The Best Home Gaming Set-Up

So, you’ve decided that 2022 is the year when you’re going to invest in some proper home gaming equipment and plan your gaming pc monthly payments. There comes the point in any gamer’s journey when hunching over your laptop with its tinny sound and laggy visuals simply won’t cut it anymore. Even some console gamers feel the need to upgrade their set-up to a customised gaming rig after a while.  

A poor workman – or woman! – blames their tools, but when it comes to getting the most out of gaming experiences, having the right equipment really does make a world of difference.  

Read on to discover what you should be looking for when putting together the best home gaming set-up.  

The PC 

The best gaming PC for your new set-up is one that gives you plenty of bang for your buck. As a tech marketplace, the PC sector is highly saturated and you can choose between prebuilt devices, build-your-own machines or even bespoke gaming rigs. While DIY PCs work out cheaper, not everyone has the time, inclination or knowledge to build their own PC, so sticking with a pre-build is the most sensible choice.  

Things to prioritise in a gaming PC are the highest-quality graphics card you can stretch to and a powerful CPU. You might be tempted to spend less here and splash out on peripherals, but a few years down the line, you’ll really start to regret your decision – nobody’s sponsoring you to play games, after all.  

CyberPowerPC Infinity X125 Gaming PC 

For 1440p gaming, the Infinity X125 is a great choice. Featuring an Intel Core i5 10400F CPU and the MSI GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, this is a powerful PC that delivers a great all-round performance. 16GB of RAM coupled with SSD storage of 1TB, meanwhile, is more than adequate for hobby gamers.  

HP Omen 

Coming in at under $1000, the HP Omen delivers top performance at an affordable price tag. Also featuring the Intel Core i5, this time paired with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, the HP Omen may not have the bling of more expensive models, but it’s a solid machine that will last you a long time.  

Your New Monitor  

As diverse as the modern gaming industry is, with games featuring everything from futuristic Cyberpunk dystopias to classic casino games like roulette, the needs of gamers are surprisingly universal. Capturing every detail of the game in question is a must, whether that’s the spin of the roulette wheel in a digital variant or post-apocalyptic landscapes. And to achieve this, you need a decent gaming monitor.  

Ideally, you don’t want to have to fork out on another major purchase until you’re ready to upgrade your full set-up, so while it’s important to be conservative with your spending, you should be going for the highest resolution you can afford. Of course, the refresh rate needs to match the graphics card on your PC, but with most rigs coming in at above the GTX 1060, there’s not much to worry about on this front.  

Alienware 34 QD-OLED 

Dell’s Alienwar brand is a top-seller on a global level, thanks to its mix of innovation and long-lasting design. The 34-inch QD-OLED is a true OLED monitor designed specifically for PC gaming. With its 21:9 aspect ratio, 175Hz refresh rate and 3440 x 1440 resolution, this is a monitor that delivers gorgeous visuals.  

Peripherals  

Your new gaming set-up won’t be complete without the addition of a few carefully selected peripherals. You don’t need to go overboard here, especially if gaming for you is still a part-time hobby. Avoid the flash and instead invest in hardworking items that will add to your gaming experience, not take away from it.  

When it comes to a keyboard and mouse, wired devices are always better for gaming. Bluetooth and wireless connections might be all the rage right now, but they can contribute to lag and may slow down gameplay on certain titles. Don’t forget a sturdy pair of headphones; now that you’ve got the GPU and monitor that will immerse you into your favorite games, you need a good pair of headphones to do it all justice.  

Our suggestions for useful peripherals are:  

• Redragon K585 DITI one-handed keyboard 
• Logitech G502 SE Hero RGB Gaming Mouse 
• Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Headphones