The Best Camera for Live Streaming on Twitch, Mixer, and Facebook Live
Live streaming video is becoming increasingly popular amongst online content creators. It allows you to make a real connection with your audience, allowing you to get closer to your followers than with a traditional prerecorded video. They can send you their reactions, and you can respond to them moment-to-moment as they happen.
To live stream like a pro, you’ll need to have a camera that gives you excellent video quality. And you’re in luck! In this article, we’re going to give you a rundown of the best cameras for live streaming. While there are a number of different platforms out there that allow you to live stream, we’re going to focus on just three of them: Twitch, Mixer, and Facebook Live.
Jump to Webcam Recommendations
Jump to Camcorder Recommendations
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 for Business | Prime | Buy Now | ||
| Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam - 1080p | Prime | Buy Now | ||
| Logi C930c 1080P HD Video Webcam - with Privacy Shutter | Prime | Buy Now | ||
| PANASONIC LUMIX GH4 Body 4K Mirrorless Camera | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | ||
| Panasonic Lumix GH5 4K Digital Camera | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | ||
| Sony a7 III ILCE7M3/B Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera | Prime | Buy Now | ||
| Panasonic Full HD Video Camera Camcorder HC-V770 | Prime | Buy Now | ||
| Canon XA15 Professional Camcorder, Black | Prime | Buy Now | ||
| Panasonic AG-UX180 4K Professional Camcorder | Prime | Buy Now | ||
| GoPro HERO7 Black | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
What is Twitch?
Twitch is a live streaming service mostly focused around gaming. Users come here to watch their favorite gamers live-stream themselves playing a variety of different video games. With over 15 million daily active users, Twitch is the original go-to platform for gamers looking to build an audience.
What is Mixer?
Mixer is another video game live streaming platform. Touting itself as the next generation in live streaming, Mixer provides an interactive experience in which viewers can actually help the player to make in-game decisions. It’s also said to have more of a community feel than its direct competitor, Twitch.
What is Facebook Live?
It’s doubtful that there’s anybody out there who hasn’t heard of Facebook. In the last few years, the social media giant’s live streaming service, Facebook Live, has been rocketing in popularity. Facebook Live is more of a general-topic streaming platform, allowing social media influencers to share snippets of their daily lives with followers.
The Best Camera for Live Streaming
Now that you’re familiar with the platforms we’ll be focusing on in this article, let’s get down to the real question: What is the best camera for live streaming on these channels? This all depends on a variety of factors, for example, your budget, your level of comfort with technology, what you’ll be streaming, and so on. There are three main categories of cameras out there that we’ll cover: webcams, DSLRs (digital single-lens reflex)/mirrorless cameras, and camcorders.
Webcam Recommendations
Budget-friendly and easy to use, webcams are a popular option for live streaming. Your computer most likely has a built-in webcam but, for better video quality, we recommend buying an external one. Some of the best options for an external webcam are listed below.
Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000
If you’re just starting with live streaming, then the Microsoft Lifecam HD-300 is a savvy choice. It has a lower price tag, making it affordable for beginners, but you can still shoot bright and colorful video content with it using its TrueColor technology. The noise-canceling microphone also helps to reduce background noise, giving you good audio quality. Simple to use and budget-friendly, this camera will allow you to get started with sharing your videos to social media without a large upfront investment.
Logitech C920 HD Pro
At 1030p resolution, compared to the Microsoft LifeCam’s 720p, the Logitech C920 HD Pro comes at a slightly higher price point but can produce more high definition video. This enables you to share quality video with your followers for a price that’s still affordable. With its automatic light correction, the camera will also adapt to different light levels, meaning that you can produce clear video even when you’re shooting in a more dimly lit setting. This all makes the Logitech C920 HD Pro a solid choice for a live streaming webcam.
Logitech C930e Full HD
The Logitech C930e Full HD could be described as a higher-end version of the C920. Like the C920, it adjusts to low light settings, but it also comes with a higher resolution (1080p) and a wider field of view. This means that you can shoot quality video while sharing more of your environment with your audience. With the ability to pan, tilt, and 4x digital zoom, you can also tweak the camera view to be exactly what you need. If you’re serious about live streaming, then the Logitech C930e Full HD webcam is a great option.
DSLRs/Mirrorless Camera Recommendations
DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are standalone cameras with which you can produce photos and videos of extra high quality. Bear in mind that unlike webcams, which come with built-in video encoders, you will also need to buy a video encoder (in addition to a lens) to be able to share your content on live streaming platforms. The extra cost is worth it, though, if you don’t want to compromise on video quality.
Panasonic Lumix GH4
The Panasonic Lumix GH4 mirrorless camera is at the lower end of the pricing scale for DSLRs/mirrorless cameras, making it a good choice if you want the quality of this camera type without the usual expense. Allowing you to shoot in 4K resolution, the GH4 will produce a cinema-quality video for you to share with your audience. With a hardy magnesium alloy body and exceptionally long shutter life, this camera is popular with live streamers.
Panasonic Lumix GH5
Following on from the GH4, the Panasonic Lumix GH5 is the next step up in mirrorless cameras. In comparison to the GH4, which has a 16.05-megapixel Digital Live MOS-brand sensor, the GH5 has a 20.3-megapixel version of that sensor for improved image resolution. Although its higher-end video capabilities would not be feasible for live streaming due to bandwidth limitations, these would come in handy if you shoot vlogs too.
Sony A7 III
The Sony A7 III is the most expensive DSLR/mirrorless camera on this list, but that’s because it comes with a 24.2-megapixel Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor (which is a significantly higher number of megapixels than the other two cameras). Its high-performance BIONZ X image processor also helps to reduce noise for clearer images. Compact and stylish, the A7 III is a great option for a DSLR/mirrorless camera for live streaming.
Camcorder Recommendations
While webcams and DSLRs can be used for filming video, camcorders are designed for it. If you want to produce live stream videos of the highest quality, then a camcorder is the obvious choice. They’re easy to set up on a tripod or hold onto for handheld streaming, making it super simple for you to connect with your audience.
Panasonic HC-V770
At the lower end of the price range for camcorders is the Panasonic HC-V770. This camera will provide you with a 1080p video for not too hefty a cost. It has a 20x optical zoom so that you can capture clear video even from a distance, and its clean HDMI output means that you can feed a live stream from your camera to social media without any of the onscreen information that you have displayed in your viewfinder or on the LCD screen at the back. This all makes the HC-V770 an excellent, affordable option for a camcorder for live streaming.
Canon XA15
More advanced than the HC-V770, the Canon XA-15 will allow you to produce documentary-quality footage to impress your audience. Its lightweight design means that it’s suitable for handheld footage. It also has an HD/SD-SDI terminal, making it super convenient for live streaming because you won’t need to compress your videos first. If you’re looking for the best camera for live streaming, then you can’t go wrong with the Canon XA15.
Panasonic AG-UX180
With an evolved Optical Image Stabilizer and intelligent autofocus function, the Panasonic AG-UX180 is designed for high-end users looking to shoot professional-quality video in 4K resolution. Unlike most camcorders, it also comes with a 16-axis color correction functionality for precise color adjustment, so that you can tweak the color of your videos to be exactly as you want. The Panasonic AG-UX180 is the best camcorder for you if you want to get serious about live streaming.
Honorable Mention: Action Cameras
One type of camera that we didn’t cover here, but that deserves mention, is action cameras. Action cameras are small, portable devices that you can easily mount onto your head, sporting equipment, or anywhere else that you can think of. This allows you to stream yourself at an event or on the go.
GoPro Hero 7
GoPro is the maker of the original action camera, and their GoPro Hero 7 can be paired with an app on your phone to live stream whatever you’re up to. It doesn’t compromise on video quality, meaning it’s a still viable choice for positioning on a tripod for more traditional live streaming. But, the camera is also waterproof and tough, making it popular amongst skiers, snowboarders, and other extreme sports enthusiasts. If you want a camera that’s going to give you the versatility to stream whatever you’re doing, then the GoPro Hero 7 could be the best option for you.
Accessories
So we’ve covered the cameras, but you may also want to consider some accessories to power up the quality of your live streams. An external microphone will help you to keep your audio quality high, and a battery power system will mean that you can charge your camera while streaming (vital if you’re going to be doing longer broadcasts). Finally, a tripod or mount will mean that you won’t need to hold the camera the whole time and can position it exactly as you want for steady footage.
Conclusion
We hope that this article helped you to find the best camera for live streaming for your needs. Whether you’re just getting started and need a good webcam, or you’re a live streaming professional looking for the perfect camcorder, there’s something here for everybody. Happy live streaming!
Multi-Core Processor: Is More Always Better?
Everyone wants an efficient computer, whether for playing games or performing other tasks. And since modern operating systems can multitask, it seems to make sense to get processors with more cores, or does it? Would adding more cores to a processor yield significant improvement compared to the cost involved? To help you determine whether multi-core processors are necessary for your system or not, this article will show you what you need to understand to arrive at an informed decision.
Multi-Core Processor
First, what exactly is a multi-core processor? Any computer processor that has two or more CPUs (or cores) is known as a multi-core processor. Each of the CPUs or cores executes instructions as if the system runs on many processors even though it is just one processor chip.
A single-core processor is significantly slower than a multi-core processor because it takes longer for a single-core processor to communicate with other parts of the computer. Multi-core processors can run several processes or programs at the same time. This means better performance when you run programs with heavy demands on the CPU or when you are multitasking.
Multi-core processors were manufactured to solve the problem of clock speed that single-core processors encounter when they hit their physical limitations. Adding extra cores on a single chip means that a CPU can handle more data effectively.
Initially, manufacturers produced only two cores in a single CPU. It is no longer news that you can now get a processor chip with ten or more cores! This is particularly useful for effectively running programs with complex processes and calculations.
Process and Thread
Two important concepts to consider are processes and threads.
Processes are tasks, such as applications that run on computers. A process is made up of one or more threads.
A thread refers to a stream of data from a program that passes through a processor. Every program running on a computer generates single or multiple threads. Multiple threads can exist within a process and share resources while executing independently. This is known as multithreading.
With multi-cores, systems can effectively execute more than one thread at the same time. This means that each core in the multi-core handles a separate stream of data, thereby increasing performance and allowing several programs to run simultaneously.
This technology was originally developed with servers in mind because servers usually run multiple programs concurrently. In the past, the technology appealed to the enterprise customer, but with multitasking and the complex nature of personal computers in recent times, more cores are now built into PCs.
But here’s the thing; each process that runs on a computer has a primary thread that occupies just one core. In other words, a large chunk of a program’s speed is determined by the core which the primary thread occupies. Other secondary threads from the program are delegated to different cores. This means that doubling cores doesn’t necessarily increase the speed or performance of the program.
However, more cores mean that while the primary thread uses one of the cores, other tasks can be handled by the rest of the cores at the same time. Therefore, massive programs (such as a video-encoding application) will run better on a system with eight cores, for example, than one with four cores.
Here’s another angle that highlights the advantage of multiple cores over single-core processors. During multitasking, a single-core processor must switch quickly between threads to manage different processes because it can’t handle more than one thread at a time. Conversely, a multiple-core processor can manage several threads concurrently because the data is split between each core. This makes data transfer to happen a lot quicker.
Clock Speed
Clock speed refers to the rate at which a processor performs or executes a task. Clock speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). To illustrate, imagine a car with a powerful engine. The more powerful an engine is, the faster the car runs. This applies to a computer too. Consider the CPU as the computer’s engine – the higher the CPU’s clock speed, the faster the computer will perform. Your computer's CPU is continuously completing calculations to allow your apps to run efficiently.
Generally, if you have a processor with higher clock speed, your computer will complete its calculations at a faster rate, and your programs will run faster and better. For example, a 2.5GHz processor has 2.5 billion opportunities per second to complete a task, while a 3.0GHz processor has 3 billion chances (or can be about 20% quicker).
It is challenging to compare processors clock speeds across different brands. For example, it is unreasonable to compare the speed of a Pentium 4 CPU to an Intel Core i4.
However, clock speed doesn't necessarily tell precisely how long a processor will take to accomplish a task. As an example, a person who drives slowly but arrives at their destination without getting lost is faster than a person who drives quickly but always gets lost. So, if a 2.5GHz processor can complete a task in 2 clock ticks but it takes five clock ticks for a 3.5GHz processor to achieve the same job, the so-called slower processor is quicker in this case.
Do You Need More Cores or a Higher Clock Speed?
Multi-core offers high-performance computing just as higher clock speed significantly increases processing rate. The question is, should you go for a processor with fewer cores and more top clock speed or a processor with more cores and lower clock speed? To answer that, let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of both options.
- Fewer cores with higher clock speed: A processor with fewer cores and higher clock speed means higher performance at single threads. The processor is also likely to cost less. The drawback, however, is that it has fewer cores between which to split apps. Also, it has a relatively weaker performance with multi-threads.
- More cores with lower clock speed: Apart from offering support for multi-thread applications, a chip with more cores and lower clock speed is usually a cost-effective way of improving your computer’s performance. This means there’ll be hardly any issue of reduced performance even when you run many applications at the same time. It is also a great option if you want to run multiple virtual machines. On the downside, its single-thread performance is relatively lower than a processor with higher clock speed.
Here’s an example that can help you understand this better. Let’s compare the speed of the individual cores in two separate CPUs of the same brand. One of the CPUs is a dual-core processor with 3.5GHz clock speed, and the other is a quad-core processor with 3.0GHz clock speed.
When you consider the cores individually, the dual-core processor is roughly 14% faster than the quad-core processor. So, it is more efficient to run a single-threaded program on the dual-core processor. On the other hand, a multithreaded program or a program that uses all four processors will run about 70% faster on the quad-core processor than it would on a dual-core processor and, thus, is more efficient in such case.
Now, to answer the earlier question, if possible, and if your computing task requires it, go for a CPU with the highest clock speed and, at the same time, offer as many cores as possible. But because this option is usually more expensive, you may have to strike a balance between clock speed and the number of cores bearing in mind the pros and cons listed above.
An excellent way to arrive at a better decision is to find out whether your most-used applications support multithreading. Doing this will help you to decide whether to go for a processor with the highest number of cores and slower clock speed (for example, a 6-core chip at 3.2GHz) or a processor with fewer cores and higher clock speed (for example, a quad-core chip at 3.6GHz).
Although modern operating systems all have multithreading capabilities, individual applications need to support multithreading before any significant performance improvement can be noticed.
In other words, the overall efficiency of a computer that runs on multiple processors will not make any meaningful performance impact without software that supports multithreading. If an app will only run on just one core in a 10-core processor, it would be better, cheaper, and maybe even faster to run it on a dual-core processor that has a higher clock speed.
In Closing
You’ll probably not see any significant improvement or benefit of having more than two or four processor cores if you are a primary computer user. For the majority of computer users, a dual-core processor or, at most, a quad-core processor is more than sufficient. As an example, if you primarily use your computer for simple tasks such as surfing the web or checking your emails, you will not notice any significant benefit of adding more processor cores.
On the other hand, if your work involves complex tasks such as complicated math or science programs, high-end gaming, CAD or graphic rendering software, video editing, and the likes, then a high-core-count processor is best for you. You don’t have to be “modest” core-wise if you use your computer to perform demanding or heavy tasks. A computer with an 8-core or 10-core processor will serve you better than one with a dual-core processor.
So, before thinking of getting a multi-core processor, you should first determine if your task requires a high-core-count. It would be redundant to get a multi-core processor that serves no purpose besides bragging rights. It is now standard practice for many business computers to come with dual-core or quad-core processors. These processors are more than enough for many basic computer tasks.
What Makes a Computer Fast and Powerful? Here Are 8 Main Aspects
What makes a computer fast? If you do a lot of gaming, work as a designer, or simply want your computer to run as smoothly as possible, then a fast and powerful machine is a must-have. There are a number of different factors that affect the speed of a computer. In this article, we’ll cover the 8 main aspects so that you can choose the right computer for your needs.
Processor (CPU)
One of the most important elements that makes a computer fast is the central processing unit (CPU) or processor. This is the part of the computer responsible for processing data; that is, reading and executing program instructions. How fast the computer can do this is known as its “clock speed.” The more instructions the CPU can work on per second; the faster your computer will be.
The first computer processor, the Intel 4004, had a processing speed of 740 kilohertz (kHz) and was able to process 92,000 instructions per second. Modern computers have multi-core gigahertz (GHz) processors. This means that they actually have multiple CPUs, and, because of this, they can execute multiple instructions at the same time. These computers are capable of processing 100 billion instructions per second, meaning that computers are now significantly faster than they used to be.
In terms of which CPU is best for you, it really depends on what you’ll be using it for. When you are just using it for everyday tasks such as browsing the web and checking your email, then a dual-core CPU is a low-cost and energy-efficient choice. If you want to play and live stream games, or will be using the computer for your work as a designer or engineer, then it’s worth investing in a processor with more cores. We recommend the Intel Core i9-9900K, which has 8 cores.
Cache
Another aspect that affects the speed of your computer is the cache. Today’s computers may be able to execute 100 billion instructions per second. However, they still rely on the computer’s memory, consisting of the hard drive and Random Access Memory (RAM), to serve up those instructions. The speed at which this memory is served up is slower than the CPU can go, so a fast processor alone is not enough to make your computer powerful.
The cache is what is used to transfer data between the CPU, memory, and all of the components inside your computer. It stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The more cache a computer has, the more efficiently it will run. Look for a computer with more level 2 and level 3 cache to ensure that it runs as fast as possible. The Intel Core i9-900K mentioned previously comes with 16MB of level 3 cache, which should be plenty for most users’ needs.
RAM
RAM is the computer’s short-term data storage used to store working data (i.e., instructions in progress). The more RAM the computer has, the better because, when it runs out of RAM, your machine will have to send some of the unused data in the RAM to the hard drive to be stored until it is needed again. This adds an extra step to processing and, because the hard drive is the slowest form of computer memory, it can really slow down the speed of your computer.
The more programs you’re using at the same time, the more RAM you will need. If you want your computer to be capable of running lots of different programs and still be fast, then try to find a machine with as much RAM as possible. 16GB is ideal for professional work and more demanding games. A good option for this is the Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-4400. This comes with two 8GB units of RAM, taking you up to a total of 16GB.
Bus speed
Bus speed can also affect how fast your computer runs. A bus is a circuit that connects the different parts of your computer’s motherboard, including the CPU and memory. The more data the bus can handle at the same time, the faster information can travel between these components. This means that your processor will have to wait less time for instructions and so your computer will work more efficiently.
Bus speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) and usually refers to the front side bus (FSB). The FSB is what connects the CPU with a chipset that communicates with the computer processor and controls interaction with memory, known as the Northbridge. FSB speeds can range from 66 MHz to over 800 MHz. Try to find a motherboard with the fastest FSB speed possible to ensure that your computer is fast.
Hard Drive
In terms of what makes a computer fast, the hard drive also plays a part. Traditional hard disk drives (HDD) have moving parts. The speed at which these parts move, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM), will affect the speed of your computer. For example, a 5,400 RPM hard drive will be slower than a 7,200 RPM hard drive.
Unlike HDDs, the more modern solid-state drives (SSDs) have no moving parts, using flash memory instead (flash storage involves using silicon chips that are written, erased, and re-written on by electricity). Because of this lack of moving parts, SSDs are not affected by RPM, making them generally much faster than an HDD.
For the fastest running computer, try to find an SSD with as much storage capacity as possible. We recommend the Crucial MX500 2TB, which comes with a whopping 2TB of storage.
Video Card
The video card or graphics processing unit (GPU) is the final piece of hardware that will affect your computer’s speed. The GPU is a specialized electronic circuit designed to quickly manipulate and alter memory to speed up the creation of images intended for output to a display device. If you play a lot of games or work with images a lot, then you can see why you’d need a fast GPU to render the images for your screen.
With relation to what type of GPU you’ll need to make your computer fast, it’s best to purchase a separate video card (also known as a discrete graphics card). This is because the GPU needs access to RAM to function. While integrated graphics cards will use the main computer’s RAM, a separate GPU comes with its own set of RAM. This means both that you’ll have dedicated RAM for processing graphics, and that your main system’s RAM can focus on processing other tasks.
Which discrete graphics card you should purchase depends on what you’ll be using it for. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is the best option for gaming. With 11GB of GDDR6 SDRAM (Graphics Double Data Rate type six Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory), you’ll have 11GB of RAM just for processing graphics rather than using your computer’s built-in RAM.
The Nvidia Quadro K620 is a good choice for designers and engineers as it supports 4K displays. It comes with 2GB of DDR3 SDRAM (Double Data Rate type 3 Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory), meaning that you’ll have plenty of dedicated processing power to enable you to smoothly run the software that you need for your work.
Finally, if you’re mining cryptocurrency, try the AMD Radeon VII. The faster the hash rate, the faster you can mine cryptocurrency. With a hash rate of 90 megahertz per second (MH/s), the Radeon VII is one of the fastest graphics cards available for this purpose.
Operating System
Another aspect of what makes a computer fast is the operating system. The operating system is the software program that allows all of the computer hardware mentioned above to communicate and work alongside the computer software. Without an operating system, your computer won’t work.
For a PC, the current operating system is Windows 10. Windows regularly release new versions of Windows 10 to repair security issues or fix bugs, which can both make your computer run slower. Keep your operating system up to date to make sure that your computer is as fast, efficient, and secure as possible.
Older operating systems will also not be able to support the latest technologies. New technology that will make your computer faster is being introduced all the time. If you don’t have an operating system that supports these new technologies, then you won’t be able to take advantage of their benefits in terms of computer speed.
Software
Finally, to round up our list, we have software. Software refers to the applications installed on your computer (common examples are Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.). Make sure to regularly update your software to fix any problems with efficiency or bugs that may slow your computer down.
Another tip is to regularly audit your software, removing anything that you don’t need. If there were a lot of pre-installed programs on your computer when you bought it, or if you’ve installed a lot of programs on there, the chances are that there will be some that you’re not using. Uninstalling these may help to improve the performance of your computer.
Your computer may also have a lot of programs set to automatically open when you start up your computer. If there are too many of these, then your computer could be very slow to get going. You can disable programs from running upon startup, though. To do this on Windows, press the Ctrl, Shift, and Esc keys together to open the Task Manager.
In the window that appears, go to the “Startup” section. Click on the programs that you don’t want to open upon startup and choose the “Disable” option. Those programs will now not automatically open when you start up your computer.
Conclusion
So now you know the main 8 factors to what makes a computer fast. To make sure that your computer runs as fast as possible, you’ll need to make sure that you have the best CPU, cache, RAM, bus speed, hard drive, and video card, as well as the latest operating system and software. All of these things working together will result in a fast and powerful machine.
How to Choose the Right Ergonomic Gaming Mouse for Your Needs
Did you purchase a new gaming PC and are now finding yourself looking for a new ergonomic gaming mouse? Hopefully, you've been asking yourself a bunch of questions about what you're looking for in a gaming mouse.
Like so many other gamers, you're probably looking to gain a competitive advantage and improve your gaming performance. This guide will help guide you to ask the right questions and give you some direction on how to choose the right ergonomic gaming mouse for you.
Ergonomic Impacts & Grip Types
Most gamers will spend countless hours playing at their gaming desk with their hands cradling the mouse. During these gaming sessions, you should feel comfortable while also considering how to protect your hands from getting hurt. When picking out a gaming mouse, you have to think about if the design is ergonomic for your playing style. Figuring out what gaming mouse grip style that's best for you is simple.
Identifying the Right Grip
There are three main types of mouse grips for an ergonomic gaming mouse:
Palm Grip
Palm grip mice fit into the palm of your hand and are more comfortable for long periods of use. Plus, they're best used for massively multiply online (MMO) style gaming, which needs an accurate and delicate glide control. Palm grip mice feature a relaxed and natural grip for a resting hand, and they are usually wider than the other two mouse grip styles. This style of an ergonomic gaming mouse is the most popular grip style on the market, and they are often sold for non-gaming purposes as well.
Claw Grip
The claw grip mouse requires a tighter grip than the palm grip style and is best suited for real-time strategy (RTS) games where the mouse is moved across the entire screen. This type of ergonomic gaming mouse style causes the hand to arch up, which makes fewer contact points with the mouse than with a palm grip mouse. This causes your hand to form a claw shape. Claw grip mice are shorter in length and thinner than the palm grip mouse.
Fingertip Grip
A fingertip grip mouse is designed to only provide contact points for your pointer, middle finger, and thumb tips. These three fingers will control the movement of the mouse, rather than the entire palm. This style of ergonomic gaming mouse is great for first-person shooter (FPS) games that require swift movements and twitch reactions. This type of mouse is hard to get used to at first, but as you continue to use it, you'll find that it gets easier. The fingertip grip mouse is the shortest in length and has the lightest weight of all three grip styles.
Features to Consider
When shopping for a new ergonomic gaming mouse, it’s important to consider the following features.
Mouse Weight
You should consider the weight of the mouse when you go to purchase a new ergonomic gaming mouse. Some mice have weight systems that make it so gamers can remove or add weight to the mouse. The weight of the mouse helps make the gestures and movements of the mouse more precise and fluid.
Programmable Button Configurations
There are power and value in customizing your ergonomic gaming mouse's additional buttons. You can create shortcuts to help you when you're playing a game. Some games don't allow certain macro functions to be configured, so it's something that you should look into when playing multiplayer games online.
Form
The best way to choose a good shape for your ergonomic gaming mouse is to try it out, but if you can't, it's best to take a look at the ratings and ergonomics. You want to try to find something that feels comfortable in your hand or will provide you with great ergonomics.
Size
When it comes to an ergonomic gaming mouse, there are three main sizes: Large, standard, and small. Standard is the recommended size for a claw grip mouse, and if you want to go with a palm grip, it should ideally be large. The basics of this feature are to find an ergonomic gaming mouse that's the right size for your hand, so if you have a small hand, the standard size or small size would be best for you.
Technical Aspects
There are more features that you should look at other than the ones listed above – although those are very important things to consider!
These additional features include the cord type, unless you're getting a wireless ergonomic gaming mouse, the cord's material, the drag impact of the cord, and the length of the cord. This is just one example of a technical aspect that you might want to think about before purchasing an ergonomic gaming mouse.
Sensor Type
There are three different laser sensor types, and you’ll find that the differences between each of them are minimal. The three types are laser, infrared, and optical.
In addition to this, it’s essential to know the distance at which they stop reading when you lift the mouse. Less than 5mm is the appropriate range to go for because then you can lift and readjust the location of the mouse without losing connection. This information, however, isn’t often told by the manufacturer.
DPI or Points Per Inch
This measurement is what allows the mouse to find the difference between two points and is typically used to describe the sensitivity of the mouse. There is a small camera that is used to read the surface where the mouse passes. A mouse with a higher DPI will cover more screen distance with a small movement of your hand. Mouse DPI’s bottoms out around 200 and can go up to 8,200.
If an optical and laser mouse has 2000 DPI, they are just as accurate. Although it depends on the quality of the mouse. The accuracy could vary, and that’s where the refresh rate comes into the decision-making process. The laser can achieve higher precision, whereas the optical cannot, but at the same DPI, the sensitivity of the mouse is the same.
Fixed DPI vs. Adjustable
Most mice have on setting for DPI. The common mouse hovers around 800 DPI, which makes them great for productivity but not so much for gaming.
Ergonomic Gaming Mouse Refresh Rate
DPI’s are important, but then there’s the number of images per second that the mouse camera takes as you glide it across a surface. If your mouse takes only a few images per second, no matter how sensitive it is, you won’t be able to enjoy it properly.
Having a refresh rate of more than 500Hz is not usually taken advantage of, so you probably don’t need anything more powerful than that.
Acceleration
The acceleration of an ergonomic gaming mouse should be 1:1 and should be disabled, the problem with this is that sometimes Windows or games will activate the acceleration by default. There are some applications on the internet that work on eliminating all these inconveniences that can make it harder for gamers to pay.
Handed vs. Ambidextrous
Most ergonomic gaming mice are ambidextrous or can be used by either hand. High-end ambidextrous gaming mice do exist, and they can have extra buttons on both the right and left side with grooves on both sides to accommodate the ring finger and thumb.
Mice that are made specifically with right- or left-handed users in mind tend to be more ergonomic and have extra buttons on the side that make use of the thumb or ring finger.
Last-Minute Details
There are a couple more details that we didn't mention earlier that you should also keep in mind when buying a new ergonomic gaming mouse.
Price: Cheaper mice are made with lower build quality, whereas the more expensive versions are going to have higher build quality. Remember that you get what you pay for. This doesn't mean that you can't find a great ergonomic gaming mouse in the lower price ranges, but in most cases, the rule of thumb applies.
Left-Handed Mice: If you're left-handed, you have to be very careful before purchasing an ergonomic gaming mouse. Before you buy, you want to verify that the mouse was designed to be used by the left-hand or is ambidextrously designed. Otherwise, you'll find that your performance and comfort will take a nosedive.
Extra Buttons: If you're into MMO's or games that consist of repetitive actions, you'll want to find a mouse that is designed with programmable buttons.
Mousepad: Mousepads will help your ergonomic gaming mouse's performance. Avoid using your mouse on bad surfaces and invest in a mousepad, there are so many available on the market, and the majority of them are very affordable.
Final Thoughts
There are so many things to consider when you go to purchase a great ergonomic gaming mouse. If you take all of these things into consideration, we’re sure that you’ll find the best ergonomic gaming mouse for your needs.
Portable Gaming PC and Gaming On the Go - What Are Your Options?
When you think of a gaming PC, what comes to mind is a hulking behemoth of a computer, frantically rotating fans, enormous graphics cards, and vibrantly-colored rainbow LED lighting. But, that doesn’t have to be the case anymore with mini gaming PCs that have become increasingly popular. Despite their compact and portable nature, these handy devices come with the most superior desktop hardware, among other full-scale components you’ll ever come across.
But with the barrage of options available, selecting the best portable gaming PC can be an uphill battle. Luckily, we’ve rounded up a few of the top products in the market to narrow down your search.
1. CUK Intel Hades Canyon: Beauty and Performance Rolled Into One
If you’re on the quest for a machine that can do it all, then Cuk’s Hades Canyon is your best bet. With an i7-8809G Quad-core processor, a 2TB hard drive, AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH 4GB GDDR5 graphics card, and 32GB RAM, users get value for their money. And, with a frequency range of 3.10GHz to 4.20GHz, this machine can handle pretty much anything you throw at it.
Being VR-ready, the Hades Canyon appeals to users that revel in an immersive gaming experience. Impressively, all this power is crammed into a compact-PC form factor that has a striking resemblance to a console. It’s sleek, lightweight (approximately 6 pounds), and small enough to bundle into a messenger bag before transporting it elsewhere. Moreover, the computer has enough ports for six independent 4K display options if you decide to host a LAN party.
When it comes to aesthetics, you’ll see a skull on the computer’s case that gives you free rein to alter its color via the in-built software.
2. ASUS Vivo Mini: The Go-to For Competency and Affordability
A miniature gaming computer doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to deliver efficiency. The Vivo Mini is proof of that. With up to 16GB DDR4 Memory, integrated 4K display, Display port, an i7-7500U processor, HDMI video outputs, and a frequency of 3.5GHz, this PC can handle it all. Nonetheless, the Vivo Mini doesn’t come with an operating system and a hard drive. While this may not be ideal for some, it’s worth shelling out some extra bucks for a copy of Windows and a separate hard drive.
You may not realize this, but it’s cheaper, in the long run, to take this route if you prefer adjusting your computer rig to suit your preferences. While the PC lacks a dedicated graphics card, it relies on an integrated Intel chipset that has just the right amount oomph to play your favorite games on it. As a lightweight machine (2.3 pounds), you can easily transport it anywhere you go.
3. ZOTAC CI660: A Mini but Mighty Gaming PC
Don’t let the compact nature of the CI660 fool you because it’s a force to be reckoned with. With an Intel quad-core i7-8550U processor that operates at a high frequency of up to 4.0GHz, this PC has the power of a system thrice its size. With an available Display port 1.2 and HDMI 2.0 output, the CI660 seamlessly provides a dual display. The integrated Intel UHD graphics usher in 4K display at a resolution of 60Hz coupled with HEVC Main10 profile with ten-bit colors.
When it comes to durability, the cooling hardware of the CI660 entails a fanless system with 90% of the surface area built for silent computing and optimum breathability. Weighing only 4.2 pounds, this machine is a solid block of casing that’ll blend in like a subwoofer, soon making you forget its presence. But, that’s until it’s powered up and seamlessly runs your gaming library. The cherry on top is that it has two HDMI outputs coupled with four USB 3.0 ports.
4. Intel NUC 8 Performance-G Kit: AN Excellent Choice for Seamless, Immersive Gaming
If you’re looking for a product that offers great potential for future upgrades, then you’re in luck because Intel’s NUC 8 was built with you in mind. So, upon purchasing it, you get a Vega RX Radeon M GH graphics card, 4GB of High Bandwidth Memory, and the 8th Generation i7 8809G processor. It also allows users to increase the RAM size by up to 32GB. And, it has sufficient space for a couple of hard drives. So, it’s perfect for those that prefer a bigger but slower and fast but small SSD hard drive.
Weighing only 6 pounds, this is the ideal building block for gear-heads that want to tweak each facet of their PC. While doing so is potentially pricey, the flexibility that’s birthed is incredibly useful. With rear and front ports for enhanced connectivity and up to six displays, the NUC 8 is worth every coin.
5. Lenovo Y720 Cube: An Excellent Choice for Gaming Events and LAN Parties
Are gaming events and LAN parties right up your alley? Then Lenovo’s Y720 Cube was built with you in mind. Furthermore, its small size and in-built side handle make it more practical for players on the move. With 8GB DDR4 RAM, an i5-7400 processor, and AMD RX Radeon 480 graphics card, it’s not hard to understand why the Y720 is a top choice for many. It’s armed with a 1TB hard drive and 16GB SSD boot drive to ensure that users have more than enough space to store their files and for Windows 10 to boot.
Courtesy of the Lenovo Nerve Center feature, users have free rein to customize their setup for streamlined gameplay experience. For superior connectivity, the machine has an array of ports; 4 USB 2.0 and 3.0.
6. Alienware Steam Machine ASM100-6980BLK: The Key to Control, Customize and Conquer Your Gaming
Do you solely intend to use a PC for gaming and nothing more? Then the ASM100-6980BLK is a strong option to consider. With a Steam controller and operating system in tow, users can navigate menus like a console, only with the power of Steam’s vast assortment of games.
The system has 8GB DDR3L RAM, an i7-4785T processor that operates at a frequency of 2.2 GHz, Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics card, and 1TB hard drive. Combined, that’s a fairly reasonable set of specs for the price. Furthermore, when you consider that the PC has been built purposely with Steam games in mind, which bypasses various issues that could crop up if Windows was installed.
Nonetheless, the ASM100-6980BLK grants you free rein to install Windows 10 (even though it’s unnecessary) if you wish to go down that road. As a compact and lightweight computer, it has dimensions of 2.7” (height), 7.87” (depth), 7.87” (width), and weighs 1.81 kg (4 pounds). Therefore, taking it anywhere you go is a breeze. For better connectivity, the machine has a respectable 4 USB ports and 2HDMI outputs to accommodate all your headsets and controllers.
7. ASUS GR8 II-6GT024Z: The Choice of Champions
As a small form computer rather than a mini gaming system, the GR8 is compact enough not to occupy too much room wherever it sits. Its ultra-quiet thermal chamber (up to 23% quieter than its rivals) delivers maximum cooling for daily use and actively cools when marathon gaming is in progress.
Regarding the specs, it’s an extraordinary system. You’ll find an i7-7700 processor with 8GB DDR4 memory, and GeForce GTX 1060 6G graphics card for unbeatable 4K steaming coupled with HD gaming. With 32GB DDR4 RAM and SSD memory, it’ll be a while (if at all) before you run out of storage space.
Closing Remarks
As manufacturers and creative builders continue pushing the limits of what’s possible with a portable gaming PC, it continues increasing in popularity. So, if gaming on the go is your style, then the above-reviewed options are your best bet for a sound product.
Types of Computer Cables and Connections - Computer Cable Guide
To a layman, there are just way too many computer cables to keep track of without getting just a little bit confused. The fact that they all have acronyms makes it even more overwhelming. Which cable do you need? Is it SATA or IDE? Is your USB cable Type A, B, or C, and what do they all do? What about your DisplayPort - is it the same thing as the Thunderbolt?
In the end, the best you can do is try to memorize as many of them as you can. That exercise can be futile unless you take the time to learn what all these cables do and why they are important. So here is a computer cable guide that will give you some insight into the cables that help power and operate your computer.
How Many Types of Computer Cables Are There?
There are two main types of computer cables:
- Data Cables: These facilitate communication between devices. A good example would be the HDMI, DVI, or VGA cables that connect to your computer monitor or TV. There are a bunch of other data cables, such as USB cables, SATA, CAT5, and so on.
- Power Cables: As the name suggests, these are any cables that help to power your devices. These include everything from the code that plugs into the wall to specific cables such as S/PDIF that is used with surround sound and DVDs.
Common Types of Computer Cables and Connections
Let's start with the most common types of computer cables and connections:
The Computer Power Cord
The most basic of cables. This is also known as a "kettle plug" and connects your computer to the AC power socket. Without this cord, your computer, unless it is solar-powered, won't come on.
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
This is probably the most common type of computer connector cables on the planet. Nearly every computer peripheral device you can think of today has USB connectivity. From keyboards to mice, flash drives, headsets, wireless adapters, and so on.
There are many different types of USB cables starting from USB 1.0 to USB 3.0 and even USB 4.x. The difference between these USBs is the speed at which they can transmit data. USB 1.0 transmits data at 1.5 MB/s while USB 3.0 transmits data at 625 MB/s. They get faster with USB 4.x transmitting data at blistering speeds of 5 GB/s.
USB 2.0 ports have black tips, and USB 3.0 ports have blue tips with USB 3.0s being backward compatible (can make the connection between USB 2.0 devices and USB 3.0 ports albeit at lowered speeds).
VGA (Video Graphics Array) and DVI (Digital Visual Interface) Cables
The VGA cable is also known as the analog video cable or D-sub cable. This helps to transmit media from your computer to a VGA enabled projection devices such as a monitor or TV. VGAs have 15 pins arranged in three rows of 5 each.
DVI cables came as an improvement of VGA cables when display devices moved from analog to digital video technology.
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) Cables
HDMI cables pretty much wiped out the VGAs and DVIs of the world. With the capability to send both video and audio signals (unlike VGA and DVI that send only video), these cables are only compatible with newer devices because they only send digital signals.
They come in five different types from Type A (19 pins), Type B (29 pins), Type C Mini (19 pins and is mostly used with portable devices such as digital cameras), Type D Micro (19 pins used for mobile devices such as phones) and Type E which is much larger and used for automotive purposes.
DisplayPort
A DisplayPort is very much like an HDMI cable and was designed to replace VGA and DVI. This cable also transmits both video and audio in digital format.
Thunderbolt
You probably have one of these on you right now. Thunderbolt cables carry data and video from an external device to your computer. These are most common with Apple devices.
Ethernet Cable
Commonly referred to as RJ-45 cable, these are cables designed to connect your computer to the router or network switch. Before there was Wi-Fi, these were the cables that you need to connect to your computer to get the internet. Now they connect to your wireless router.
IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)
This is an "ancient" cable that used to connect the storage devices to your computer's motherboard. If you ever opened up an old computer, you will notice a ribbon-looking cable that has more than two plugs.
SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)
SATA is to IDE what HDMI is to VGA. Newer computers use SATA ports. These cables have higher data transfer speeds. A SATA cable has more of an L-shape and can be identified by two connectors that each has seven pins.
There are also other lesser cables, such as the 3.5mm audio cable, also known as audio jacks that can connect to your computer and an audio device such as a microphone or speakers. These are the kind of cables that your wired headphones use to connect to your phone.
The thing about these cables is that, like almost everything else, they evolve with the times. Faster, better, and smarter cables are replacing older ones. A good example is the VGA to HDMI transformation and the IDE to the SATA shift. Within these types of cables, there are ranks often designated with ascending numbers with USB 3.0 being faster than USB 2.0 and such.
3 Best Mechanical Keyboards for Typing
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perixx Periboard-512 Ergonomic Split Keyboard - Natural Ergonomic Design - Black - Bulky Size 19.09"x9.29"x1.73" | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | ||
| Das Keyboard Model S Professional Cherry MX Brown Mechanical Keyboard - Soft Tactile | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Sometimes you don’t need to stream. Sometimes you need to do a lot of typing. Words can be as important as visuals.
But typing all day can cause hand fatigue. Constant typing can also lead to tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. These are painful conditions and make doing your work harder.
Luckily, there are fantastic mechanical keyboards made for typing. They’re designed with comfort and optimization in mind. It’s about time you get your work and projects done faster.
We created a list of the 3 best mechanical keyboards for typing.
1. Perixx Ergonomic Periboard Mechanical Keyboard
Connections: USB and 6 foot cable/wire
Keys:
The Perixx Ergonomic Periboard keyboard is officially in our top 5 keyboards. Officially it's not a mechanical keyboard but uses rubber domes, which are a definite step up to membrane keyboards.
This is a full-sized split keyboard. It takes you a while to get used to it but once you do, it’s relaxing on your hands and wrists.
Since the keys are laser printed, they’re easier to see. It also makes them more durable than other keys.
The keystrokes on this keyboard are tactile. This cuts down on the pressure you use when pressing down on a key. Comfort is key.
There are 7 multi-media hotkeys. It allows you to access all the media keys when you need them as well as other keys.
Other Cool Features:
The split-key and 3D design of this keyboard can match to your usual hand and arm movements. It was built to fit the natural shape of the human hand.
No matter who you are, this keyboard will be comfortable.
It also has an integrated palm rest. This super comfy palm rest allows you to rest your wrists. It takes away all that unnecessary pressure.
There’s a plug and play feature. Whether you use the USB function or the cable, you’ll be ready to go. You plug it in and you play.
There have been improvements for anyone with Repetitive Strain Injuries (or RSI).
RSIs can be painful, especially when you have to continue to do the repetitive task that hurt you in the first place. Like typing.
It’s compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 10.
Our Rating: Five stars out of five
2. Das Mechanical Keyboard Model S Professional Cherry MX Brown
Connections: USB port
Keys:
These Das keys are German-engineered. They’re gold-plated Cherry MX Brown mechanical key switches.
They create an awesome soft tactile feedback for comfort. Meaning the keys are soft as heck because as you press a key, there’s that soft bump. It’s called the Soft Pressure Point switch technology.
The feedback is super accurate so you don’t worry about errors and you speed up to get more done.
The keys are laser-etched inscriptions for clear buttons. And the laser etching stops the letters, words, and numbers from fading. They’ll last forever.
There are Special Media keys for easy shortcuts while you’re working. There are blue LEDs for Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock for easy access when you need them.
A great feature is the sleep function. Whenever you’re not using the keyboard, you can put it in sleep mode. It saves energy and helps the environment.
And there’s a full n-key rollover with a PS2 adapter, six keys with USB. This is awesome for fast typists.
These keys are going to last for at least 50 million keystrokes.
Other Cool Features:
On this keyboard is two Hi-Speed USB 2.0 hub ports. You can charge or sync your cell phone or anything that’s USB compatible.
It comes with an extra long 6.6 foot USB cable and two USB connectors. One connector for the actual keyboard and one connector for the USB hub.
The cord goes through your desk’s grommet so it’s out of your way. And it saves you space.
It’s compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Our Rating: Four stars out of five
3. Rosewill RK-9000V2 Mechanical Keyboard
Connections: Wired
Keys:
The Rosewell keys have 100% Cherry Red MX switches. They’re super responsive so you can type accurately and with speed.
And there’s fantastic textile feedback as you type. There’s a firm and consistent feel when you press down.
They are laser-etched. So, the numbers and letters aren’t going to fade away over time or from constant use.
There’s a blue LED that peeks out from behind the F12 key when you disable the Windows key.
There are multimedia keys so you have all the buttons you need. You don’t have to go through a process to get what you want when you want it.
There are shortcut keys including play, pause, stop, back, forward, volume down and volume up.
It has a full n-key rollover, perfect for fast typists and professional gamers.
These keys have a 50 million keystrokes so it’s going to last for a very long time.
Other Cool Features:
On the bottom of the keyboard are rubber pads. It’s not going to slide around your desk while you’re typing fast or if you type hard. It’s not going anywhere.
It has a gold-plated USB and PS2 connector. Since it’s gold-plated, it’s not going to corrode like the average connector.
The connector has low latency. There's going to be very little to no lag while you’re typing away.
Our Rating: Three and a half stars out of five
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be uncomfortable and sore while typing. You also don’t need to be slowed down by wretched keys that don’t live up to their promise.
Keyboards like these ruin your day and your project. If a lot of typing is part of your work, you don’t want to go for the cheaper option.
These three mechanical keyboards are perfect for typing.
The Best Ultrawide Gaming Monitor 2020 - The 10 Best Gaming Screens of the Year
When it comes to the ultrawide gaming monitor arena, the field just keeps expanding. Today, you have a plethora of options that all seek to cater to almost every single one of your needs. Are you addicted to pixels? You can get a 4K gaming monitor to soothe that need. How about the size, panel type, or things like refresh rates and screen-smoothing technology? If you just look hard enough, you can find a screen that ticks all your boxes. And therein lies the problem.
As gaming monitors have become easily available, picking the right one has become just a little bit trickier. Every ultrawide gaming monitor has its pros and cons, and some cost a great deal of money and might not be the right screen for your particular gaming platform. It's all a bit too much. But with the right guidance, you can easily sort through that mess and find the best gaming monitor that is just right for you.
Here are 10 of the most reliable, visually impressive, and technologically advanced ultrawide gaming monitor for your consideration:
ASUS ROG Swift PG348Q
If looks and design are important to you, then you will absolutely love this ASUS ROG Swift PG348Q. Built out of Armor Titanium and Plasma Copper, this award-winning monitor looks like something that belongs in a futuristic spaceship.
However, it is not all about looks. This 34-inch monitor features 100Hz native refresh rate, NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, 21:9 aspect ratio, and a pixel density of 109 PPI. Couple all that with the 100% RGB for unbelievable color, and you have a monitor designed for the ultimate gamer.
Pros:
- Gorgeous colors and image details
- High resolution and pixel density
- No lag stutter
Cons:
- Only two USB ports
Verdict: Since your gaming world is mostly going to be set in a technologically advanced future, why not get a monitor that looks like it's from that time?
Dell Alienware AW3418DW
The Alienware AW3418DW is a 34-inch curved monitor that supports a 1900 Radius and a 21:9 ratio. This gives you an impressive 178°/178° viewing angle from any given vantage point. This means that you are more immersed in the game and will no longer be missing any details due to poor peripheral vision.
Other than that, this monitor features sRGB99% color reproduction, which gives you some of the most vivid images you have ever seen. It also has 3.68 million pixels, which means that you will be able to see every single detail of the image on your screen from that telltale glint of steel far away to the dew on the grass. This puts you at an advantage as your enemy can't sneak up on you or easily use a sniper rifle on the horizon. Finally, the screen responds fast thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, thus all but eliminating any lag in gameplay.
Pros:
- Has 1900R curvature
- No lag stutter
- A lot of connectivity options from HDMI, USB 3.0 to DisplayPort
Cons:
- It's a bit pricey and takes up a great deal of space
Verdict: For serious gamers who take their picture quality and lag stutters to heart, this is the right monitor for you.
LG 34GL750-B
This LG 34GL750-B is a curved monitor that delivers nothing but exceptional performance. Fully FreeSync and G-sync compatible, it has HDR support and offers you unbelievably vibrant images and nothing but accurate colors. It's a 35-inch monitor that has a 2560 x 1080 IPS panel, features a 144Hz refresh rate, and an impressive 99% sRGB gamut.
Couple all that with a contrast ratio of 1000:1, 8-bit color depth, and 178° viewing angles, and you have yourself an impressive gaming monitor by any standard. Even though its response time of 5ms is the best in the world, thanks to the fact that it has FreeSync compatibility and 1ms Motion Blur Reduction, this is a ghosting free monitor.
Pros:
- Has G Sync and FreeSync compatibility
- Ghosting free monitor
- 1ms Motion Blur Reduction
Cons:
- Its HDR support is only software-based
Verdict: This is an impressive gaming monitor that eliminates ghosting and offers you incredibly vivid images at the same time.
Samsung 49-inch CRG90 Curved Gaming Monitor
The Samsung 49-inch CRG90 has to be the widest of them all or, at the very least, up there with the best of them. With 32:9 aspect ratio and HDR technology, this ultra-wide 49-inch monster is the kind of gaming gear that dreams are made of.
It has a 120Hz refresh rate and can be wall-mounted, making it perfect for both gaming and office use. The 1800R curved panel is simply fantastic and allows you to immerse yourself into the game completely.
It also features Samsung's Quantum Dot technology, which simply upgrades the colors and your overall gaming experience. Couple that with Samsung's motion blur technology, and you have 1ms Motion Picture Response Time with this monster of a gaming monitor.
Pros:
- Incredibly clear pictures
- No lag stutter
- Gorgeous design that supports multitasking
Cons:
- Samsung doesn't have the best customer support in the world
Verdict: This gaming monitor is huge. If you don't mind the price and are looking for something that will completely blow your gaming world wide open, then you have to go for this one.
Acer Predator Gaming X34 PBMIPHZX
The Acer Predator Gaming X34 PBMIPHZX has to be one of the best gaming monitors today. This is a 34-inch curved monitor that has 3440 x 1440 resolution, 1900R, and zero-frame design. To say that it's gorgeous would be to understate the fact.
It features a 100Hz refresh rate, and it has an IPS display that is supported by NVIDIA G-SYNC technology giving this monitor a 4ms response time. Couple that with Acer's VisionCare technology that ensures your eyes are protected during long gaming hours, and you have a monitor that was designed for hobby gamers. You can easily connect it to a wide range of devices thanks to the numerous connectivity options (1 HDMI port, 1 DisplayPort, 4 USB 3.0 ports).
Pros:
- It has built-in 7W speakers
- Protects your eyes during long gaming hours
- It offers 100% RGB with ColorPlus technology
Cons:
- It has a bit of backlight bleed
Verdict: This is a gorgeous machine by any standard. If you want something that performs well, protects your eyes during those long gaming hours, and is affordable, then this is it.
LG 34UC80-B
The LG 34UC80-B is a 34-inch curved monitor that immerses you fully into your gaming world. While it might not be the biggest in the world, it more than makes up for that by offering you 3440 x 1440 resolution, 99% of sRGB, and a pixel area that is much bigger than what you get with an ultra-wide FHD (1.8 times bigger).
While it's a wonderful gaming monitor, it also does well when used by people who do a lot of graphics design and would like something that offers them vivid images and colors. Designed to give easy access with LG Screen Split, this is the kind of monitor you want when you are big on multitasking.
Pros:
- Excellent for both gaming and office use
- Easy access ports
- Thanks to LG Screen Split, it's excellent for multitasking
Cons:
- It doesn't come with a standard PC power cord
Verdict: Are you looking to do a bit of gaming, designing, or photography? This is the monitor you need.
Samsung 34-inch SJ55W Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
This ultrawide Samsung 34-inch SJ55W is a high-quality, highly affordable 34-inch monitor that offers decent connectivity options. With it, you get two HDMI ports, 3.5mm audio connection, and a DisplayPort. While it has a response time of 4ms, you might occasionally experience some ghosting in your viewing, which makes it a bit odd for fast-paced games.
Other than that, it offers you a wonderful 3000:1 contrast ratio, 178° viewing angles, a 75Hz refresh rate, and excellent all-around functionality. It is, by far, one of the most ideal monitors for both work and casual gaming.
Pros:
- It is very affordable
- Offers crystal clear images
- Features AMD FreeSync
Cons:
- You will experience some ghosting in fast-paced games
Verdict: If you are looking for something affordable and ideal for casual gaming and office work, then you have found it in this monitor.
BENQ EX3501R
Designed for smooth gameplay, the BENQ EX3501R is a 35-inch curved 1800R monitor for gaming. It comes equipped with HDR technology, AMD FreeSync compatible, and smart brightness and contrast levels that bring your images to life.
The monitor has a sturdy stand that can easily be adjusted to suit your particular needs and offers you USB-C connectivity.
Pros:
- Excellent quality images
- Immersive experience
- The color contrast and brightness are perfectly balanced
Cons:
- Doesn't feature G-Sync
Verdict: This is a decent gaming monitor that takes picture quality very seriously. It might be simplistic in some ways, but it does deliver an excellent gaming experience for the price.
Dell U3818DW
At 38 inches of pure awesomeness, this Dell U3818DW is s a formidable gaming monitor that can also be a useful workstation. As a wide and curved screen, this monitor almost fully immerses you into your gaming world by almost completely blocking out any peripheral distractions.
Couple that with its 3840 x 1600 resolution, 21:9 aspect ratio, and 9W speakers, you have a gaming monitor that delivers. It has a wide range of connectivity options, including USB-C.
Pros:
- A wide range of connectivity ports
- Impressive pixel density
- Huge and immersive screen size
Cons:
- It has a bit of ghosting
Verdict: While the 9W speakers aren't the best when it comes to bass production, the screen size, and picture quality more than make up for it.
Dell Ultrasharp U3415W
The Dell Ultrasharp U3415W is a 34-inch curved monitor that was specifically designed for day to day activities as well as gaming. Equipped with an impressively cinematic WQHD 3440×1440 resolution, the display images are nothing short of miraculous. It has multiple ports, which means you can display images from several devices at the same time.
Fully equipped with 9W speakers, this monitor may not have the deepest bass in the world but it does make your gaming experience that much more immersive. This is what you buy when you want to occasionally turn your work computer into a gaming machine.
Pros:
- Beautiful design
- Excellent picture quality and resolution
- Can simultaneously display images from two devices
Cons:
- It doesn't have the same level of clarity as dedicated gaming monitors
Verdict: Why don't you give your computer an upgrade with this monitor that can be turned into a gaming accessory?
Any one of these ultrawide gaming monitors is designed to give you the best gaming experience for the price. Pick one and start enjoying your PC gaming.
Best Operating System for Gaming on Laptops and Desktops
You now have a gaming computer that has the most powerful specs available on the market. It's time for you to start thinking about what the best operating system for gaming is.
The operating system is so obvious that it can be something that can be overlooked when building a gaming computer. So, if you don't know anything else about gaming computers, remember this: No matter how bad or good the other components are in your gaming computer, the best operating system for gaming will add unsurpassed performance to all of your games.
Operating Systems: What Are They?
The operating system is what helps you perform all the essential functions on a computer. It doesn't just manage all the peripheral software and hardware; it also accesses the CPU for memory and storage purposes. But the thing you're probably most interested in is that it allows gamers to run fun applications such as games.
Operating systems can also manage the hardware resources of your computer, such as utilizing the purposes of controlling peripherals and scheduling tasks.
Years ago, the only operating system that was available was MS-DOS. Still, the complexity of it led to the creation of a better alternative.
Today, there are three main platforms: macOS, Linux, and Windows, which can support more natural interfaces that make them the best operating system for gaming. There is no doubt that Mac and Windows are the best operating software for personal and home use. When using your computer for personal use (e.g., writing and web browsing), you don't need a powerful operating system. But when it comes to gaming, the Windows operating system is the best operating system for gaming.
There is no doubt that the Linux operating system is the best option when it comes to talking about the fastest and lightest operating system. This type of operating system doesn’t require a powerful processor like Windows does.
The Best Operating System for Gaming
Several different operating systems are considered to be the best for gaming on laptops and desktops. Below we'll go over each one to help you understand which one would be best for your gaming habits.
Windows 10
Hands down, the best operating system for gaming is Windows 10. There are several reasons why Windows 10 is the best operating system for gaming, but the biggest reason is that there is support.
Windows can support more games than any other operating system. It’s not just the number of games that Windows can support. Instead, it’s the number of popular titles that are available on Windows that aren’t available on any other operating system.
Windows 10 from Microsoft is a highly optimized and very efficient operating system. With it comes new characteristics that are concentrated on Xbox programs and the game's hub. Additionally, it has Direct X12, which is the most updated version of Microsoft's platform for running games.
Along with the features just mentioned, the best part about Windows 10 is that it does little updates instead of creating a brand-new operating system throughout the years. So, with Windows 10, you'll find that you can use this operating system for years to come without having to buy a new upgraded version every year.
Pros:
- Stable
- There are a wide variety of online games you can play
- User-friendly
Cons:
- Security can be an issue
- Breakdown issues
Windows 8
Windows 8 has close competition with Windows 10. With this operating system, you can run over 20,000 types of games. However, there is a downside to this because most new games aren't available to Windows 8 anymore since the creation of Windows 10.
There is also the problem with compatibility since some video games will no longer work correctly. Other than that, Windows 8 is extremely stable and features wide-ranging and perfect drivers for the entire hardware.
Pros:
- User-friendly
- High stability
- Well-known in the gaming industry
Cons:
- Easy to customize
- Hardware expenses
Mac OS
Every single Apple product is built with the Mac operating system already pre-installed. The updated operating system for Mac is Mojave, which is the updated version of OS Catalina.
After the Sierra operating system series, the Mojave operating system is the updated and more modern series for the Mac operating system.
macOS is a highly recommended operating system because it has excellent visuals and graphics. Plus, Mac is more secure than other operating systems and grants very few chances for viruses and threats to attack your computer when you're on the internet.
macOS can run Steam and can support a small collection of games, including popular titles liked League of Legends and Minecraft. However, the main problem with using MacOS as your gaming software is that there isn’t enough support from game developers to make games that work on operating systems that aren’t Windows.
Games are typically made to be used on a Windows computer. If games do eventually come to macOS, there’s no guarantee that they will continue to be updated regularly or optimized properly.
The good news for Apple lovers is that the same issue that makes MacOS a bad system for gaming is also the same reason why iOS is better for mobile games. Just like PC games are made for Windows computers, more mobile game developers are focused on making games for iOS.
So, while macOS won’t stack up to Windows in terms of high-end gaming, there is a rapidly growing market for mobile games, and it looks like Apple will dominate in that arena.
Pros:
- High-quality graphics and visuals
- No threats online
- Secure
Cons:
- High cost
- Limited gaming options
- Performance decreases with heavy graphical games
Linux
Linux isn't an operating system you probably considered when searching for the best operating system for gaming. Linux is well-known for being challenging to use, even though, in recent years, extra user-friendly options have become available.
With the Linux operating system, you're able to change almost everything as long as you have the required information. This is one of the reasons that the Linux operating system is so popular among power users who want to use the complicated tasks of Linux.
For ordinary users, Linux has a complex learning curve that can be challenging for them to use. Some users are scared of using the command line, and it could take a long time to learn the commands that you have to use to make the operating software useful. Because of this, Linux isn't an excellent choice for less tech-savvy people.
Linux also provides users with a free end to explore options, unlike Windows, which limits user options. However, the speed and performance of Linux is a disadvantage of using it for gaming purposes.
Pros:
- Unrestricted options
- Robust system
Cons:
- Performance issues
- Slower speed
- Sophisticated design
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best operating system for gaming can be difficult because of the options available to you. But if you use this guide to help you figure out which is best for your gaming preferences, then you’ll be good to go. Before you go with any one operating system, figure out what your gaming habits are going to be so you can decide which is the best operating system for you.
There’s no need to worry about finding the right operating system because you have all the information right at your fingertips. But remember to always stay on top of finding the best operating system for gaming because it could change any day.
You can do this by looking at the unbiased comparison between their features and pros and cons. We've already started to do that in this article. Hopefully, after reading this article, you have a better idea of what you're looking for in the best operating system for gaming.
Do You Need a Dedicated Streaming PC for Twitch?
Live streaming yourself playing video games has become a popular hobby amongst gaming enthusiasts. With over 15 million daily active users, Twitch is the original platform for games live streaming. If you’re looking to start streaming on Twitch, then you’ll need to make sure that you have the right equipment to do so.
One of the main questions here is: Do you need a second dedicated PC for streaming on Twitch, or can you do it all with your existing PC? In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of a dedicated streaming PC and some options for building one.
Pros for Having a Dedicated Streaming PC
One pro of having a dedicated streaming PC for Twitch is that it will keep your gaming environment separate from your streaming one. This will mean that you can keep your hard drives for each purpose separate and organized.
A PC for gaming will also have different requirements for a PC for streaming, and so, with separate PCs, you can make sure that you have the best machine for each purpose. For example, on your gaming PC, all you’ll need to focus on is having your games and the right input devices (a mouse, a keyboard, etc.).
Likewise, all you’ll need for your streaming PC is a microphone for picking up audio and a way to control what the audience is seeing (e.g., Open Broadcaster Software’s Advanced Scene Manager, which allows you to control the layout of your streaming feed).
Another advantage of a dedicated streaming PC relates to encoding and image quality. Encoding is the process of converting raw video and audio data into a compressed file type that can be understood and played by your streaming software. For streaming to happen, encoding needs to be occurring first. Encoding requires a large amount of processing power and having your streaming PC’s computer processing unit (CPU) able to focus completely on this task will result in better image quality for your stream.
At the same time, having your streaming PC’s CPU focus on encoding means that your gaming PC’s CPU can entirely focus on running your game with the highest quality settings. Again, this will increase the image quality of your stream. Also, because your gaming PC will be doing all the rendering work for your game, the processor of your streaming PC can focus on simply streaming high-quality video.
Finally, in terms of pros, you won’t need a graphics card for your streaming PC as it won’t require a lot of graphical power. You’ll be able to get away with simply the integrated graphics processing unit that comes as part of your CPU.
Cons of Having a Dedicated Streaming PC
The most obvious con of having a dedicated streaming PC is the extra cost involved. Not only will you have to buy a second PC in the first place, but these two PCs will take up more power than just one. You may also end up using more bandwidth on your internet connection.
Another con is the complexity of having two PCs. For example, you’ll need to find a way of sending in-game audio from one PC to the other to transmit that with your stream. To do this, you can either connect your two PCs over a virtual network (less reliable), or physically connect them using a cable, an audio interface, or an audio mixer.
Practical consideration of having two PCs is the space that it will require. Two PCs will obviously take up more room than one and, if your gaming space is limited, it may not be the best idea. Again on a practical note, you may need to plug each PC into two separate electrical outlets to avoid overloading and tripping your breaker. Do you have enough outlets for this?
More computers mean more fans in the room, which may cause interference with your audio. It also means you’ll have another heat source in the room, which could get uncomfortable on hot days.
Lastly, a streaming PC has different requirements than a gaming PC, and it isn’t necessarily something that you can get right out of the box. You will probably need to build your streaming PC yourself, which is not too difficult, but it is extra work.
Taking into account all of these cons, if you’re serious about live streaming, then a dedicated streaming PC is still a great idea. Next, we’ll cover what makes up a good streaming PC.
Building a Dedicated Streaming PC
Having a dedicated streaming PC is an extra cost but, due to the lower specifications required for this machine, we estimate that you could build it for just $400. Here are the elements that you’ll need to gather:
CPU
For an affordable CPU, we recommend the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G Processor. This quad-core processor comes with plenty of power for a streaming PC. It also comes integrated with advanced Radeon Vega 8 graphics; all you’ll need in terms of graphical power for a streaming PC is output to a monitor, and this CPU’s integrated graphics processing unit (GPU) is perfect for that. As an added bonus, this CPU comes fitted with AMD’s Wraith Stealth cooler, meaning that you won’t need to buy a separate cooling unit.
Motherboard
The motherboard is the part of your computer that holds all of its components together. A good motherboard will have a fast bus speed, which means that the circuit (bus) that connects the different parts together can handle a lot of data at the same time. For a motherboard for your dedicated streaming PC, how about the ASUS B450M-A Prime? It’s compatible with the Ryzen CPU mentioned above.
RAM
Random Access Memory (RAM) is a hardware device that allows information to be stored and retrieved on a computer. Information is accessed randomly instead of sequentially (like it is on a CD or hard drive), and, because of this, access times with RAM are faster.
The more RAM your computer has, the faster it will be because it won’t need to fall back on using the slower hard drive for data storage. A good option for your dedicated streaming PC is the Patriot VIPER 4 Series 3000MHz 8GB Dual Channel DDR4, which comes as two sticks of 4GB RAM each.
SSD
The Solid-State Drive (SSD) is the data storage technology that is beginning to replace hard disk drives (HDD). Although we have an HDD in this list below, we also recommend getting a CORSAIR FORCE Series MP300 120GB NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD. This will allow your streaming software to run faster.
HDD
For a hard drive, you can’t go wrong with the Western Digital Blue 2TB. With 2TB of storage, this will give you plenty of space to store your streaming videos. It also comes with free Acronis True Image WD Edition cloning software, which will enable you to back up your videos.
Case
You won’t have a dedicated streaming PC without a case to house all of the components. You’ll need something that will fit your CPU and motherboard, leaving enough room for cooling and cable management. The Cooler Master’s MasterBox Q300L is ideal for those on a budget and still looks great. It’s compact but has a variety of cooling configurations too.
PSU
You’ll also need some way of getting power to your machine. In terms of a power supply unit (PSU), we rate the Thermaltake Smart 500W 80+ White Certified PSU. It guarantees 80% or higher efficiency under normal loads.
Conclusion
So that’s our recommendation for the ideal dedicated streaming PC. Bear in mind that you’ll also need an operating system (go for Windows 10) and an internet connection (wired or with a WiFi adapter). If you want to stream from your console, too, you’ll also need a capture card to convert your gameplay to a streaming-friendly format. We recommend the Elgato Game Capture HD60 Pro.