Get a chance to see our special ShopLive event? Our Tech Expert Jake was live in our Stevenage store to talk to you about all things PC connected gaming. But no worries if you missed it! We’re here to fill you in.
Connected gaming – what’s the fuss?
It’s safe to say connected gaming’s exploded this past year. And it’s not surprising really. Spending time with our mates has become a bit harder (to say the least) but teaming up together in Warzone or Dota 2 makes it way easier to just hang out.
Why choose PC gaming though? Well, for a start, the right computer can easily match the power, graphics and speed of some of the best consoles. There are also tons of games to choose from – from massive triple A blockbusters to indie gems.
And it’s easy to customise your tech and your games to get things just the way you like them. A gaming PC can also do so much more than game. You’re getting an awesome entertainment system as well as a great gaming rig.
What do you need in your set-up?
You’ll need pretty much the same stuff you’d expect with any normal desktop computer- a tower, a monitor, a mouse, keyboard, chair and headset. But if you want to take it to next level, there’s loads of tech designed especially for gamers. This makes it easier and more comfortable to play, but it can also give you an edge when you’re playing online.
Straight off the bat, there are two really basic things you can do to see a huge improvement in your gaming performance: upgrade your monitor and switch up your mouse.
Match your monitor
The right monitor will make a big difference in the way your games look and feel. Look out for ones with a high refresh rate- anything at or above 144 hertz. When your refresh rate is high, your games will look smoother, more realistic, just generally better.
But a high refresh rate is especially important when you’re playing any kind of online multiplayer game, since the milliseconds between an enemy moving and it showing onscreen, could be the difference between an epic headshot and an epic fail.
And it goes without saying that upping your monitor’s resolution is always a good shout. Everything looks crisper, clearer, more detailed. If you like cinematic games like Red Dead Redemption 2 or MMORPGS with immersive worlds, try for at least a 1440p monitor.
Level-up your mouse
If you haven’t got the right mouse, you’re missing out on one of the best parts about PC gaming – getting pinpoint accuracy and speed. When you have a gaming mouse with a high DPI, of say 4000, even tiny movements get registered so you can respond to what’s going on in-game a lot faster. They’ll also usually have extra buttons that you can customise. The result? You’re faster and a heck of a lot more deadly.
Although if using a mouse really isn’t your thing, a gamepad is always an option. Gamepads have a joystick but with keys attached too, so you can get a more console-like feel. And you can hook up your console’s controller if that’s what you’re used to.
Get those added extras
While the monitor and mouse might make the biggest difference, there’s lots of other kit that can help too!
If you find yourself mashing buttons a lot, a mechanical keyboard could be the answer. They’re more durable, key presses are easier, and you can programme keys to automate combos. That extra speed can give you an edge against even seasoned players.
Then there’s the chair, generally helping you stay comfortable during marathon campaigns. But some come with cool features too, like speakers in the headrest.
And, obviously, a good headset is a plus. Gaming headsets are often designed more ergonomically so you won’t hurt your ears or neck. And you’ll be able to hear and speak really clearly- very important for team games.
What kind of specs should you be looking for in your gaming PC?
All that kit doesn’t amount to much if your computer can’t even play your favourite games. If you’ve got a particular title you can’t wait to get your hands on, then check out that game’s requirements and try to get a PC that can match or do better than that. Sites like 3DMark can help you benchmark a PC against specific games, for example.
What sort of CPU performance should a gamer be looking for?
Cores are the amount of processing units a CPU has. So the more cores, the more powerful your PC. In general, you should be looking for 6 cores and above to get really great performance. The PCSpecialist Tornado R7 S, for example, is an octo-core PC.
How do you find the best GPU for you?
Match your GPU to the recommended specs of the game you want to play and to your monitor’s resolution. The higher your monitor’s resolution, the better the graphics card you’ll need to take advantage of that. The same goes for refresh rates – don’t get more than your monitor can deliver.
And as for brands, both Nvidia and AMD have some pretty impressive hardware, so do your research before buying.
Should you build or buy your gaming PC?
Obviously, a gaming PC is only as good as its components. So really research all the different bits you’re buying and make sure they work together. When PCSpecialist build a PC, they hand-pick the components from trusted gaming brands like Asus and Corsair.
Take PCSpecialist’s Tornado R7 S. It’s got a 5000 Series AMD Ryzen 7 Processor and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card- two of the absolute best pieces of gaming hardware. When you’ve got those under the hood, you’re able to handle pretty much any game you like. Even huge open map games and complex online multiplayer games.
If you know your stuff and are willing to put in the time and effort to thoroughly research all the different bits- go ahead and build a PC. But when you buy a preconfigured PCSpecialist system, all the hard work of testing and choosing the right tech is done for you. Plus you get all the support you need if you want some extra help.
Need any more advice? Have a chat with tech experts on ShopLive.
