When it comes to gaming, having the right tools to make it more enjoyable is essential. But what will you need in order to get the best gaming experience possible? If you are looking for tools and ideas you have come to the right place. We’ll be taking a look at some of the best ideas that you can put to good use and briefly explain why.
These days, you cannot have a good gaming experience without a CPU or a video card that will work for computers that are considered strictly work computers. You want something with power, speed, and enough bandwidth to handle all of your gaming needs.
Aside from the ideas we’ll be sharing, we’ll also share with you some helpful tips that will be perfect for maximizing your gaming experience. Let’s dive right in and see what ideas you should consider.
Tools and Ideas For Gaming
If you seem to be short of any ideas that will make your overall gaming experience awesome, you’re not alone. The following is a list of ideas you can consider (and some brief explanations as to why we like them):
New Laptop
If you want to take your gaming from one place to the next, it can be done. In fact, there are plenty of laptops that are built to handle all kinds of games. As long as you have a WiFi connection (assuming you play online), you can do your gaming anytime, anywhere. If you prefer solo gaming, that’s also a good idea. But if you want to truly maximize your gaming experience, you’ll want a laptop that has all the fixings. Your two most important elements will be the CPU and GPU. The more power it has, the better.
Also, you might be spending quite a bit of money on a new gaming laptop. Depending on the performance and what’s inside, you could be paying a minimum of $800.
Gaming Headphones
Of course, headphones are a must when you are gaming. That’s because aside from seeing the action, you want to hear it as well. And of course, it’s also a great way to communicate with friends and other players when you are playing online. You’ll want to find gaming headphones that have good sound quality. You don’t need to go all out when it comes to spending money. Get a pair that will give you excellent quality in sound but can also cancel outside noise. And yes, most of them will have mics. After all, most gamers are either communicating with fellow gamers or going live on Twitch.
Gaming Graphic Card
A high-quality gaming graphic card will be a must if you are looking to build a gaming PC from the ground up rather than buying a fully-assembled computer outright. Not to mention, it’s the most cost-effective option. However, a gaming graphic card might actually be one of the most expensive parts of a gaming PC build. The better the quality, the higher the price. But a great graphics card will make the graphics stand out more. It will look quite realistic and sharp. Plus, most games use some cutting edge graphics these days. So anything less than a gaming-level graphic card won’t cut the mustard.
Gaming Chair
When it comes to gaming chairs, you may want to consider comfort over all else. Most of the gaming chairs will be cushioned and will give you long-lasting comfort. While you’ll be sitting for a long period of time, that will be important. But still, you’ll need to get up and move around for the purpose of keeping healthy. One of the best features that you will need to keep in mind is the adjustability. You can adjust it in terms of height, reclining angle, and more. Choosing the best game chair will always come down to your personal needs and preference.
Racing Wheel For Racing Games
Most gamers are racing fanatics. And there’s a handful of them that take part in eSports and online contests. But most of them will rely on a racing wheel as opposed to traditional controllers. You might want to find a great racing wheelset that is best for your gaming PC. The wheel should have good mechanics, great connectivity, and the ability to be responsive to your every move when you are racing.
Game Capture Card
Are you someone who has a “Let’s Play” channel on YouTube? Do you stream on Twitch (or plan to)? You’ll need a game capture card in order to screenshot and even do videos of your gameplays. There’s a lot of people who are always watching “Let’s Play” videos or Twitch steams as a way to be entertained and to connect with their favorite like-minded gamers. A good game capture card should be compatible with your GPU card if you want the best possible results.
Pinball Machine
Let’s switch gears and focus on something that won’t require a computer. A pinball machine might be a great addition to any game room. Especially when you are a fan of arcade games. Yes, you can purchase those large, old school pinball machines if you have the room. But these days, you can get pinball machines that are smaller and compact in size. Regardless, you’ll have a ton of fun playing an exciting game of pinball with all the bells, whistles, and everything in between. Plus, the smaller sized machines will cost you far less money.
Arcade Machines
Believe it or not, arcade machines are making a comeback. In fact, Arcade1Up is making old school arcade classics available to those who want to relive the glory days. Plus, they are smaller in size compared to the regular arcade machines. But they are compact enough to fit in small spaces. Who knows? You might purchase a few and have yourself a nice little makeshift game room.
Handheld Gaming Devices
Ever since the GameBoy came out many years ago, there have been other handheld gaming devices that have followed. Today, these gaming devices have more improved technology than ever before. Today, you have the Nintendo Switch and the PSP as two of your most popular choices. Not to mention, they have far better graphics and have a superior level of performance compared to the old school gaming devices of ages past.
Things To Consider Before Buying
There are a few things that you might want to consider prior to making a gaming related purchase. It is important to go through the list of the following so you can determine your purchasing decisions. Let’s take a look at the following:
Build A PC or Buy One Outright?
If you are interested in PC gaming, there are two ways of approaching this: building a PC or purchasing one that is already built. If you are looking for more cost-effective options, building your own gaming PC will be the better option. Especially when you have plenty of options for CPUs, GPUs, SSDs, HDDs, and so much more. Plus, you can build one based on your budget. Purchasing a gaming computer outright (whether it’s a laptop or desktop) might be costly. Some of the models that are priced south of $1000 may be good enough for half of the games on the market, but may not have the ability to handle all of them (unless you intend to spend money on something more powerful).
Budget
Of course, it’s a good idea to have a budget in mind. Especially when you don’t have money to throw around and have the ability to buy every single high-end element under the sun. If you are on a budget, it’s important to find the best quality and performance that you can afford. That will be a good rule of thumb to follow when you are building or purchasing a gaming PC. If you are purchasing a non-PC gaming console, the same rules may apply.
Compatibility
If you are building a gaming PC, compatibility is one thing that shouldn’t be ignored. There are two things that you will need to purchase first. A computer case and a motherboard that is compatible with the case itself. Keep in mind that an ATX computer case may not be suitable for a mini-ATX motherboard. Once you are able to find both items, you can then find the elements that will be compatible with the motherboard that you chose.
Do You Have Enough Space?
Whether it’s for PC gaming or setting up an arcade machine or two, it’s a good idea to consider whether or not you have enough space. You can clear out a spare room and turn it into a makeshift game room if you want. Be sure to take the necessary measurements if and when needed so you can be able to place your setup without any issue.
At Home Or On The Go?
If you are a gaming fanatic, you can do this both ways. You can get something for gaming at home and something for when you are on the road. Obviously, if you are focusing on the latter you should consider purchasing a gaming laptop or a handheld gaming console. Again, this will depend on your personal needs, preferences, and the games that you frequently play.
Should You Build A Game Room?
That will depend on what your overall plan is to make your gaming experience that much enjoyable. If you are just focusing on PC gaming, a good amount of space will be enough for the purpose of fitting your desk, your PC setup, and other things like shelves. If your setup involves TVs, gaming consoles, arcade games, and more then a game room might be worth considering. As long as you have a spare room, you can use it as a game room.
Tips For Building A Gaming PC
If you are planning on building a gaming PC from the ground up, this section is just for you. While the task of building a PC from scratch can be challenging, it’s important to know of a few tips so the project is smooth and seamless. Here are some tips that should not be ignored:
1. Start With A Computer Case and Motherboard
They don’t have to be purchased in any particular order. But these are the first two things you’ll need to buy when building a PC. That’s because a computer case will fit a specific motherboard. For example, if you go with an ATX motherboard, you’ll need to find a computer case that will be compatible. Pay close attention to the product descriptions when you are looking for both items. Also, do some research on ATX and ITX motherboards so you can determine which one will work best for you.
2. Get Compatible Parts When Ready
Now that you have a motherboard and case, it’s time to get everything else. This includes your GPU, CPU, SDD, HDD, and RAM. Most PC building projects are fairly easy and things will snap into place (in other words, no soldering may not be required). Be sure to find the right parts that will be compatible with the motherboard you chose.
3. Determine Your Power Supply
Most computer cases won’t come with a power supply. And finding one can be difficult. Your computer will need a specific amount of wattage in order for a computer to run properly. If you need to know how many watts your computer will need to run, you can use this wattage calculator by NewEgg. Do this once you have chosen all of your parts for your PC. That way, it will give you a good idea of how many watts you’ll need. From there, you can determine which power supply will be suitable. For example, if you need 360 watts to power your computer, you can find a power supply that will have a 400-watt output (just to be safe). Also, consider finding an energy-efficient power supply. You don’t want to suck up a lot of energy and cause your light bill to increase dramatically. The more energy efficient it is, the better.
And believe it or not, an energy-efficient power supply will mean a cooler PC for operation. Sure, your PC will perform better. But the core temperature can get hot and can even hurt the overall reliability at some point down the road. An energy power supply will keep the core temperature cool and will lead your gaming PC to live a long, reliable life.
4. If You Want To Save Energy -- Don’t Overclock
A popular thing that gamers do is overclock their systems. They say that it will allow for better performance (and it does). However, this will heat up the system and use a lot more energy. And as mentioned before, it can also hurt reliability. If you are someone who would rather save money on their energy bill every month, overclocking your system may not be such a great idea.
5. Consider How You Want It Set Up
One of the most popular setups for PC gamers is using multiple monitors. At that point, you’ll need to consider getting a large enough desk. And it will also depend on how many monitors you are planning on setting up. You don’t want to get it too cluttered though. Make sure that everything is spaced out neatly.
6. Don’t Forget The Sound System
Sometimes, you’ll wear headphones. And oftentimes you won’t. For all the times when you don’t wear headphones, get a pair of speakers that will provide you with excellent sound quality. Nothing will make your PC gaming space stand out and sound so much better with a good set of speakers.
Building A Game Room
If you are someone who loves gaming both on and off the PC, then building a game room might be a dream come true for you. But it can be a project that will have its challenges. However, the rewards are sweet once all is said and done. Here are some tips on how you can build a game room for yourself or when you are entertaining friends and family:
1. Visualize Before Building
What would your dream game room look like? Do you want something with a retro feel? Something minimalistic? It’s all up to you at this point. One of the best things to consider is the theme of your game room. It can be based on your favorite video games, a certain decade (looking at you, 80s), your favorite gaming consoles, and so on. There are so many choices that you can consider. Once you find one you think will go well, take the ball and run with it.
2. Determine How Much Space You Have
Maybe you have a spare room that has a good amount of space. Perhaps your basement is large enough to be converted into a game room. Or if you don’t use it for usual purposes, the garage could be a good place. If you have the potential to use some extra space, you might build a game room. Don’t forget, you’re going to need some measurements to determine what can fit in the room and what can’t.
3. Make It Versatile
Your game room shouldn’t be just for the sake of playing games. It can be used for other purposes. It can be a nice home office if you have a high-performing PC. It can also be a nice spare room where you can watch movies, sports, TV shows and more. It can also be a nice guest room for one lucky houseguest. Your game room should have its share of multiple purposes.
If you’re stuck with ideas, here’s one that you should go with: turn it into a mini-movie theater. When you are not playing games, you can at least watch your favorite movies be it on NetFlix, on BluRay, or whatever you prefer.
4. Throw In A Table Game (Or Two)
If space allows it, you should throw in a table game or two. You can’t go wrong with a billiards table. If you have space for another, the choice is pretty much up to you. Air hockey, foosball, table tennis, etc. You decide.
5. Light It Up
Lighting will play a very pivotal role in making your game room a lot more attractive. Of course, this will include LED lighting and fixtures. Not only that, if you are adding light to your gaming PC area, it will also reduce any kind of screen glare problems that you may have struggled with in the past.
6. Go Retro
Aside from your PC and your PS4 or Xbox one, it would be a great idea to include some retro gaming consoles as well. That’s right -- we’re talking the Atari 2600, original Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and so on. You can go on eBay and snag yourself an old school console or two at a reasonable price. Yes, people are still old school at heart especially when it comes to gaming. Also, would you still be just as good at Duck Hunt using a flat-screen than you did with a tube TV? Who knows, right?
7. Get Shelves -- Seriously
Your game room will definitely need shelves. Especially when you need storage for multiple game consoles, games, equipment such as headphones, table game accessories, movies, personal decor, and more. The options are pretty much limitless. So you can decorate the shelves however you please.
8. Don’t Want Shelves? Mount It To The Wall
Believe it or not, there are those who are adamant about saving space. If you’re the kind of person that wants to do just that, you can always mound your TV and gaming consoles to the wall. The same can be done for billiard cues, ping pong paddles, and more.
9. Choose The Right Furniture
Let’s not forget about the furniture. Especially when you are going to be using it for multiple purposes (other than games). Find something that will not only be comfortable, but has enough space for people to sit. A nice sized couch and a couple of cozy chairs might be a good option for you. Again, consider the size of your game room before choosing which furniture will fit best.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want more ideas and tips on making your gaming experience more enjoyable, you should consider using this FAQ section as your guide. Be sure to read through this so you have a good idea when it comes to the decisions you’ll make down the road. Here are the following questions:
Is Building a Gaming PC Hard?
Building a gaming PC can be an intimidating task. But the good news is that it is not really that hard to do. Most of the components that you need to build a computer from the ground up will mostly snap in to place. So you won’t have to worry about soldering unless the assembly instructions specifically call for it.
How Many Cooling Fans Should a Gaming PC Have?
Keeping your gaming PC cool is very important. If you need to know how many you need, at least three will be enough. Whether you overclock your system or not, you want to prevent your computer from overheating so it can last longer and stay reliable.
AMD or Intel: Which Is Better?
When it comes to building a PC for gaming purposes, the AMD and Intel are among the two best processors on the market. If you want better onboard graphics and more cores at your disposal, AMD will likely be your best option. Intel provides better overall performance for each core.
How Much RAM Do I Need for PC Gaming?
The minimum amount of RAM that you’ll need for PC Gaming is 8 GB. However, most titles will run smoothly if your computer has 16 GB of RAM. Consider the games you plan on playing and look at the minimum requirements.
Is Liquid Cooling Quieter Than Fans?
Water cooling is much quieter compared to running fans. Not only that, but it’s also the best option for those who are looking to save space inside their PC rather than clutter it.
How Big Should a Game Room Be?
If you are looking to build a standard-sized game room, you can probably get away with putting one together if the room space is measured at 44x88. This is assuming if you are planning on putting in a seven-foot billiard table in the room itself.
What Should I Put in My Game Room?
Aside from PCs, gaming consoles, and even table games you have the option of adding whatever you like. You can add card tables if you are an avid card player. If you like board games, you can have dedicated shelves to store your collection. And you can have a table where you can play board games with friends or family. The choice is entirely up to you on what to put in your game room.
Do Gaming Laptops Last Long?
This will depend on the manufacturer and model. Typically, a gaming PC will last you anywhere between 3 to 6 years. Any signs of a gaming laptop approaching the end of life will include a sluggish performance and hardware failure.
Do Gaming Laptops Heat Up?
It may if you play games that can be intense on your components. When you are playing a game that demands a lot, it will force your computer to work harder and therefore cause it to heat up. The ideal CPU temperature of a gaming laptop will need to be anywhere between 167 to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. It should not exceed 175 degrees.
What Is the Point of Gaming Chairs?
Gaming chairs are specially made for those who tend to sit longer in front of a computer or television. Most gaming chairs are designed to where you can be ergonomically comfortable for longer periods of time. Plus, sitting in a game chair will help with your shoulders, neck, and back. The design is much better for them and will less likely cause any pain due to poor ergonomics.
Are Gaming Chairs Better Than Office Chairs?
If you are looking for good ergonomics and comfort for long periods of sitting, then gaming chairs might serve a much better purpose better than standard office chairs.
Do I Need a Capture Card for Twitch?
If you are recording gameplay from your PC or console, then you will need a capture card. It will allow you to broadcast your gameplay on streaming platforms such as Twitch or YouTube. You can also be able to record gameplay and upload it to YouTube if you so choose.
Do I Need Two PCs in Order to Stream?
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need two PCs if you intend to stream regularly. However, if you are using a single computer you may want to consider getting a more powerful CPU and GPU for your gaming PC.
How Do I Connect a Racing Wheel to My PC?
Most racing wheels will have a USB plugin. Depending on the install process, you may need to restart your computer in order to complete it. Some racing wheels will work without restarting the computer.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking to maximize your gaming experience, you can go a long way if you got the budget. You can be as minimal as possible or go all out if your vision calls for it. Every gamer has their own unique tastes and preferences. Some will want to build full-fledged game rooms, some will want a dedicated space for PC gaming, and others will just want a gaming PC or console that they will take no matter where they go.
Consider the following ideas above and follow the tips if you are looking to make your gaming experience much more enjoyable. The good news is you can be as flexible as possible when it comes to improvements. And the budget doesn’t have to be ridiculously large. If you are a gaming fanatic, now is your chance to start on a project that you know you’ll enjoy.