AccessorieYou’ve built your dream gaming machine, stuffed it full with twin GTX 1080 Tis and an obscene 32GB of DDR4 RAM, but you’re using an old roller mouse from the 90’s, a keyboard with the switches exposed and a pair of free headphones that you got from a bus tour of Milton Keynes about a decade ago – only one ear works and you’d be better off with a can on a string. Basically, you’re in sore need of some accessorising, and not just to your wardrobe.
There are a dizzying number of peripherals out there, and we’ve already covered a lot of them, but we’re here to help with some pointers on what to keep in mind when buying and using your accessories.
Focus on what’s best for you
As with all things gaming, there’s inevitably going to be a level of snootiness as to what is the best peripheral to buy. If you’re looking at keyboards there has been a clear rise in popularity of the clickity clackity mechanical keyboards to the point where some people might look down on you for choosing anything else. Ignore them! The most important part of buying a peripheral, especially a mouse or keyboard, is that you find something that suits your needs and style. There’s no use buying a mechanical keyboard if you prefer the softer touch of a membrane or picking up a high DPI mouse when you’re used to playing on lower sensitivities. The most important thing is that you take the time to do some research, before you buy. Don’t just trust star-ratings on websites or “Most-Popular” lists, what’s amazing for one person might be terrible for you.
Plan ahead
This plays into doing some research before buying, but it is well worth choosing your ideal gear and then waiting a little longer before buying it. Peripherals like keyboards, mice and headphones won’t go obsolete if you wait a few weeks before buying them, and this gives you the perfect opportunity to keep an eye out for any deals or offers – there is nothing more frustrating than spending a £100 on something and then seeing it a week later at half price. Regularly checking online retailers is a good approach and looking at coupon/discount websites will help you save a lot. Try taking a look at what Groupon has to offer and click here to save on your next big purchase.
Take care of your stuff!
Before you even start considering buying a new accessory, you’ll need to take a good look at what you’re already using. For the love of god and all things holy, please clean your keyboard and wipe down your monitor. There is no point in forking out loads of money on the best peripherals if you don’t take the time to clean them and care for them. Some screen cleaner and keyboard brushes can be picked up for a few pounds from most online retailers. Once you’re in the habit of cleaning and caring for your equipment you can start looking at buying the more expensive bits that you’ve had an eye on. This will help them last much longer and you’ll have a much better experience playing on pristine gear rather than using a keyboard stuffed full of crumbs.
To wrap things up with a simple message, the most important part of buying and using PC accessories is that you: research, choose what’s best for you, look for deals/sales and take care of what you already have. If you keep all of this in mind, you’ll be sure to find the right piece of equipment for you and make it last.
