(Part 2) Top products from r/starcraft

This is a strange, but related question:

I need better headphones for gaming. I settled on getting these after basically taking a straight recommendation from a friend

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012XFDWO

The problem is that the reviews suggest that I need a sound card with amplifier in order for them to work? I'm not sure I understand. I am of reasonable technical skill, but I'm not sure I'm understanding what I need exactly. Particularly this review and the comments on it are somewhat troubling. They've essentially left me thinking that I need to get a new sound card (currently using onboard sound on an ASUS P6X58D Premium) but I'm not sure exactly what specification the new card would require. I'm just leaving this here as a means of passively collecting research if anyone else understands this topic better. I'll be a few tabs to the right in my browser doing more research on my own, so don't hassle me with the "LOOK IT UP, RETARD" if you don't mind. I'm trying.

Anyway, I appreciate it.

I've been enjoying your casts lately, also, TB. You help to fill my Saturdays in particular. I enjoy having a nice ladder on one monitor while I watch some tournaments on the other. Keep up the great work! I can't wait to hear how some crazy baller casting equipment helps things sound :)

you should be able to get pretty cheap.
I have a asus 80vt

• 1.3GHz Intel SU7300 Core 2 Duo Processor
  
• 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 2 slots, 8GB Max
  
• 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM), DVD Super Multi Drive
  
• 14" Widescreen HD LED LCD Display, NVidia G210M Graphics with 512MB DDR3 + Intel GMA 4500MHD (Switchable VGA), 0.3M Webcam, Wi-Fi 802.11 bgn
  
• Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System (64 bit), 11.5 Hours of Battery Life
  
  And I can run sc2 on low settings. I only played sc2 for two days, (the sea free play weekend), so i didnt see how high i could get the fps, but with them all on low, i didnt ever lag at all from what i could tell.
  
  yes it is a 1.3 ghz processor, i know wtf >< but its a damn champ. the coure 2 duo is badass. you can also overclock it if needed, but i think mine started to overheat if i left it like that.
  
  this laptop allows you to switch between integrated and dedicated for battery life, and you can get 7+ hrs battery life if you want to. it also has hdmi out, but not audio within the hdmi.
  
  this can play l4d2 on low settnigs too, with only some frame lag at some points (less so if you overclock, but i dont)
  
  when i bought this, i believe i got a $100 gift card to amazon for free, but i had to do some special deal. anyway, the 260m should be more than enough power for sc2, i just dont know what kind of settings.

F21-7d mechanical keyboard is not cherry or ALPS, they're APC. They're good. 40 bucks and better than the razer ones everyone considers the 'cheapest'.

Headset? Must it be miced? Seriously there are literally no good audio quality gaming headsets even from sennheiser who is a big player in audiophile stuff. If it must get these. I know what you're thinking not over the ear and all that shit, i agree. But these are honestly the best bang for your buck you will get as plantronics break like its going out of style and sennheiser honestly throws together their gaming line. And dont even mention razer in headsets.

If you're looking for lore with cool graphics, the best source is the StarCraft Field Manual, an in-universe lorebook which goes through the tech and history of the units and the sector:

https://www.amazon.com/StarCraft-II-Manual-Rick-Barba/dp/1608874508

There sadly is no Khalani glossary, supposedly Blizzard has one but nobody's ever seen it. I'd love it as much as you.

There's plenty of amazing text books if you're looking for hard novels, my recommended starting points are I, Mengsk, StarCraft: Ghost: Nova, and Heaven's Devils. But most of the books fill in gaps in the universe, so you can start most places and be fine.

For visual stuff, Frontline is a mixed bag but has some great art (and some not so great art), but its got a massive diversity when it comes to content. The current Dark Horse run is also really solid (Scavengers, Soldiers, in a few weeks Survivors).

Yeah I just wear this wrist brace and they work really well. After I get in a good gaming session I just put these on for a few hours and it actually feels pretty good. I recommend everyone get these and I am surprised it wasn't common knowledge.

I bought the Razer Abyssus before summer, and I have to say it is one of the best mouses I have ever had and is keeping up perfectly so far even though I travel around with it quite a lot. So if you are willing to spend a few more euros I would say that it is definitely worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Abyssus-Precision-Optical-Gaming/dp/B002XLR0JI

I bought them something like 3 years ago, so I'll never find the exact ones. But /u/Specifiallyprolific posted these which are pretty close. Mine are left and right hand friendly.

Any of these three headsets are great choices imo

• Razer Carcharias at $70
  
• Creative SoundBlaster Arena (out of stock currently...?)
  
• Corsair Vengeance 1500 at $89 (the one I own)
  
  The G35 certainly looks good from its Amazon reviews, but is the most expensive of the set.
  
  If you're somewhat interested in the Corsair headset, I can give you my impression of the product.

If you want to save money and only care about performance/price ratio try this combination in the sub 75 dollar range, which should be sufficient for most gamers. This will net you better quality than anything that is marketed for gaming:






Sennheiser HD 202

Zalman ZM-MIC1

I didn't have to go through any importing luckily. Keyboard Company sends some of their stock of the new Filcos to Amazon.com for United States buyers. Used my Amazon Prime to get overnight shipping for only $4!

Although I did import a completely blank set of keycaps for it. I've been eagerly waiting for them to arrive.

Paging /u/chobopeon , his book was a pretty awesome read http://www.amazon.com/StarCraft-Bible-explosions-pixels-inspire/dp/1456489771

Dont get bose, they are a waist of money. If you want closed back headphones I would recommend the Sennheiser 280s Very good set of headphones that dont leak much. Also the Grado Sr-80i that Eziril list below are very good but leak a lot of sound because they are open.
I have owned a pair of the Carcharias since they came out and have yet to have a problem with them. Personally I use the Sennheiser HD 380 pros and a webcam mic. If your using skype make sure you get close back headphones or your friends will never stop bitching about being able to hear everything your doing.

it was 150 from Amazon. I'm sure you can find it on Ebay or get lucky on Craigslist and find it for less.

Link

I know that some people have had the book for a while now, but I wanted to let people know that amazon is fulfilling orders.

If you are interested in the book get it here.

Filco, best thing my hands have ever touched so far.

Seriously, this or this.

In my opinion, probably best headset for price. Plus it's on sale!

I dunno, this just doesn't look like it. Like Tasteless said, that cord could lock up a bicycle!

Doesn't look like the BlackWidow either.

CORRECTION: Yup, it is the 7G. Thanks!

My brother and I were looking around the market for a great, back lit mechanical keyboard with N-key rollover. It comes in 2 styles, cherry blue or brown.

http://www.amazon.com/XARMOR-U9BL-Backlit-Keyboard-Illuminated-Mechanical/dp/B003XQE040

If you have money to burn, I guess.

At least for me, keyboards with MX Black switches don't quite feel right, and you don't get the nice click that you get with Browns or Blacks. Since you clearly have money, I'd recommend getting a Filco Majestouch; they are the very best keyboards you can buy that aren't Topre (and under $200): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Z0XR2O/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001BR4NLI&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=07BN8JZHH1J2WZW3R01G

Headset advice is correct; gaming headsets arent the best. Best to go with headsets meant for audio, like Sennheiser or something else. I use a crappy one myself, so I can't offer you solid advice.

Thanks!
U.S. link - http://www.corsair.com/vengeance-gaming/vengeance-gaming-headsets/vengeance-1500-dolby-7-1-usb-gaming-headset.html

Amazon link - http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CA-9011112-WW-Vengeance-Gaming-Headset/dp/B005QUQP7G

Well I maybe got the hard to click version, I got it almost a year ago off Amazon before they came out with the one with media controls. It most likely is the blue version maybe, how would I check at this point?

Okay it's this one, just pulled it off my Amazon order history.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003M567V6/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

simple, easy, and cheap - Razer Abyssus

Are there any "tenkeyless" (no numpad) mechanical keyboard that anyone recommends? My keyboard tray is really small so there's not enough room for me to use my mouse with a standard size keyboard.

I'm looking at this one, what are your opinions on brown switches?

Where do you live? Amazon has PC 350 for $150

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC-350-Collapsible-Microphone/dp/B0012XFDWO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pdT1_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=14LJNXMC80SGL&coliid=I1TPQ8RE9JJLJ0

You can find them on amazon too:

http://www.amazon.com/Starcraft-II-Wings-Liberty-Collectors-PC/dp/B002I0JMB8/

http://www.amazon.com/StarCraft-II-Heart--Collectors-PC-Mac/dp/B0050SZ1JW/

http://www.amazon.com/The-StarCraft-Bible-explosions-inspire/dp/1456489771

this mechanical keyboard is $40

http://www.amazon.com/StarCraft-Battle-Chest-Mac/dp/B00001IVRD/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1342381264&sr=8-2&keywords=brood+war

Sennheiser HD-280. Do it. And you can get them a lot cheaper if you look!

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Bose

What do you guys think of this one?

Is there any reason why amazon wouldn't work?

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-7-1-Channel-Surround-Sound-Headset/dp/B001O5CCQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335729710&sr=8-1

Weird considering the price for us/canada

http://www.amazon.com/StarCraft-II-Heart-Swarm-Collectors-Mac/dp/B0050SZ1JW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419553281&sr=8-2&keywords=heart+of+the+swarm

Bose Around Ear... It is an obsolete model now, so you can get it for about 100$ if you buy it before they are empty... If not, you can buy the new one for 150$

Link

No. This computer could not play any games, not even Starcraft 2 on low. This is about as cheap as you can get and still run Starcraft well.

Get yourself one of these bad boys. Much better than anything with XTREME GAMEZOR marketing bullshit.

http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87M-EB2/dp/B004WOF7QM