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PC Gaming Equipment and Components

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Alright, so I've been building PCs since college and learned most of this stuff the hard way - through expensive mistakes and way too many late-night Amazon impulse buys. After moving from Ontario to Manitoba and setting up my gaming space in our new...
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Storage

Look, storage is one of those things you don't think about until you're staring at a loading screen for two minutes while your friends are already in the game. I've been through the whole storage evolution - from ancient hard drives to SATA SSDs to t...

 
Connor Robinson profile picture
This drive is honestly game-changing if you're tired of sitting through loading screens while your friends are already in the match. I upgraded to this after getting frustrated with my old SATA SSD, and the difference is night and day. Games like Cal...
Samsung 990 PRO NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD
 
Connor Robinson profile picture
If the Samsung is outside your budget but you still want that fast SSD experience, this Corsair drive is a solid middle ground. I actually have this in my secondary slot for games I play less frequently, and it still performs way better than any trad...
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
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Connor Robinson profile picture
Look, I know SSDs are faster, but hear me out - you need bulk storage for all those games you "might play someday." This 4TB drive holds my entire Steam library of random indie games, older titles, and stuff I don't play competitively. It's perfect f...
WD Blue 4TB PC Internal HDD 5400RPM SATA
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Connor Robinson profile picture
This is basically the best of both worlds - SSD speeds with massive storage capacity at a reasonable price. I picked this up when I needed more space but didn't want to deal with slow hard drive loading times. It's not as fast as the M.2 drives, but ...
KingSpec SSD 4TB Internal Solid State Drive 2.5 Inch SATA III 3D NAND Flash Data Storage PC
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Keyboards

Your basic membrane keyboard just isn't gonna cut it when you're trying to hit those frame-perfect inputs. A solid mechanical keyboard is like upgrading from a Honda Civic to a sports car - you'll actually feel the difference in every keystroke.

 
Connor Robinson profile picture
This keyboard completely changed how I feel about typing and gaming. The magnetic switches sound amazing and feel incredibly responsive - way better than the membrane keyboard I was using before. The 75% layout saves desk space while keeping all the ...
nuphy Field75 HE Magnetic Switch Gaming Keyboard
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Mouse

This is where the magic happens. A trash mouse will absolutely tank your aim, and nobody's got time for that. Whether you're flicking headshots in Valorant or trying to micro-manage in an RTS, you need a mouse that tracks perfectly and feels like an ...

 
Connor Robinson profile picture
If you're into competitive FPS games, the weight difference on this mouse is immediately noticeable. At 57 grams, it feels like you're barely holding anything, which makes those quick flick shots way easier. I switched to this from a heavier mouse an...
NZXT Lift Elite Wireless Gaming Mouse 57g Black
 
Connor Robinson profile picture
Not everyone needs a $100+ gaming mouse, and this Redragon proves you can get good performance on a budget. The 2400 DPI is plenty for most games unless you're playing on a massive ultrawide monitor. I recommended this to a friend who was just gettin...
Redragon M690-1 2400 DPI Wireless Gaming Mouse
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Headsets

Sound is literally everything in competitive gaming. Hearing footsteps before the other guy does? That's basically a legal wallhack. These headsets don't just make explosions sound cool (though they totally do) - they'll help you pinpoint exactly whe...

 
Connor Robinson profile picture
I upgraded to this after my old headset started falling apart, and the comfort improvement was immediate. You can wear this thing for hours without ear fatigue, which is important for long gaming sessions or work-from-home calls. The multi-system com...
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless Gaming Headset
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Connor Robinson profile picture
This headset has been my go-to for team-based games where communication actually matters. The 7.1 surround sound helps with directional audio in games like Rainbow Six Siege - you can actually hear which direction footsteps are coming from. The wirel...
Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless Gaming Headset
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Mousepad

Okay, I know what you're thinking - "it's just a mouse pad, how important can it be?" Trust me on this one. A good mouse pad is like having good tires on your car. You might not notice it until you try to make a quick turn, but when you do, you'll be...

 
Connor Robinson profile picture
A good mouse pad makes more difference than you'd think, especially for competitive gaming. This one provides a smooth, consistent surface that works well with both optical and laser mice. The size is perfect - large enough for low-sensitivity gaming...
Black Shark Large Gaming Mouse Pad Manta P2
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Laptops

Sometimes you need to take your setup on the road, whether it's for LAN parties, college, or just gaming in different rooms. These laptops won't make you feel like you're playing on a calculator. From budget builds that can handle esports titles at s...

 
Connor Robinson profile picture
The TUF series is built like a tank, which matters if you're planning to travel with your laptop or just want something that'll last. This particular model balances performance and durability really well. The Ryzen 5 processor is efficient and runs c...
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Ryzen 5 7535HS RTX 2050
 
Connor Robinson profile picture
This laptop hits the sweet spot for portable gaming without destroying your budget. The RTX 3050 handles most modern games at 1080p high settings, and the i5 processor keeps up well. I tested this extensively when I was traveling for work, and it ran...
Acer Nitro V ANV15-51-55QN 15.6" FHD Gaming Laptop i5-13420H RTX 3050 16GB 512GB SSD

GPUs

This is the big one - your GPU is basically the heart of your gaming experience. It's what turns all those 1s and 0s into beautiful explosions and smooth gameplay. Whether you want to max out settings on every game or just need something solid that'l...

 
Connor Robinson profile picture
If you want high-end performance without paying NVIDIA's premium prices, this card delivers. The 20GB of VRAM is massive and future-proofs you for upcoming games with high-resolution textures. Performance is excellent at 1440p and solid at 4K for mos...
SAPPHIRE Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB GDDR6 PCI Express 4.0 Video Card
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Connor Robinson profile picture
This card just makes sense. 16GB of VRAM with AMD's RDNA 3 architecture AsusAsus means you're actually future-proofed for once. Consistently hits 100+ fps at 1440p and trades blows with much pricier options AmazonTechRadar without the brand tax. The ...Amazon.com: ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7800 XT OC Edition 16GB GDDR6 (AMD RDNA 3, PCIe 4.0, 16GB GDDR6 Memory, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1) : Electronics. Not flashy, just really solid performance that doesn't break the bank. Perfect middle ground between quality and v...
ASUS DUAL RX7800XT O16G GDDR6X

CPUs

Your CPU is like the brain of your setup - it keeps everything running smooth while you're gaming, streaming, and probably have 47 Chrome tabs open because you forgot to close them. These processors handle modern games without breaking a sweat and wo...

 
Connor Robinson profile picture
Intel's hybrid architecture approach really works well for gaming. The combination of performance and efficiency cores provides excellent gaming performance while handling background tasks smoothly. This processor overclocks well if you're into that,...
Intel Core i5-13600KF Desktop CPU 14 cores
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Connor Robinson profile picture
This processor has been the backbone of my gaming setup for over two years, and it still handles everything I throw at it. The 8 cores provide plenty of headroom for gaming while running Discord, streaming software, and browser tabs in the background...
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 8-core 16-Thread CPU
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Cases

Look, your case needs to do two things: keep your components cool and not look like a boring office computer. These cases have airflow figured out so your expensive parts don't turn into expensive paperweights, and they look good enough that you'll a...

 
Connor Robinson profile picture
This case proves you don't need to spend a fortune to get good airflow and a clean look. The tempered glass side panel shows off your components nicely, and the airflow design keeps everything running cool. Cable management space is adequate, and it ...
Thermaltake Tempered Glass Micro ATX Case
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Connor Robinson profile picture
This case is definitely not for everyone, but if you want to show off your build and prioritize cooling performance, it's amazing. The open-air design means components run cooler since there are no airflow restrictions. It's also great for system bui...
Thermaltake View 270 Plus TG ARGB Mid Tower