(Part 2) Top products from r/pcgaming

Fucking hell, I had a whole response written out and my browser crashed.

Rewriting, but paraphrasing this time.

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The CoolerMaster Storm Spawn is often recommended for claw grip users. It's cheap at $37, has a great sensor, is made of good quality materials, and is quite light and small. This mouse is for high sens players, if that means much to ya, heh.

An alternative is the Zowie EC2 eVo, quite a bit more expensive, but it has a flawless sensor, really nice rubber on it that doesn't make your hand sweat, a really light cable, no drivers to much with, large mouse feet for dat glide - also comes with a spare pair of mouse feet, and the scroll wheel is quite "notchy"/heavy which is nice in FPS games but not so great when web browsing. But this mouse will set you back $64, so it's up to you.

Keyboards...

I would watch /r/buildapcsales for deals on CoolerMaster mechanical keyboards, the good prices on those are between $50-75. The CM keyboards use a lot of the same components as in one of the top mechanical kb brands, Filco. However, if you don't want to wait for a sale on that, then I suggest Filco's rival, Leopold, which is tied with Filco in best quality for mech kb's under $150 - and they don't have the "gamer" look to them like the CM keyboards. I'd go with Cherry Red switches (they are nice and light, great for gaming). The Leopold boards are built like tanks, they will last forever.

Hope that helps.

edit - Oops, I forgot mousepads.

Personally, I would go with something big and cheap. The SteelSeries Qck+ has served myself and many others very well. But if you don't want cloth, and want something smaller with a harder surface maybe take a look at the SteelSeries 9HD or if you are a true high-sens baller the SteelSeries Experience I-2 (glass mouse pad...too bad they only have pink ones on Amazon now, lol).

I'd first like to start off by saying do some research on mechanical keyboards and see if you like the feeling, but for one of those you'll have to spend a bit more.

My keyboard. I love it. The macro keys are nice, but to be honest I mostly use them for browsing, and not in game. The backlit keys are aesthetically pleasing in my opinion. It's a solid keyboard, but it ultimately has a bunch of unnecessary stuff. A simple mechanical keyboard would work just as well if not better.

My mouse. This is the best mouse I've ever used. Both interchangeable grips are amazing feeling, the weight adjustment is nice, and best of all being able to change my DPI on the fly is amazing. Crank it up in BF3 when using slower moving cannons, lower it while sniping so I can be a bit more steady. If this one breaks, or just feels worn out I'll absolutely buy another. If you have anymore questions for me just ask.

Logitech Extreme3D is only 25$ on Amazon, and mine still works fine after like eight years.

Flight Sims are a real disappointment in recent years. If you think about the PC game market in the mid 90s, you might imagine that flight sims would be a permanent fixture. I can explore my own theories about why they fell off in popularity (I blame console gamers), but I don't want to digress too much.

Anyhow, /u/Kocrachon has some great advice on games. You might also enjoy FreeSpace 2. It came out in like 1999, but the community made several mods and updates to it, so its pretty great, especially if you like Xwing.

Also, TIE Fighter was bigger and better than Xwing in every way. There are some fan-made updates that use the later Xwing vs Tie Fighter engine, but I recall they crashed alot.

Battlestation Pacific is a more arcadey type flight sim, but you can play it like a real pilot if you choose.

My current favorite flight sim is Take On Helicopters. It is fantastic, but (duh) it only features Choppers. It does have an actual 'story', and teaches you how to fly basically. It also has challenges that have you weaving through buildings at 100mph. I like any game that doesn't restrict you to 'sane' flying.

Its really unfortunate that your choices are basically to play older games, or dedicate your life to one of the most complex games ever made (DCS world).

Definitely go with the mouse unless your keyboard is malfunctioning. Gaming keyboards are useful to have sometimes but not essential like a decent gaming mouse. Just make sure that the mouse you buy works well with how you play, the type of grip you use, palm or claw/fingertip.

In short, you either palm the mouse with your entire hand, moving your arm to move the mouse, or you "claw" it, grabbing it with your finger tips and moving it just with your wrist. Knowing which grip you prefer and getting a mouse that fits it well goes a long way to eliminate wrist pain and fatigue.

Personally, I claw grip and use the CM Storm Spawn. Best mouse I've ever used for my style of play due to its small size and design. (So good I bought a second one for my laptop.) It goes up to 3500 DPI but IMO the 1800 DPI preset is perfect for most all games. If I need more precision I take it down to the 800 DPI preset and if I need more look speed (i.e. BF3 vehicles) I go up to the 3500 DPI preset.

Other good options are the G500 and the Deathadder , both of which many people swear by. They're better for palm grip IMO though due to their size.

TL;DR Go with the mouse and pick one that fits your hand and style of play well.

So I think this will be a fairly easy question to answer, but I was wondering for headphones that don't have a volume control built-in, is there anything I can put on the headset to have that functionality? Kind of like a mixer of some sort? I'm thinking of purchasing these Sennheiser headphones for gaming, but what I care about the most is the ability to change the audio at whim while I'm gaming.

I just recently discovered the Mixamp and it sounds like something I would definitely be willing to purchase. Surely, these aren't the only one of its kind, but what exactly are these things called? Are there any others you would recommend?

Here's my copy/pasted response to this sort of question. I do cover virtual surround sound in it. You can add it to any pair of headphones with an inexpensive sound card.

If you do want virtual surround sound, go look at Mad Lust Envy's thread over at Head Fi - he has reviewed a bunch of headphones with Dolby Headphone(virtual surround sound) in mind.

---

Get a pair of headphones and a mic.

If you want surround sound with your headphones, go for the Asus Xonar DG($24) as your sound card. It is very inexpensive and offers Dolby Headphone(ie, it allows you to have virtual surround sound on any pair of headphones - certain headphones work better with this than others, check out this thread at Head-Fi for a plethora of headphones reviewed with Dolby Headphone in mind).

As for the microphone, the common choice is the Zalman zm-mic1($9). Another great choice if you want a better microphone is the Antlion ModMic($33).

As for the headphones, this is a very personal thing. Do you want to be able to accurately pinpoint the location of footsteps in first person shooters? Go for something that is reviewed well by Mad Lust Envy in his thread. Good choices would be the Audio Technica ATH-AD700, the AKG K701/K702/Q701, the Sennheiser HD558/HD598. All of these are open headphones, which tend to be better if you want positional accuracy, but if you'd prefer a closed pair, the Beyerdynamic DT770/DT880/DT990 are rather good. Keep in mind that the Beyers and the AKGs should not be used without an external amp. The other ones should be fine to run off the sound card.

If you don't need pristine positional accuracy in first person shooters, you could go for a huge number of different headphones to suit your tastes. Here is a great thread on Head-Fi comparing many different headphones.

I've never used a deathadder, but if I could make some recommendations, the Logitech G400 and Perixx MX-2000B are really good mice in my experience. the [G400] (http://amzn.com/B0055QZ216) is particularly liked by the people over at /r/mousereview for its sensor, and it's just a nice looking, minimal mouse. I just got the [Perixx MX-2000B] (http://amzn.com/B0083H4NG4) and while it's a branded version of a mouse that some other companies use, I can tell you it's a very comfortable mouse to use and works well in gaming. Doesn't hurt that it's $31.99 and you get stuff like LED customization and weight tuning.

Not sure if you saw this or not, but figured I would comment in case you missed it. I purchased THIS One for my three monitors. I have the same monitors as you have also. Works GREAT. :)

It will save you money also. Good luck!

The Logitech F310, F510, and F710 are the best options. They have a switch on the back that changes from Direct Input to X-Input (what the 360 controller uses) to ensure compatibility for every game that supports a controller. I have 2 of them and they are great. They have great build quality and a D-pad miles better than the 360 one.

Those are some really shitty items. I thought there'd be a gem in there, but it's all junk.

The Raspberry Pi Zero is $5 (if you can find stock) and works as a great emulation system.

A USB sound device like this Sabrent one for $6 works great so solve a variety of audio issues like low mic volume or static/broken audio ports.

So many people in online games don't have mics. You can get one on eBay for $1. Please buy one if you play online games. www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=clip+on+microphone

If you don't want to totally break the bank I'd recommend one of these http://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-Flight-Playstation-3/dp/B001CXYMFS It also works with a few PS3 games. Kind of a nice extra. I've had one for a while and it's a pretty nice stick. It's 50 bucks.

BTW I'd recommended Freespace 2 for any combat flight fan. It's a masterwork. Plus the game's engine is open source and fans have made major graphical enhancements to the game. It has a lengthy single player campaign and a bunch of mods. It also has one of the best tutorial systems I've ever seen, which is very important in a game with a huge number of key bindings. Don't worry about the first game. It's not as good and fans have ported it to freespace 2's engine.

http://www.gog.com/game/freespace_2

Audio technica ATH M30 is a safe bet. They are like 40$ on amazon. BTW i wouldn't recommend a headset with a mic. Id honestly say get a nice headset and a nice mic. You dont need an expensive one but you can spend 50$ on a pair of headphones and 50$ on a mic and it will be much better than a 100$ headset. My personal setup is ATH M30 and a Blue Snowball The mic is ok but it picks up everything and the headphones are great.

I am guessing you are using a standard mouse to play games. When I was first getting into PC gaming, I used to pick up my mouse too. That's until I discovered what mouse DPI is. I got myself a gaming mouse. It has adjustable DPI with four levels that I can cycle through by pressing a button on the mouse. They don't come cheap, here is an example of a popular one that's good value for your money. As you see in the description it has 5 DPI settings that go up to 12000. I doubt you'll need anything that high, and you might not need all the programmable buttons either. You can probably find a more basic model and shave off $20 or so. I would strongly recommend going with a trusted, highly reviewed brand. A mouse gets a lot of action and these little known companies coming up with cheap mice with high DPI just do not last.

As the article I linked you to says, there are a lot of conflicting opinions on what is best for shooter games. Some people will say that a low DPI is best as it helps you aim better. Having gotten used to my one, I feel that that's a crutch. I think it would be much better for you to get used to a sensitive mouse than getting used to throwing your mouse all over the table to turn around. Of course you could just try raising the sensetivity up, but as the article explains it:
>For example, let’s say you have a very cheap mouse with low DPI and you crank up the sensitivity. If you tried to aim at small targets, you’ll see the mouse cursor jump around as you move it. The mouse hardware isn’t as sensitive, so it doesn’t detect the smaller movements. Your operating system just compensates by moving your cursor farther when it does detect a movement, so the movement isn’t as smooth.

It will still be a learning process. It will feel very sensitive to you at first. But the good thing is, you control the DPI levels. You can raise it gradually, only by 200-300 DPI at a time. And once you get used to it, you can push it further. You'll still be able to keep good aim, and you'll be able to turn with a simple movement without picking it up.

http://www.amazon.com/CM-Storm-Spawn-Optical-Switches/dp/B004RJJMBI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408996020&sr=8-2&keywords=cm+storm+mouse

I bought that CM storm spawn a few months ago and it's definitely one of my favorite I've played with. It's on the smaller side, so if you have large hands or tend to palm the mouse (rather than claw it) it might not be for you.

But it is a great mouse especially for the price. It also has on the fly DPI adjustments (basically changes the sensitivity) which is nice because I tend to like high sensitivity on my desktop and in certain RTS/City Builder games, and then I lower it a bit when I go into FPS games.

>How can I know which games will work with a controller and what kind of controller to get?

Almost every single recent game on PC supports controllers with zero issues, especially if they're multiplatform releases. There are also plenty of third aprty controllers available for you to buy

If for some reason there's no controller support, you also have software like Joy2Key which allows you to map keyboard inputs to a controller so that any game supports anything.

As for everything else, PC gaming is much more accessible than console gaming, mostly due to the fact that there are dozens of peripherals and alternative control methods you can utilize on a PC that are simply not available on a console.

For example you could use something like Stinkyboard or frag pedal to map certain keys to your feet instead of fingers.

Or use a joystick for movement and mouse for looking around.

You could also use any of the gaming pads with a joystick for movement and then use the buttons for other random things.

You might also want to look into the Steam controller mostly because it allows you to completely remap any key to do anything. So you're not stuck with whatever setup the devs want you to use, rather you can remap buttons, function and actions easily to suit your needs.

PC is an open platform, anyone can release anything on it. There are tons of assistive technologies available already, you have options to map your keyboard keys to macros that do multiple action, get peripherals and map keys to those, hell you can use headtracking cameras for mouselook instead of a traditional mouse. There are tons of options out there and I guarantee you'll have an easier time on the PC than on consoles.

I currently use a K60 Keyboard from Corsair and G500 from Logitech and absolutely love them! Right now I think you can get these from amazon for $150 total. Although I love this keyboard I would recommend the new K70 which is only $30 more

Corsair K70 -$130

Corsair K60 - $100

Logitech G500 - $50

I love how everyone is recommending overpriced garbage sounding headsets when the OP asked for headphones. Check out Audio Technica AD 700xs, the're simply amazing. The Sennheiser HD 598 are also superb. http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Headphones-Burl-Wood-Accents/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1381815860&sr=8-8&keywords=sennheiser

I have the Razer Deathadder and it's pretty good. Very comfortable feel, cool light up effect, and it has two side buttons.

Most people would recommend a Blue Snowball but I really like the concept of the Modmic. Honestly though, I used a three dollar desktop microphone I got from Microcenter and, while I wore the headphones to get rid of background noise, I was getting compliments on the microphone quality.

Edit: I forgot about the Zalman clip-on but that seems like such a pain.

IMO by far the best setup would be to have a desk mic and either speakers or headphones.

I got a Blue Snowball when my $20 Logitech USB mic broke after 10 years of service (dropped a box on it) and desk mics have always worked great for me, I simply can't imagine switching to any alternative. The Snowball is a bit on the big side though compared to the cheap-o Logitech mic I upgraded from.


I use speakers most of the time for VOIP chat so having a headset or clip on mic wasn't a consideration for me and the Snowball would be far better than any clip on mic. And for those times where someone has bad reverb (their mic picks up other people talking over VOIP) I'd put on my headphones or if I was doing some serious progression raiding and needed to hear instructions or on-the-fly raid calls without any potential hindrances. And for that I use a pair of old Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, there are better headphones out there now a days but mine work well enough and I don't use them enough to warrant replacing them.

Prior, I've tried many of these so called gaming headsets and many of them actually hurt my head after prolonged use, and I had to position the mic properly or I'd be hard to hear. And if I didn't want to wear the headset I'd have to have the damn thing around my neck which was a pain... in the neck so to say. Plus they've always been quite fragile in my use and would last maybe a year tops and they were overpriced so the prospect of having to replace them so often was less than favorable to me. I've had the same pair of headphones for no idea how long but over 5 years and they still work but headsets on the other hand might as well have been made out of glass.

I like my Logitech G9X. Easy sensitivity. Can change the scroll settings. Comes with additional weights and has this thing you can put over it to make it wider. I love it

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NTFATI

Keyboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823129002 with Cherry MX brown keys and I love it.

Mouse: http://www.amazon.com/Razer-DeathAdder-Ergonomic-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B00AAS888S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397050787&sr=8-1&keywords=deathadder

I just switched to deathadder from naga as I find it more comfortable (I have large hands).

edit- newegg seems down at the moment, keyboard is cmstorm quickfire

A few things to note:

• The GPU is the 1GB version of the GT 650M
  
• There are only 3 USB ports one of which is USB 2.0 - consider whether or not 3 will be enough and accessorize accordingly.
  
• This computer doesn't come with an OS by default.
  
• DON'T BUY OFFICE BUNDLED WITH THIS COMPUTER - You can get Office University 2010 right from Microsoft for $85. It's exactly the same as the $350 Office Professional 2010 that you can bundle with that laptop.
  
• Comparison shop for the accessories that you can bundle with this laptop - some of them seem overpriced. For example, you can get that Logitech G400 for half of the price they're offering. You can't even find the Saitek Eclipse II anymore and you can get much better keyboards for $97 (not that the Eclipse II is bad but Newegg's last price for that keyboard was $65). For example, $97 will get you a good mechanical keyboard.
  
  I know none of that is really what you asked for but it's all stuff I wish knew before I bought a laptop for college.
  
  In all honesty if I could go back and give myself a piece of college computer advice it would be to avoid spending too much money on a gaming laptop and to get a netbook instead. Granted, my 2006 MacBook Pro is still working but it wasn't ever the gaming PC I'd hoped it would be.
  
  The portability was nice but the inability to upgrade my computer as tech advanced put me at a disadvantage midway through my college career. After a couple years I started to lag behind the current technical requirements and was unable to play the newer games that I wanted to play. With a laptop you're almost forced to wait it out simply to justify the initial cost. You either replace the laptop completely or tolerate slowly degrading performance to save money. There's no way to spend $200-300 on a new GPU if you need it (or if you just want to upgrade and have the cash to spare).
  
  It also became a bit of a hassle simply because part of me really wanted to treat the laptop as if it were a desktop and leave it on the desk. I had speakers, a mouse, and a USB hub all set up but plugging in and unplugging everything at least a few times a day to move my laptop got to be a pain in the ass over the years. This might not be an issue for you but it definitely bugged me at the time.
  
  In 2012 I'd personally get an inexpensive netbook (you can get one for $200-300) and spend the rest of my budget building a PC (head to /r/buildapc if you want to go that route).
  
  
  

Have you looked into trackball mice, like the Logitech M570?

It you wouldn't need to move your mousing hand at all with something like that.

World:
War Thunder is free on Steam
DCS World is free on Steam (ridiculously priced DLC).
Coming soon: IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad([more info] (http://themittani.com/features/il2-battle-stalingrad-preview))

Space:
Coming soon: Star Citizen
Coming soon: EVE Valkyrie
Elite: Dangerous

Joysticks: Link
Cheap
More expensive, but better
More expensive, but better
More expensive, but better
More expensive, but better
More expensive, but better
More expensive, but better
More expensive, but better
More expensive, but better
Less expensive than the Warhog, but better (supports upgrades) more info on the Black Mamba.

I have the microsoft sidewinder x4

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-JQD-00001-SideWinder-X4-Keyboard/dp/B002ZV51DI

I love it, just wish it had some usb ports sometimes

I've noticed a few other Logitech G-series mice in here, and personally, I've had the G500 for about 8 months now. It's fantastic, well-built, and I haven't had a single issue with it. I highly recommend it, or any of the other Logitech mice you see mentioned here, really.

RSI = Repetitive Stress Injury for those who don't know the acronym.

Look into ergonomics to alleviate or reduce strain. Try to keep your elbows at the same level you surface is at.

I'm not sure what kind of mouse you are using, but consider a vertical mouse like this, or a trackball mouse like this.

I kept the options on the cheaper side so it doesn't suck as much if you can't get accustomed to them.

I'm not much a fan of trackballs, but I have an injured Marine buddy who swears by them and also an old boss of mine doing graphic design said trackballs let him keep using a computer for 20 years after he couldn't use a standard mouse any longer.

I don't have an opinion of vertical mice, but feel free to check out some reviews. Supposedly they keep the ulna and radius in a much more neutral position which allows the stabliizing muscles to work much less hard.

Good luck.

I managed to snag the G502 Spectrum off Amazon on Tuesday night for $40.

For anyone that is interested they are selling it for $39.99 right now. Projected shipping is a ways out, but if you arent in a hurry its a good deal. (People in the US)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019OB663A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You don't need an Index to play it. You can get the Samsung Odyssey+ for $250 right now. More deals will pop up over the next week/month as well as Black Friday and the holidays approach.

Also it's not like there's no other VR games out there.

EDIT: It's $229 on Amazon. I actually went and bought it myself. I'll upgrade to the Index controller and base station close to HL:Alyx launch so technically it's $229 for a decent headset.

Just $10 more than you want to spend, but it's a pretty decent budget gaming mouse:

http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Deathadder-Infrared-Gaming-RZ01-00151400-R3/dp/B002Q4U5DK/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1341471547&sr=1-1

G400 is pretty much bang on you price range and I heard lods of good things about it when I was looking for my mouse.

I ended up going for the SteelSeries Sensei over the Logitechs because of the two extra side buttons and better scroll wheel. As a bonus you can do a ton of software and macro customisation and it's all really simple to do. $85 though but I couldn't recommend it enough.

I've been using this one:
[Ergotech Triple Horizontal LCD Monitor Arm Desk Stand (100-D16-B03)]
(http://amzn.com/B001NPEC5A)

Very solid, frees up a heap of desk space. Have not had any complaints. Check out the Amazon reviews for more info.

Just a basic HOTAS like this or or with pedals but you don't really need them. Actually all you really nned is something like this

Somewhat relevant! Good cheap solution if you ever want sound back and have an open USB port.

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=zg_bs_3015427011_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=78ZX18HR7GGW2Y2699T6

Sorry for late reply...

Your previous replier is right about everything yet the price you put as $130 is too step so you better watch other sites of selling such as this or others which are slightly cheaper yet with lots and lots of added costs including resellers commission+handling+++.

It's not yet announce but Steam/Valve did the very same thing with Steam Link, although their most often 90% was an indication of Steam was going to be phased out and it did eventually in favor of software Link App which isn't a real replacement at all. Considering all other Steam's hardware ventures end up dead in the end, it's highly probable that Steam Controller could be the last victim.

Problem is Valve insisted on US based production and distribution while they could have made an agreement with Isle of Production Asian well known manufacturers instead to cut down their costs while keeping their World Wide distribution network. Yet their patriotism (or w/e else) lead to high production costs and double costs at shipping making it literally unaccessible for the rest of World, including Canada like you said.

It's their choice and won't going to get surprised if seeing Controller would become extinct around next year or so after clearing out their stocks due low sales of their previous bad choices.

If you're short on the cash, this is one of the best for the price http://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-Flight-Playstation-3/dp/B001CXYMFS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451751722&sr=8-1&keywords=thrustmaster+x. I use it and i'm only about 2 buttons short

Microsoft Sidewinder, cant really say anything about it, but its cleaper then what I bought and most of MS's hardware usually works well.

I have this logitech, but its an older model they still sell It has a Red backlit keys as well.

You would be hard pressed to find a mechanical backlit for under 50 used.

This (G400). Scientifically proven and endorsed by Ironfungus as the bestest mouse in ever. Perfect shape for any hand, as accurate as anyone would ever need, corded, but without being ungodly expensive.

Take my word for it and buy it now.

Logitech G500, I started with the G5 back in 2006 and have stayed with the series forever, my tried and tested champion.

Only $900+ in the UK with a whopping supply of one, what a steal!

It might be slightly petty but that does grate me about the "Oh there are cheap VR options" posts because.....there aren't for everyone. Hell, I'm in Africa and source from the UK so I'm behind 2 layers of fuckery, with even the first world one not getting a good deal. VR is expensive, the defense force out since Alyx was announced needs to accept that their reality is not universal by any means.

I have a Logitech Gamepad F710 wireless controller. I got it because I put Defiance on my netbook and I just can't do TPS or FPS games with keyboard and mouse, I don't understand how people do it. It's just mroe comfortable for me to play those games with thumbsticks and trigger buttons. This is also one of the reasons I can't really play MMOs. Spam clicking wasd and hot keys to move around and attack, does a number on my fucking wrists. But to each his own.

I love it.

I'm going to have to mention that the ModMic has a problem with background static when in use with lesser quality boards and people without soundcards and the sort. So if the OP buys it and has this problem, they're going to have to go through the problem of that. Otherwise it's a great product in terms of ease of use, which is what you're paying for. The mic quality isn't anything amazing, and for a retail price of $50 I expected more. The thing with massdrop is that after the offer goes through, you wait a long time, so if OP doesn't want to wait < 2 weeks ignore it.

The Zalman mic is great for the price where the only issue is the absurdly long wire. Of course the quality will increase dramatically the more directly you're talking into the mic.

Another microphone that's within the $50 range is the Blue Snowball it's a stand mic and will pick up more background noise until you adjust it enough, but the quality is fine and is less intrusive.

I personally use the ATH-M50s which were on sale for $100 at the time and the Zalman mic.

My non-gamer SO got me a Blue Snowball for voice chat. She's a professional editor for a crappy cable TV company, and it's what they use to record scratch track. It sounds fantastic.

I'm with the others in the "headphones + mic perform better than gaming headsets" camp. I've never found a headset that fits my ears as well as a proper set of cans. And you can use them with mp3 players without people giggling at your mic.

I've been using this for about 2-3 years now: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NPEC5A/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
is the company website: http://www.ergotechgroup.com/ they are very friendly people, emailed the company to ask some questions and they even sent me a link to the cheapest resaler.

I've had two mx518s, and one of them was replaced by my G9x. I use the G9x at home and the mx518 at work. It's not the same feeling, but I do like it a lot.

I got a pair of Logitech F710 controllers. They're a bit cheaper than the Xbox 360 controllers, and are quite nice.

You mean like this $230 Samsung Odyssey+, which is compatible with SteamVR and HL: Alyx, and is available to buy right now?

What about something like this? www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0043T7FXE/ref=pd_aw_lpo_147_bs_lp_tr_img_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=8N5WM6Y3NYN1VEW861GP

If you happen to be in Canada you can buy these right now... highly recommend. Just get yourself a standalone mic. I don't think you can find more quality for the price (113 +tax) anywhere.

I'm using a G9x, way more than $30 but totally worth it to me.

A "good" steering wheel can run around $250 and headsets that don't have either poor mics or poor speakers are very uncommon and pricey. I recommend the controller by far, Xbox controllers use "xinput" and are plug and play with almost every game out there with exception of 10+ year old games that have a problem with the triggers being an axis instead of a single button. You can get the 360 controller quite cheap ex: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Controller-Windows/dp/B004QRKWLA/ or go for the Xbox One controller with the same input system and a much better d-pad: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Controller-Cable-Windows/dp/B00O65I2VY/ (any wired Xbox 360 controller will work and any Xbox One controller will work with a micro usb cord of sufficient length).

G900 is what I run right now.

The G502 I thought was the proteus like this wired mouse.

I can personally recommend this mouse.

Get something like this

Try a USB soundcard like this one

I recommend the Logitech F710 for Emulation, MMOs, New games and old games alike. It has two separate input methods (Direct Input, and XInput) for the broadest compatibility.

Link to the actual Amazon page and not OP's shitty site: http://www.amazon.com/Steam-Controller-SteamOS/dp/B016KBVBCS

Both the wired and the wireless version come in a box that says "for Windows" on the box. Like this.

I haven't tested it, but I assume there's something special on the USB cable that MS provides with the wired version (as strange or impossible as it may sound).

Can somebody with a wired or wireless controller show me how it appears on the Device and Printers control panel?

Yeah, Amazon has that one right now for $31.

This might work for you. http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-940-000110-Gamepad-F310/dp/B003VAHYQY/ref=pd_cp_pc_0 I was telling my brother to get it because it has both Direct Input and Xinput. Has the layout of a PS3 controller, but has the button icons of an Xbox controller, so if someone who isn't a gamer uses it and the screen says press "Y", they'll still see the "Y" on the controller.

And the F710 someone else recommended. http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-940-000117-Gamepad-F710/dp/B0041RR0TW/ref=pd_tcs_subst_e_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=14Y12G1HJ1KN1C1CENZ9

On sale on Amazon right now!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AAS888S/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1395511614&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40

I returned mine. It felt cheap and gimmicky, especially for the price. I went with a Logitech G500. Don't fall for the customization hype if all you want is a solid, well-designed mouse.

It's on sale right now, $30 on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Battlefield-4-Online-Game-Code/dp/B00BXONG7G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397002634&sr=8-1&keywords=battlefield+4+pc

It's only $30 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Battlefield-4-Online-Game-Code/dp/B00BXONG7G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1397002545&sr=8-3&keywords=battlefield+4

I'd argue that these would work better because these include the thrust controls and aren't much more expensive.

I just checked and it's already available on Amazon. I'm on my phone now but just search for xbox one controller + cable. It's available for $55

Edit: Link

http://www.amazon.com/Steam-Controller-SteamOS/dp/B016KBVBCS

Might need to search Amazon directly if you can't order from .com, but this is how you can get it.

Probably comes with HL3.

How much did you pay? They are on sale on Amazon right now for $35.

http://www.amazon.com/Steam-Controller-SteamOS/dp/B016KBVBCS

Amazon ships here.

I AM talking about new:

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-Wireless-Controllers-XE800ZBA-HC1US/dp/B07HS7R1RT/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=windows+mixed+reality&qid=1574448466&sr=8-14

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-Wireless-Controllers-XE800ZBA-HC1US/dp/B07HS7R1RT

has one wire that splits into two. HDMI, USB. $279.00

http://www.amazon.com/Razer-DeathAdder-Ergonomic-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B00AAS888S/ref=cm_cd_ql_qh_dp_t

Is this the basic one because that's what I'm looking for

Found a 7$ one https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=zg_bs_3015427011_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M4WX1F5G8C0ADYTBX0H2

Can you automatically delete https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BXONG7G/ref= links from now on if this indeed is a referral link?

There's an infrared version which is cheaper: http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Deathadder-Infrared-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B002Q4U5DK -- How does it compare with this? http://www.amazon.com/Razer-DeathAdder-Ergonomic-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B00AAS888S

Here are the reviews from amazon...if this helps.
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-JQD-00001-SideWinder-X4-Keyboard/product-reviews/B002ZV51DI/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Controller-Cable-Windows/dp/B00O65I2VY

edit: also https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-4N6-00001-Controller-Cable-Windows/dp/B01LPNKGGI/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

I have this mouse and personally would not recommend it to anyone because of the offset sensor. Look at the bottom of the mouse in the pictures here to see what I mean.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019OB663A/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 this is my mouse but I'm not sure about DPI

No link shorteners and no referral links.

Do it like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-JQD-00001-SideWinder-X4-Keyboard/dp/B002ZV51DI/

No, I use a Blue Snowball mic.

A track ball mouse has really helped me. They aren't the best for fast paced games. In those cases I switch off with my normal mouse. I used this one for several years M570

But more recently switched to the MX Ergo

Battlefield 4 [Online Game Code] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BXONG7G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_d7blDb6C2TFSQ

Zowies for palm grip, CM Storm Spawn for claw or fingertip grip.

(Don't get the black one, it's a cheaper model with an inferior sensor.)

I've had good experiences with the Roccat Kone XTD and the Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum. I've also heard people rave about the Razer Death Adder, but I have no personal experience with that one.

My xbox 360 controller died on me recently and I want an xbone controller now. Can I get any wireless Xbone controller and plug it into my pc via USB and it works? Or do I need to specifically buy this one?

you guys need to use a keyboard cover like me.

http://i.imgur.com/v9kItJn.jpg

i have a microsoft sidewinder x4 keyboard

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-JQD-00001-SideWinder-X4-Keyboard/dp/B002ZV51DI

that i bought several years ago and i have absolutely no issue with it because i have it bought a custom cover for it on ebay. and im still using the protective cover i bought for it years ago.

you spill a drink on it, no problem just wipe it down. dont have to worry about food crumbs or dust seeping inbetween the cracks, etc..

i take the cover off and it looks brand new, asside from the WASD keys being a big worn off.