Christmas Gifts for Gamers
By Mike Agerbo
December 23, 2014
Small Business & Entrepreneurship
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A few years ago, there were rumblings that PC gaming was dying. Fast forward several years and it’s clear that PC gaming is neither dead nor dying! In fact on a global level, revenue from PC gaming has surpassed that of consoles. Gaming PCs have better graphics resolution than gaming consoles and a mouse and keyboard offer more precision and control than game controllers. So, if you have a gamer on your Christmas list this year, PC gaming gear is a fantastic gift.
If you’re feeling especially generous and shopping for a gaming PC, there are many options available at different price points but basically you’re looking for a fast processor first and foremost. The Intel i7 family is the best choice here but it’s also the priciest one. To reduce the cost drastically, an Intel i5 is a great choice. When it comes to memory, aim for something with about 32GB of RAM but 8GB should be your minimum. The last decision you need to make is a pivotal one: the graphics card. At the very least, I recommend a 1GB or 2GB graphics card such as the AMD Radeon or Nvidia GeForce GT.
If your gamer is already equipped with a PC, accessories are also fantastic gifts. For example, a gaming keyboard or mouse is a great gift for the serious gamer. Given that a mouse and keyboard are a gamer’s controllers, they are important tools and should be chosen carefully to ensure they get the most precision and control. When it comes to keyboards, I recommend the Logitech G19S or the Razer Blackwidow Chroma gaming keyboards. For a mouse, the Steel Series Sensei Raw and Logitech G602 are great choices at great price points.
Another essential tool for an immersive gaming experience is a gaming headset with a microphone. Gamers use these to immerse themselves in the environment of their game and communicate with other gamers they’re playing with. Here I recommend the Kingston HyperX Cloud Gaming Headset or the Logitech G430 Surround Sound Gaming Headset. These will offer your gamer an immersive experience as well as a comfortable fit.
When it comes to games, you’ll have to do some sleuthing to figure out the genre(s) your gamer prefers. Like movies, PC games come in many genres: Action, Adventure, Sport, Sim, Strategy, etc. Once you’ve figured out the preferred genres, you can do a quick search to find some of the popular titles of 2014.
Good luck and happy last minute shopping!
If you’re feeling especially generous and shopping for a gaming PC, there are many options available at different price points but basically you’re looking for a fast processor first and foremost. The Intel i7 family is the best choice here but it’s also the priciest one. To reduce the cost drastically, an Intel i5 is a great choice. When it comes to memory, aim for something with about 32GB of RAM but 8GB should be your minimum. The last decision you need to make is a pivotal one: the graphics card. At the very least, I recommend a 1GB or 2GB graphics card such as the AMD Radeon or Nvidia GeForce GT.
If your gamer is already equipped with a PC, accessories are also fantastic gifts. For example, a gaming keyboard or mouse is a great gift for the serious gamer. Given that a mouse and keyboard are a gamer’s controllers, they are important tools and should be chosen carefully to ensure they get the most precision and control. When it comes to keyboards, I recommend the Logitech G19S or the Razer Blackwidow Chroma gaming keyboards. For a mouse, the Steel Series Sensei Raw and Logitech G602 are great choices at great price points.
Another essential tool for an immersive gaming experience is a gaming headset with a microphone. Gamers use these to immerse themselves in the environment of their game and communicate with other gamers they’re playing with. Here I recommend the Kingston HyperX Cloud Gaming Headset or the Logitech G430 Surround Sound Gaming Headset. These will offer your gamer an immersive experience as well as a comfortable fit.
When it comes to games, you’ll have to do some sleuthing to figure out the genre(s) your gamer prefers. Like movies, PC games come in many genres: Action, Adventure, Sport, Sim, Strategy, etc. Once you’ve figured out the preferred genres, you can do a quick search to find some of the popular titles of 2014.
Good luck and happy last minute shopping!