. Fancy cases and water cooling aren’t necessary so put that money towards a better graphics card or motherboard.
Mouse
Having a reliable, responsive mouse is key to achieving the consistent plays needed to dominate the online arena. Laser mice with high dpi are the standard for precise aim and button control, some even coming with extra buttons that you can bind to different keys.
Keyboard
Every action you want to see in game is done by pressing the buttons at your fingertips. Making sure the response time on each input is fast and reliable means getting that split second advantage needed to beat out the competition.
Monitor
None of the effort made in the PC build matters if the monitor can’t keep up. A high refresh rate paired with high resolution LED screens gives the player faster reaction times.
This happens because as the game tells your computer what to output to the screen, there is a delay in that communication. A higher refresh rate also lets you see the higher frame rates in game.
Headset
Communication is key, not only in life but in gaming as well. Coordinating a team will win over pure skill in almost any match, and your buddies in Discord will be happy to work together. Having a clear headset and mic both enables you to talk to your teammates but also hear the enemies when they approach.
Omnidirectional headsets are preferred as it focuses the sound based on the source of the sound’s location. Think of a clock face where 12 is right in front of you and 6 is directly behind. A quality headset will let you pinpoint exactly where in the circle around you the sound came from.
Chair
For something you’ll be sitting in for hours everyday, an ergonomic gaming chair isn’t something you should go cheap on. Keeping your body healthy and free from pain lets you focus on the match instead of readjusting every few seconds.
Blue light filtering glasses
These are newer on the scene, getting more recognition as everyone transitions to screen based daily activities. Blue light from the computer monitors and cell phone screens damages eyes over time and also hinders sleep.
Glasses designed to filter that light can reduce eye strain and make it easier to fall asleep after a long Zodiac session. Non-prescription pairs start at around $40 with prescription pairs starting around $100.
Ethernet cable or wireless router
Another requirement if you want optimal online play. Low latency means less time between when you press the space bar and when your character actually jumps in game. Aiming, driving, shooting and moving are all impacted by bad connections.
If you and your opponent both start the match at the same time and click the mouse at the same time, the person with the better internet connection wins every duel. Ethernet cables with gigabit internet are the most reliable option but high end mesh routers have started to compete with high-speed WiFi connections.
Webcam
Webcams enable gamers of all skill levels to start working towards a rewarding career in gaming. Adding a face to the gameplay and voice will make streaming or videos much more enjoyable to watch, even if it’s just in Discord with your friends. Remember, quality matters. Low resolution cameras can come off as unprofessional, so be sure to look at reviews and try for 1080p or higher when it comes to making the initial upgrade.
