Technology gamers don’t need

Every gamer needs a basic gaming system and a range of games to go along with it, however this isn’t enough for most of us, and when the hardware bug bites, it bites hard. Before you know it you need a second graphics card, more RAM, whatever your best mate bought, whatever the top guy in your clan is using (because it will totally improve your game), or perhaps a new system altogether, gaming systems older than a year are just so old school after all. The hype surrounding must-have items is nearly never justified, and this goes for all of the following:

IPS panel technology

Despite a wealth of information floating around on the internet, gamers still lust after IPS monitors. They’re more expensive than TN based monitors, and professional photographers and editors use them for real work, so they must be better right? Wrong. The differences between IPS and TN technology mean that while IPS panels are great for a number of reasons, they’re not essential for gamers who prefer speed over absolute colour accuracy.

To make IPS monitors more appealing, companies are now offering IPS displays at low prices, but what isn’t immediately apparent is that the IPS panel in the monitor is a 6-bit panel, rather than an 8-, 10- ,or 12-bit panel found in more expensive models. IPS won’t make your gaming experience significantly better and can in some cases make it worse. Don’t buy into the hype just because the dudes online bleet on about how pro an IPS display is.

Dell 27 inch IPS

Ultra high-end motherboards

So you want a gaming motherboard, fair enough. It costs more than the regular, pro and deluxe motherboards, but that’s okay because this one is specifically designed for gaming in mind, so it must be faster and better and totally justifies the high price tag. This is another misconception, with high-end motherboards branded as “gamer” focused, when they should actually say “built for overclockers and the occasional gamer”.

You don’t need the ability to run Tri-SLI or four way CrossfireX if you plan on playing Call of Duty at high on a full HD display. You don’t need 10 SATA ports when your OS will fit in a medium sized SSD and your games barely fill up a 2TB drive. You also don’t need the dedicated voltage monitoring points built onto the motherboard, or the stop start button that will only benefit guys who’ve installed the board on a bench table underneath a copper pot full of liquid nitrogen.

Asus Rampage IV Gene

Gunnar gaming glasses

Gunnar gaming glasses are awesome; I love my pair and use it whenever I get the chance. It reduces the strain on my eyes and makes me feel better after hours spent behind a computer screen. However despite how I can go on for hours about the pros of wearing a pair if you’re a gamer, you don’t need one to get those extra frags or cut a few tenths off your lap time. Gamers have been staring at computer screens for decades before gunnar glasses were released without complaint. They’re nice to have, but far from an essential bit of gaming gear.

Gunnar glasses with amber tint

5.1 gaming headphones

“5.1 headphones allow you to hear more of the game. You can pinpoint enemies since their footsteps are much clearer. Also hearing where a bullet lands close by you can tell you where that camping noob is.” This is an actual opinion put forward to me word for word by a young gamer at a recent LAN, and it’s a debate that we’ve been dealing with for a long while.

The young man’s points would’ve been more valid if he had not claimed that all 5.1 headsets have 5.1 speakers in each cup (when the vast majority do not) and praised my set of stereo cans for being top quality multi-channel audio.

The problem with 5.1 surround sound headphones is that marketing has skewed the perception of gamers, who spread misinformation via word of mouth, and don’t have the opportunity to experience emulated 5.1 audio over stereo headsets and then compare it to emulated 5.1 audio over “5.1 channel” branded headphones. A 5.1 gaming headset may look cool and be nice to have (and may even sound better, though this is up for debate) – it’s hardly a basic necessity.

Awesome headphones

Whatever your best friend/clan member just got

“HerpMcDerpington-Smith is the best gamer in our clan and he uses a Logitech G9.75 mouse. It’s obviously the best mouse out there and once I get one I’ll be at least as good as he is.” Once again I’ve heard this over voice chat while playing online, and the scary thing is it’s more common than I thought. People assume that it’s the hardware, not the vastly greater number of hours spent practicing and gaming that makes certain gamers better than others. 10,000 hours experience and an old IBM ball mouse will beat 200 hours and the latest high-end mouse any day of the week and this will always be the case.