Back to School 2018: Best Gaming Gear to Stay Competitive
By Zac Cameron ·
You're going back to school. High school, college, it doesn't matter. You need the right gear that can do homework and can handle kicking your friends' butts in the newest games.
It’s back to school time, and while that might be welcome news for some people, for others it means leaving behind your regular gaming set up and traveling light. So how do you maintain your competitive record when you aren’t able to access your rig? Worry not, we’ve got the tips on the gear that will help you perform well on the battlefield and in the classroom.
We've organized our list here into easy to find categories: Laptops, Desktops, Headsets, Mice, Chairs, Consoles, and Virtual Currency.
Laptops
Everyone needs somewhere to start, after all, you can’t exactly reach Master in Overwatch if you’re gaming on your TI-82 calculator. Here are some Laptop ideas that will help keep you playing at a competitive level while also producing the top-notch assignments you’ll need to pass your class.
Acer Nitro 5
The Acer Nitro 5 is a pretty good entry point into the world of gaming laptops. It looks nice and understated, not displaying a ton of gaming paraphernalia, so you might even be able to get a round of Dota 2 in if you’re sitting in the back of the class (not that we recommend that). It’s not too heavy either, so you won’t need to worry about lugging around a monstrosity everywhere you go, and there’s plenty of places to connect an external keyboard and mouse for when you want to get serious.
With an Intel Core I5-7300HQ, 8 GB DDR4 RAM, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4GB GDDR5), 256GB Solid State Drive, this is a 15'6" budget laptop with budget gaming needs. Remember, you don't need a 1080 Ti to play Fortnite, Overwatch, or any game out there.
HP Spectre x360
If you’re looking for a way to cut down on extra devices, the HP Spectre x360 doubles as a pretty solid laptop and a touch-pen tablet, so you can play Overwatch and make some pretty nice artwork while you’re there. If you’re looking to blend in, this laptop works wonders, looking nothing like the stereotypical gaming machine of years past.
Aside from that, it's a solid piece of machinery, sporting that pen for artists or note takers, albeit a tad bit more in price. But, style and function come with a price tag. Without a dedicated graphics card, this still can play the basics on lower settings, but still has 16GB RAM, 512 solid state HDD, and an Intel Core I7 processor. The 4K screen that flips around to become a tablet means that this thing takes movies and art with ease. Just don't try to put games on high/ultra settings here and you'll be fine.
Asus ROG Strix GL753
Alright, lets cut to the chase. You want a laptop that can run the upcoming Doom Eternal, and you aren’t afraid of who knows it. That’s fine, it would be boring if every lecture hall was just filled with MacBooks. It is going to be pretty obvious that this is a gaming laptop however, complete with ROG branding all over the place, but hey, you’re here to take notes and kick ass right, who cares if you can’t disguise this as a purely business machine.
But, you came here for power and to yell "I play games" at the top of your lungs, you got it. This beast sports a 17.3" screen, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1 TB HDD, and an Intel Core i7-7700HQ. It lights up in multiple colors RGB and has a GeForce GTX 1050 4GB to boot. If you only want to spend an arm, but not the leg as well, this is the way to go.
Desktops
Majority of students need the portability of a laptop, but there's nothing wrong with being able to plant yourself down at a desk. Sometimes you need a desktop computer and that's okay. We just don't recommend taking these to class with you.
CyberPowerPC - Gamer Xtreme VR Desktop - GXIVR2800B2
They may not be the more marketed brand out there like Dell or HP, but CyberPowerPC makes some good quality, well-priced gaming machines. This particular model is white with blue glow for an icy feel and aesthetic, but it packs a punch for a good price too. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, Intel Core i5-7400, 1TB HDD, and 8GB RAM are enough to play games even at a medium setting. Oh, and it's VR ready too.
OMEN by HP - 870-224
You want fire, not ice. OMEN by HP gives you the dark side of gaming with a sleek bushed aluminum case and glowing red lights. Aisde from that, it sports the same guts as the CyberPowerPC above, which has the Interl Core i5-7400, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, and the GTX 1060 3GB. This is even VR-Ready as well and gives a more known brand to the equation in sacrifce of 1 USB port for around the same price.
Headsets
You’re going to need a headset of some kind at college, whether you’re trying to hear enemy footsteps in PUBG, opting for the audio version of your required reading because you were catching all the action from the NA LCS, or listening to your online course's lecture on microbiology. Here’s a few suggestions to help you on the way to listening pleasure.
Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset
This wired headset doesn’t have a ton of branding on it, so no-one will look twice when you’re using it in public if you’re trying to look like you’re on a business call instead of talking smack to your teammates. It’s got pretty good sound with that wired quality that can be so important, and the microphone is detachable if you’re just looking to relax and listen to some music without talking. Plus, it’s fairly comfortable to wear, which you’ll need if you’re planning on a long gaming session.
SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless
A wireless headset that doesn’t sound like a tinny, cheap system, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless features a lot of the same quality you can expect from a nice wired system, just with more freedom. It’s got pretty good battery life too, and is fairly easy to charge, so you don’t need to worry about it cutting out in the middle of an intense firefight. But, always remember that quality doesn't come cheap.
Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament
This is a quality gaming headset, with excellent sound quality, comfortable to wear, and it’s supported on multiple platforms, so you can use it with your PC or a console. The only real sticking point is that it absolutely looks like a gaming headset, so two ways about it. But you’ll definitely hear every breathe from your lectures, almost like you’re in the crowd yourself. It is a little expensive (though not as expensive as some headsets out there), but you can’t really put a price on quality.
Mice
We’re not saying it’s impossible to game on a trackpad, but we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. Using an external mouse on a computer just makes sense, but it also helps not just for gaming, but flicking through the multitude of tabs you end up with when writing your assignments. Here’s some suggestions to get you going.
Razer DeathAdder
Still one of the best quality ones out there, the DeathAdder Chroma is an updated version of the original DeathAdder, with some nifty RGB’s that you can customize yourself. It’s comfortable and easy to use, with a couple of extra buttons on the side if you’re looking to create shortcuts or macros to work and study faster. Though, there's also the DeathAdder Elite available as well with Chroma lighting, and both come in alternate skins, one for Overwatch and one with Destiny 2.
Gamestop - DeathAdder Chroma Overwatch Edition
Best Buy - DeathAdder Elite Destiny 2 Edition
Corsair Scimitar PRO RGB
If you really like customization, then this is the mouse for you. There are literally like 10 buttons on the side of this mouse, so you can bind almost anything you need to your mouse. Want a shortcut to open and close your programs? You can do that. Need a macro for your games? It can handle that. Need it to write your report that’s due tomorrow? Might struggle a little there to be honest. Still, a very solid choice for players with macro heavy games. Also, you can get it in yellow or black.
Razer Ouroboros
Lefty’s rejoice, an ambidextrous gaming mouse just for you. Boasting the ability to be both wired and wireless, this one is a pretty great choice for gamers on the move. Just as comfortable as other products out there, the Ouroboros can help you get that pinpoint accuracy you need for gaming while also providing left-handed users a natural experience. It might take some getting used to though and it's not a $30 mouse, but it’ll be worth it.
Chairs
You're at home with your laptop and you realize the hard, wooden dining room chair just isn't going to cut it. You sit in plastic and wood chairs all day long as school. You need something comfortable while in your own home and can help you focus on homework and gaming.
DXRacer OH/FD01/N
DXRacer is known as the king of comfort for gaming chairs and rightfully so. They're not known for being cheap, but they are known for being durable and plenty of the pro gamers use them on a regular basis. The OH/FD01/N is one of their entry level chairs and comes in black/red, red/black, and gray/black.
Vertagear SL4000
This Vertagear is a step up and well worth the price. With several color options, they have this chair up to par for the stylish gamer that wants to show off a bit.
Kinsal High Back Gaming Chair
Look, we're not saying you need a retractible footrest. But, well, you need a retractible footrest. As the cheapest option on this list, it comes packing with lumbar support, headrest support, and it comes in tons of colors.
Consoles
Alright, parents, listen up. Your kids want to play video games and they're absolutely okay to be used as incentives for good grades. There's always the three big companies available between Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, too. We don't have to tell you much about these. You already know. We're just here to remind you.
Xbox One X
When it comes to the console war, Microsoft brings both Xbox and Windows to the battle. If you're buying a Windows PC at all, the functionality to work between them is amazing. But, a lot of Xbox games offer the ability to jump between Xbox and PC in a snap. And with the slew of Xbox titles announced at E3, it's not a terrible thought process to have.
Best Buy - With PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
Amazon - With PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
Gamestop - With PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro
PlayStation offers some of the best games in the world on their console. For those that shun Xbox, Sony is king. It may not offer crossplay, but it does offer tons of features for the classy gamer out there. With the Pro option, 4K is just top notch here.
Best Buy - Spider-Man Edition (out September 7)
Nintendo Switch
You're a student. You're on the go often for classes and extrta-curricular activities. Why should you be stuck at home to play your console games when you can bring it with you? The Nintendo Switch lets you do both. With an ever-expanding library of games, including more hardcore stuff, Nintendo knows what it's good at. Plus, there's a neon red and blue Joy-Con option or a gray Joy-Con option.
Virtual Currency
Digital currencies are where it's at right now, between memberships for playing online, cash to add to a Steam Wallet, or buying that new dope skin in Fortnite. If you need to re-up your online subs or grab some money to get that new DLC, here's some options for you.
Console Memberships
Nintendo Switch Online - 12 Months
Wallet and e-shop Codes
Hopefully these tips and suggestions have given you an idea of what’s out there, though the reality is that for every suggestion we have, there are probably hundreds of options out there on top of them. With this gear, we're sure you’ll be able to master your classes and your games. Though, try and combine the two at your own risk.
In the mean time with summer ending, way more games are well on their way. Check out our coverage about DOOM Eternal's multiplayer, then get yourself ready to fight with COD Black Ops 4's Operator Mods. Since you're buying a new gaming PC for school, read up on Quake Champions, which is free to play now and going strong, as well as Elder Scrolls Online having no new raids for the rest of the year.