When you’re an avid gamer, having the ultimate setup can make a world of difference. You’ll be more comfortable, less distracted, and better able to enjoy yourself – especially when you’re participating in long tournaments or you’re streaming live and sharing your gameplay with others.
The ideal gaming setup is different for everyone, of course. By personalizing your setup, you’ll include details that fit your needs and wants, while adding a touch of your personal style. However, there are a few key components that almost everyone should include in their gaming setup if they really want to get the most out of it.
Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to create a gaming setup you love, and one that optimizes your playing experience every time you sit down.
It Starts With the Ideal Desk
While it might seem like a simple concept, having the right desk for your gaming setup will make a world of difference. You want something spacious and sturdy, but also functional and fashionable. While you can absolutely find any old desk online or even at a local thrift store, if you want to go above and beyond, you’ll choose one with your specific needs in mind.
Your desk is the framework. It’s the foundation that you’re building everything else upon. It should be able to safely hold your monitors, speakers, and accessories without you worrying about its sturdiness. However, you should avoid choosing a desk that’s too big. While it might sound nice to be able to grow your setup, if your desk is taking up the majority of your room, you’re not going to be comfortable and you’re going to have a hard time adding anything else.
Nowadays, you can find desks in just about every shape and size, but it’s also important to consider whether you want a traditional or standing desk.
Gamers are often stereotyped as being “lazy” and sedentary. While that isn’t always true, it never hurts to be more active when you’re playing for hours at a time. A standing desk can help you accomplish that, and might even make it easier to maneuver and stay focused on your game. Of course, with gaming setups, there are a lot of cables and cords to consider, and a standing desk can make them more visible. Thankfully, there are some tips you can use to keep cables organized, including:
- Using a wall-sized cable tray
- Suspending your monitor arm
- Investing in a wireless keyboard and mouse
- Using velcro and cable ties to “hide” wires
Don’t be afraid to take your time as you decide on your desk. As the central focus of your gaming setup, once you have it picked out, it will be easier for everything else to fall into place.
Get the Right Gear
Once you have the perfect desk, it’s time to load it up with everything you want/need for the ultimate gaming experience.
The next piece of equipment you should invest in is a comfortable, ergonomic chair. It works in tandem with your desk, and even if you end up with a standing desk, you’re going to want to take a seat sometimes.
Most gaming chairs are easy to swivel and have wheels on the bottom so you can move more freely and adjust your positions. Most importantly, choose a chair with a sturdy high back that will support your lower back, shoulders, and neck as you look at screens for long periods of time. The right chair can make a world of difference in your posture and can keep you from experiencing aches and pains.
Once you have those basic pieces in place, the rest of your gear setup is pretty customizable depending on how much space you have and how much money you’re willing to invest in your equipment. However, the following items are fairly standard in a solid gaming setup:
- A powerful PC
- High-capability monitors
- Speakers
- A gaming keyboard and mouse
- Headphones or a headset for communicating with other players
Comfort and functionality should be your top priorities as you’re getting your equipment in place. The last thing you want is to be distracted by an uncomfortable or disorganized setup when you’re in the middle of a game. Everything you need should be easily accessible without you having to stop what you’re doing or move too far.
Dealing With Software Setup
While getting the right furniture and gaming gear is important, you should never ignore the software side of your setup.
Many gamers build their own PCs or have extensive knowledge of both hardware and software functions. Whether you do or not isn’t really the point. Anyone can slip up or get too distracted by what they’re doing and make it easy for hackers and cybercriminals to take advantage of them.
You can protect yourself from things like stolen account information and viruses by ensuring your PC or console is as secure as possible. You don’t have to be a software or security expert to keep yourself safe. By using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication whenever possible, you’ll stay one step ahead of anyone trying to take over your account. Strong passwords are typically complicated because they feature a variety of letters, numbers, and symbols. Choose something that will be difficult for anyone to “guess,” but make sure it’s something you’ll always remember!
The next best thing is to make sure you’re consistently monitoring your account(s). If you notice any suspicious activity, report it right away, change your account password, and determine if there’s been any kind of breach.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your gaming setup. Once you have a few key components in place, it can be a lot of fun to reposition pieces and decorate with your personal style in mind. The more comfortable you are in your gaming space, the more time you’ll spend there, and the more you prioritize health, safety, and security, the better you’ll feel in front of the screen, as well as when you step away from it.
