Gaming technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in the 21st century to the point where the landscape is completely unrecognizable to how it was back in the 1980s and 1990s. At the time, retro joysticks, paddle controllers and CD-ROMS represented the pinnacle of technological innovation. Nowadays, though, as gaming becomes increasingly more immersive, a different degree of technology is required.
The modern gaming industry encompasses a vast array of experiences and activities. You can be running as an elf lord in your most favourite RPG if you are into adventures and fantasy. On the other side of spectrum, you can find realistic, even live board games or real money online casino games to enjoy if you are into cards, dice rolling and other classics. With the concepts behind the full spectre of gaming pushing the boundaries of just what’s possible with realism and immersion, naturally, they need to be played on hardware and gadgets that can keep up with such demands.
To get the most from playing digital games, whether as a casual enthusiast or a seasoned pro, having the right tech can make all the difference. In this article, we’ll walk you through the must-have items you’ll need for gaming in 2024 and beyond.
The Definitive Gaming PC
While console gaming still has its dedicated fans, the humble PC is becoming more and more popular with the entire spectrum of gamers, from hobbyists to pros. In fact, most next generation consoles have started emulating PCs anyway, but they can’t quite top the desktop rig in terms of versatility and processing power.
Top of our list for a gaming PC in 2024 is the HP Omen 24L. This staple rig in the HP Omen series delivers everything you could want for gaming in both 1080p and 1440p without having to pay over the odds. The 25L is the most accessible in terms of the entire Omen line but it doesn’t scrimp on HP’s phenomenal build quality. With an Intel Core i5-13400F or AMD Ryzen 7 5600G central processing unit and the latest NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics cards, this PC will meet the needs of most gamers — even if there comes a time when you need more advanced components, you’ll find it easy enough to swap out parts in the future.
The Must-Have Monitor
Let’s face it, there’s no sense in updating your entire gaming set-up if you’re just going to play on the same old workstation monitor you’ve been using for the past decade. As much as a gaming PC is vital to top-notch gaming experiences, so too is a monitor that can deliver every pixel of the advanced graphics you’ve come to expert. The market right now is chock full of options, from those offering high-resolution 1080p displays to ultrawide 4K curved beasts, but we’re highlighting a piece that sits at a happy medium (in terms of price point too!).
Thermaltake’s TGM-I27FQ has emerged as the front-runner in the 1440p gaming department — 144p/165Hz is pretty much the sweet spot for speed and resolution. A relatively new brand on the scene, Thermaltake have certainly impressed with this new entrant, which comes in at an accessible 27 inches. Featuring the aforementioned 165Hz refresh rate, the TGM-I27FQ also comes equipped with a nice IPS panel for punchy visuals tanzohub.
The Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard and Mouse
No gaming set-up is complete with a mechanical keyboard and mouse. Sure, you could get away with using standard office peripherals, but gaming-specific accessories are designed to make your digital adventures as enjoyable and effortless as possible. After all, you’ll likely be settling down for gaming sessions that could extend into multiple hours, so you’ll definitely appreciate playing on peripherals that are created to be ergonomic and functional.
Razer always nails its peripherals, and in the BlackWidow V4 Pro, the dedicated gaming brand has come out on top again. This mechanical wired keyboard (wired peripherals are less laggy and glitchy than Bluetooth and wireless alternatives) features RGB lighting, a detachable wrist rest and no less than 8 macro buttons. It also features a nifty ‘Razer Command Dial’, which you can use to switch between functions and apps and games.
Add in the SteelSeries Rival 5 wired gaming mouse and your gaming set-up will be complete. Packed with features, such as nine programmable buttons and a third thumb button, the Rival 5 also comes with a TrueMove Air optical sensor as standard, with an impressive sensitivity of 18,000 CPI. You can even customize its RGB lighting.
The Wallet-Friendly Laptop
So you haven’t got the home office space to invest in a full gaming rig set-up or maybe you’re looking for something that’s a bit more versatile in terms of being useful for both work and play. If either of those are the case, a gaming laptop will be right up your street.
Gaming laptops are intended to be a more portable way of accessing your favourite digital experiences, so they don’t scrimp when it comes to power. But it’s not just potential horsepower that’s important, but also portability, cost, and design.
The MSI Katana 15 strikes the ideal balance and is certainly wallet friendly. With up to an Intel Core i9-13900H and GeForce RTX 4070 CPU/GPU combo under the hood, as well as a 15.6-inch IPS display, this is a device that will serve everyone from first-time gamers to experts needing a portable option. As for performance, the Katana 15 even does a good job powering through the notoriously difficult Cyberpunk 2077, with only a few adjustments needed before you get started.
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