Gaming Desk Accessories That You Absolutely Need

There are as many desk configurations for gamers as there are individual gamers, so it can be intimidating for some to go past the bare bones accessories that you start with. Whether you want to stream, get into professional gaming, or simply enjoy your space, here are a few of the best things to have for your rig to make life easier, and to get the most out of your hardware.

Gaming Monitors

A good monitor is an obvious place to start. For gaming, the thing to prioritize is refresh rate, response time, and lastly, resolution. You want at least a 75Hz refresh rate, but most monitors that are built for gaming will give you 144Hz. As far as response rate, youre looking for 5ms to avoid a ton of motion blur. Resolution is the easiest thing to measure, and its up to your preference, but if you have a top tier graphics card, youre going to want to show it off right?

Gaming Keyboards

Input speed is key for a keyboard when it comes to gaming. The lag between input and action will get you fragged without question. You want a keyboard that reduces that input lag as much as possible, so the word of the day is switches. Mechanical switches, magnetic switches, and optical switches will offer superior speed to a membrane switch keyboard. There are even some high-end keyboards that offer a combination switch.

Gaming Mouse

Your mouse is just as important as your keyboard, so youre looking for similar advantages. Specifically, you want a high CPI number and a fast report rate. The other thing to take into consideration is the size of your hands, and how many buttons you need on your mouse. There are tons of configurations to consider, along with your budget, but always err on the side of durability and how comfortable it is in your hand.

Gaming Headphones

Whether youre going for the best K:D ratio in CoD, or organizing a raid in WoWC, youre going to want a good pair of headphones and accompanying mic. There are lots of things to take into account when purchasing a nice set. Durability and comfort should be at the top of the list, but you also want to consider audio clarity in both the speakers and your mic. If you can get a pair with surround sound drivers, thats ideal, but can make them a bit more expensive. 7.1 surround is something to consider more heavily if you are getting into VR.

The mic is also a big part. Make sure the mic cable is properly grounded so it doesnt crackle when you move your head unless you are using wireless headphones, in which case its all about mic sensitivity. Noise cancellation features on the mic are great, but not necessary if you have a mic with a good range of sensitivity. Your teammates dont need to hear your desk fan, but they still need to hear you. Just remember to mute yourself when you scream at your mamma to bring you some fresh baked cookies.

There are of course more things to add to your gaming space, like mousepads, headphone stands, and even cupholders for your gaming chair, but these basics should help get you started.