Like most PC gamers, I imagine, I've collected various gubbins for my setup, sometimes when I didn't really need them—I have three different gaming mice to pick from in front of me. It's a bit of a mess.
- We're curating all the Black Friday PC gaming deals right here
Quick list
- SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 - $190 at Amazon (save $50)
- Razer Kitsune - $208 at Amazon (save $92)
- HyperX QuadCast 2 S - $130 at Amazon (save $70)
- SteelSeries Alias Pro Kit - $179 at Amazon (save $191)
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3
The thing most in need of an upgrade in my setup is my humble Corsair K95 from near enough eight years ago. The reason I haven't swapped it out so far is that I'm picky: it has audio control buttons, multiple profiles, a comfy handrest, and I like its overall feel.
Out with the old and in with the new, as I think I've finally settled on the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3, which you can nab for $189.99, 21% down from $239.99 on Amazon. We gave this an 82 in our review, praising its overall great feel for comfortable typing and gaming, which matters a lot to someone like me who both works and games on the same setup.
What's tempting me is this keyboard's unique 'OmniPoint 3.0 HyperMagnetic switches' with adjustable actuation. In other words, you can set per-key actuation, so you could make specific keys easier and quicker to press. You can even set dual actuation, which lets you effectively assign two prompts to one key depending on how far you push the key down. I play a lot of FPS games, so I'm liking the sound of setting left Ctrl to my binding for both crouching and lying down, while being able to slide or dive with just enough pressure.
It's also got a little OLED screen, which can offer important information like CPU and GPU temps, or, my preferred option, display a black and white 1287px x 40px GIF at 10 frames per second. Now that's a neat way to customise your setup.
Razer Kitsune
I'm not a fighting game person, but I've always really wanted to be. I think a big part of why I haven't is that I've never got the hang of the controls. Keyboards are a no-go, and standard controllers are rather finicky without using the D-pad.
So, when I saw the Kitsune, Razer's premium fighting/arcade game controller, at a 31% discount, down to $207.99 on Amazon, my eyes lit up. At just 0.77kg and 11.66 x 0.76 x 8.27 inches, it's incredibly slim and easy to store, which is ideal for a specialised controller that you won't have hooked up permanently.
As you'd expect, it's got a great button layout to reduce input errors (yes please) and very low-profile switches with a shorter, faster response time. And, as is the way with Razer, it even has RGB lighting around the edge.
Now, hopefully I can get up to scratch before Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls comes out…
Steel Series Alias and HyperX QuadCast 2S
I currently have the HyperX QuadCast 1S, and I love it for its quality audio, included shock mount, and four selectable pick-up patterns. It's a few years old now, and I have my gripes with it, such as it being way too easy to adjust the mic volume or accidentally mute/unmute the mic.
Naturally, I've been eyeing up the new and improved HyperX Quadcast 2S, which is just $130 down from $199.99 on Amazon. It's got everything I like about my current mic, but with a few nice upgrades. Firstly, its inconsistent volume wheel has been replaced with a multifunction knob to adjust everything from mic gain and polar pattern to headphone volume and monitor mix, so you're not faffing about with separate buttons on devices or on your computer.
It's also got a boost in the audio department, with up to 32-bit depth and 192kHz sample rate (double and quadruple that of my QuadCast S, respectively).
However, I'm also tempted by the SteelSeries Alias Pro, which we've rated the best microphone for streaming. Available right now for $178.99, down from $369.99 on Amazon, that's a staggering 52% off one of the best setups money can buy.
Firstly, it's capable of studio-like sound capture with its massive capsule, and as I look to do more content creation, that's exactly what I'm after. Most importantly, it comes with an XLR stream mixer to monitor and control audio levels on the fly. This pairs nicely with the mic's Sonar software that makes setting it up easy, and includes handy audio-adjustment settings like a compressor, ClearCast AI-noise reduction and a straightforward EQ with plenty of useful presets.
The catch is that you really need the boom arm to get the most out of it, and that's sold separately for $99.99 (it's not included in Amazon's Black Friday sales).
For the money, I'm likely to go for the SteelSeries Alias Pro, given it's a mouthwatering discount, and pick up the boom arm at a later date or pick up a cheaper alternative mount.
1. Best gaming chair: Secretlab Titan Evo
2. Best gaming desk: Secretlab Magnus Pro XL
3. Best gaming headset: Razer BlackShark V3
4. Best gaming keyboard: Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless
5. Best gaming mouse: Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro
6. Best PC controller: GameSir G7 Pro
7. Best steering wheel: Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel
8. Best microphone: Shure MV6 USB Gaming Microphone
9. Best webcam: Elgato Facecam MK.2
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
