The Complete Guide to Assembling a Top-Tier Gaming System with Insights

Curating a gaming setup is a highly personal decision and varies from gamer to gamer. Still, there are a few basic categories that every gamer needs. Whether you game on a PC , a gaming laptop , or strictly stick to consoles, it’s crucial to pick the right tech that fits your budget while offering a game library that you know you will enjoy.

Also: The best budget gaming laptops: Expert tested

Your setup also needs accessories, such as keyboards, mice, headsets, gaming furniture, and external hard drives. Once you have all your hardware, you can personalize your space with art and lighting. So, before you start designing your space, take a look at ZDNET’s picks for all the tech you need for the ultimate gaming setup.

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A dedicated gaming computer

The best gaming PCs offer top-tier components like the Nvidia RTX 40 series graphics cards and 14th generation Intel Core Ultra, AI-powered processors. But if you’re looking to save money, there are plenty of budget gaming PCs on the market, as well as laptops and budget gaming laptops if you prefer a more lightweight and portable gaming computer.

Alienware Aurora R16 A powerful gaming PC

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The Aurora R16 is the latest addition to Alienware’s gaming desktop line-up. You can configure your build with up to a 14th gen Intel Core i9 CPU, 64GB of RAM, 8TB of storage, a1000W Platinum-rated power supply, and your choice of either the RTX 4090 or Radeon RX 7900XTX graphics card.

I tested the Aurora R16, and I was very impressed by its quiet tower fans despite its powerful build. I was also impressed by how the Intel Core Ultra processor could efficiently handle multiple demanding programs at once.

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Best cheap gaming PC HP Omen 25L The HP Omen 25L is a great, budget-friendly option for PC gamers. It offers a 13th generation Intel Core i5 processor, RTX 3060 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It also has extra storage drive slots and supports up to 128GB of RAM, so you can expand memory and storage as your needs change. View at Best Buy Best gaming laptop Razer Blade 17 If you prefer laptops for gaming, the Razer Blade 17 is one of the best you can buy. The 17-inch display offers 4K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate for enhanced detailing and smoother action. And you can overclock the CPU to push the laptop to the limit of its processing power. View at Amazon Best budget gaming laptop Asus TUF A15 The Asus TUF A15 is a great, budget-friendly gaming laptop for anyone looking for an affordable upgrade or for an entry-level model for kids and teens. You’ll get a 144Hz refresh rate, 1080p resolution, and anti-glare coating with the 15-inch display for great detailing, smoother motion, and better visibility in bright rooms. View at Amazon

A gaming console

Thebest gaming consoles offer HD gaming with high refresh rates for highly detailed graphics and smoother action during fast-paced gameplay and cutscenes. The Xbox Series X|S and PS5 both offer a disc and digital-only version of their consoles, letting you choose between maintaining a physical or digital library of games.

PlayStation 5 A next-generation gaming console

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The PlayStation 5 is my go-to console and has a place of prominence in my office/gaming room. You can choose between a traditional, disc-based model or a digital-only version if you prefer to have an all-digital library. The PS5 also lets you expand its internal storage with M.2 NVMe-style solid-state drives, supporting up to 8TB of additional storage to give you plenty of space for big game files, DLC, photos, and more.

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Best gaming console for digital-only libraries Xbox Series X|S When you remember that Microsoft was a personal computer company before it started making consoles and developing games, the Xbox Series X|S makes sense as an addition to your gaming space. With an Xbox GamePass Ultimate membership and Xbox Remote Play, you can stream both PC and console games to your smartphone, tablet, PC, or compatible Samsung TV. View at Best Buy Best mobile gaming console Nintendo Switch OLED The Switch OLED is a hardware update that gave the console a 7-inch OLED screen for handheld mode, a wired LAN port for old-school local multiplayer tournaments, and double the internal storage with 64GB of space. However, you still may want to invest in a compatible microSD card for expanded storage if you have a lot of Switch games or save files. View at Best Buy Best handheld gaming console Steam Deck OLED The Steam Deck OLED is technically a handheld gaming PC, but I also consider it the only real competitor to the Nintendo Switch/Switch OLED in the handheld console space. The OLED version gives you a longer battery life and better screen along with the ability to play compatible Steam PC games on-the-go or on your couch. View at Steam

A TV or gaming monitor

A gaming PC or console is only as good as the display it’s connected to. Thankfully, there are plenty of options for dedicated gaming TVs and gaming monitors to help you get the most out of your graphics.

Samsung QN90C A 4K gaming TV

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The Samsung QN90C offers both Dolby Atmos and object tracking sound for virtural, 3D surround sound that follows the on-screen action. You’ll also get a native 120Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR technology to prevent screen tearing and stuttering.

In addition, a dedicated gaming dashboard gives you access to cloud gaming services like Xbox GamePass and GeForce Now.

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Best budget TV for gaming TCL S4 The TCL S4 is an incredibly affordable TV, retailing under $300 for the 50-inch model. And just because it’s super cheap, that doesn’t mean it skimped on features. You’ll get Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support, virtual assistant voice controls, and an automatic low-latency game mode for improved reaction times and refresh rates. View at Amazon Best gaming monitor Samsung Odyssey G7 The Samsung Odyssey G7 gives you a 27-inch display with a 240Hz refresh rate, G-sync VRR support, and a 1440p resolution. It is also capable of producing up to 95-percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut and up to 600 nits of brightness for better visibility in bright rooms as well as more lifelike images and graphics. View at B&H Photo Best budget gaming monitor MSI G2712V The MSI G2712V is a 27-inch gaming display that offers decent specs for a great price. You’ll get AMD FreeSync support as well as a native 75Hz refresh rate for smoother motion during gameplay and custscenes. You’ll also get a 1ms response time and 1080p resolution. View at Amazon

Gaming accessories

Now that you have a PC or laptop, console, TV, and monitor, you need a few accessories like a gaming keyboard and headset to give you more control over your in-game actions or to play your favorite games in peace or without disturbing roommates.

Corsair K100 A reliable gaming keyboard

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I bought a Corsair K100 RGB for my own gaming space a few years ago, and it’s honestly one of the best keyboards I’ve had, period. The mechanical Cherry MX switches feel clicky and responsive for both long-form typing and in-game command actions like movement and spellcasting.

You can set up multiple profiles in the Corsair iCUE program to quick-switch control layouts for specific games or switch between work and gaming settings.

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Best gaming mouse Corsair Katar Elite The Corsair Katar Elite is my everyday gaming and work mouse, and it’s a great choice for gamers that play a variety of genres and titles. It’s wireless for a lighter design and easier movement, and you’ll get over 100 hours of use on a single charge so you can work and game all week before needing to break out the USB-C cable. View at Amazon Best gamepad Xbox Elite Series 2 The Xbox Elite Series 2 wireless controller is an absolute beast of a gamepad, and is an excellent option for gamers who frequently switch between PC and their Xbox console. It can save up to three custom layout profiles for different users or game control schemes, and interchangeable components let you customize weight, thumb sticks, and faceplates. View at Best Buy Best gaming headset HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless My absolute favorite gaming headset for both console and PC is the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. Not only is it super comfortable (even for all-day use), you get 300 hours of use on a full charge; which means you can work and game for eight hours a day for over a month before you need to recharge. View at Amazon

You might also need…

Once you have your PC, console, and accessories set up in your space, you can round out your setup and decor with a few other items like a gaming chair, RGB lighting, additional storage devices, and audio equipment.

AndaSeat Kaiser 3 Gaming Chair $499 at Amazon

Philips Hue 6-ft. LED strip light $69.9 at Walmart

Shure MV7 Streaming Mic $299 at Amazon

WD Elements Portable HDD $105 at Walmart

What is a LAN port, and why would I need one for gaming?

The acronym LAN stands for Local Area Network . And in the days before modern internet, a LAN connection was how gamers connected computers and consoles together for multiplayer matches and even tournaments.

The advantage of a LAN connection for gaming is that a single internet connection can be used for the whole network, which reduces the chances of running into issues when organizing a tournament or multiplayer event with friends. LAN connections also give you an enormous amount of control over who has access to your network, which is especially important for protecting official events from hackers and cheaters.

Are those Arcade1Up cabinets worth it?

This is a bit of a complicated answer to give. If you are designing a gaming space that aims to emulate the look and feel of an old-school arcade from the 80s and 90s, a cabinet from Arcade1Up is a great, affordable option for getting your hands on classic titles like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter II, and Killer Instinct. Many of the Arcade1Up cabinets also features smaller titles from featured developers. For example, the Mortal Kombat Deluxe cabinet has 10 titles from Midway in addition to the MK arcade games. The cabinets also have online play capabilities so you don’t have to bug your friends to come over and play a round with you.

However, if you’re just looking to add classic titles to your game library, it’s better to look for a quality arcade port on your favorite game storefront like Steam or the PlayStation Store. That way, you can still experience your favorite arcade titles as they were when you were a kid, but you don’t have to shell out a ton of cash for a dedicated cabinet that is just going to take up space or not be used much.

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