Complete Guide to PC Peripherals
Do you want to improve your performance in games and work-related tasks? Well, it’s likely that the peripherals you’ve been using for years are hindering you from achieving this goal. It’s no secret that peripherals contribute to improve aspects such as performance and comfort that are essential to obtain an optimal user experience.
With this in mind, we’ve brought you this complete guide to PC peripherals in which we explore the various options that make up this category, pointing out their strengths and how each peripheral affects performance in games and at work.
Monitor: Your window to the digital world
Within the list of peripherals, the monitor is perhaps the most important, as it represents the main interface of your PC with which you interact through the rest of the peripherals. There are two factors that are key to monitor performance:
Resolution: Here monitors of high resolution as the 4K (3480 x 2160) are made with characteristics that offer you sharp and detailed images that improve notably their quality in the games.
Refresh rate: Expressed in Hertz (Hz), the refresh rate represents the number of times per second the monitor image is refreshed. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the movement of the images projected on the monitor. This is favorable for gaming where many gamers prefer monitors with refresh rates from 144 Hz or even 240 Hz to make their gaming experience more optimal.
Color accuracy and calibration
If you’re a professional working in graphic design, photography or video editing, then you know how critical color accuracy is in all of these areas. Monitor manufacturers know this too, which is why models like the Eizo ColorEdge CG319X have color calibration sensors, as well as support for 10-bit simultaneous display so that the colors shown on screen reflect reality as closely as possible.
Connectivity and additional features
To enhance productivity, modern monitors often include a variety of ports and features. One of them is the ASUS ProArt Display model that integrates USB-C connectivity with a 65W power supply, which means you can have the opportunity to charge your laptop while using the monitor as a display.
Keyboards: The touch interface
Both the comfort and performance you get when gaming or productivity tasks will depend in part on the choice you make of the keyboard. This peripheral plays an important role in the interaction you have with the programs and games installed on your PC since its keys allow you to enter the instructions to activate specific actions within their interfaces. It’s key to choose a keyboard that provides comfort during those long days of gaming or work that you plan to accomplish.
Customization and ergonomics
You may not know it, but many high-end keyboards include customizable keys. These keys give you the ability to program macros to execute complex commands or frequently used functions, which can be beneficial for productivity tasks.
Ergonomics is another factor present in keyboards that especially influences their design, which makes you have at your disposal a variety of keyboards in different shapes to choose the model that best suits your needs.
To help you with this visit our post on mechanical keyboards vs membrane keyboards to learn more in detail about how this and other factors differ in both types of keyboards. You’ll also find out for whom it’s more appropriate to purchase a mechanical keyboard and a membrane keyboard.
Mouse: Precision and control
A high-quality mouse is essential for anyone who claims to be an enthusiastic gamer. The performance of this peripheral is governed by dots per inch (DPI), which is one aspect that determines its sensitivity, while the polling rate represents the frequency with which the mouse indicates its position to the PC. When these metrics are expressed with high values it means that you’ll get more precise control.
Ergonomics and button layout
The comfort and efficiency of a mouse depends on the shape and layout of its buttons. Mice that are manufactured with ergonomics in mind are useful not only to fulfill their function and complement the keyboard.
They also help prevent you from suffering repetitive strain injuries during long gaming or work sessions. Entering our post about gaming mice you’ll find information in detail about the aspects that govern the operation of this peripheral and contribute to improve its performance to give you a more optimal experience while you’re playing.
Headset: Immersion and Communication
Half of the gaming experience is guaranteed by good audio quality, which you can get with a headset with surround sound (virtual 7.1). These headsets can greatly enhance the sound and make it more optimal, giving you the advantage of locating your enemy’s footsteps in games like Call of Duty: Warzone or making you feel immersed in the soundtrack of The Witcher 3. Some headset models incorporate a noise-canceling microphone that is very useful for team gaming.
Audio quality and features
Regardless of whether you’re looking for a headset for gaming or working, audio quality is an important factor that can determine the level of satisfaction you get from these activities. For this to be good, you should make sure you buy a headset that has virtual surround sound functionality, which can be effective in improving immersion in games.
Having a good headset also allows you to enjoy clear and balanced audio in situations such as video conferencing and multimedia content consumption. In the case of high-end headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireles these provide you with exceptional audio quality and a lot of convenience because they’re wireless.
Visit our post on headsets vs. speaker systems to find out how well both devices perform in different aspects, and thus discover which of these options best suits your user needs.
Webcam: The visual connection
If you plan on streaming while gaming, then you need a good, high-resolution webcam that comes bundled with auto-focus features, as well as low-light correction.
A camera with these features will also come in handy on those occasions when you have to make video calls for work purposes and need to show your image clearly and without interruptions. Webcams like the Logitech C920 have a resolution of 1080p with 60 FPS, giving you a clear and smooth video image that is excellent for streaming on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
Microphone: Clear communication
As mentioned above, many headset models come with a built-in microphone that makes it easy to communicate with the rest of your team in a game or with your co-workers in a video call meeting. Even so, there are standalone microphones like the HyperX Quadcast or the Blue Yeti with features that give you superior audio quality than you would get from those attached to the headset.
How peripherals impact gaming performance
Gaming performance can be favorably impacted if you choose the right peripherals. Purchasing a monitor with a high refresh rate along with a responsive keyboard and mouse can give you the advantage in fast-paced games. Upgrading to premium gaming peripherals represents a big step forward on the road to becoming a better gamer, since better featured models give you more room to deploy your skills and take them to new limits.
How peripherals impact on work performance
When it comes to work, having the right peripherals for this purpose can lead to a noticeable increase in productivity.
For example, a high-resolution monitor can give you more space and improve multitasking, while an ergonomic keyboard and mouse can make those long work sessions more comfortable and reduce the physical impact caused by handling these peripherals for hours. In the case of headphones, if they’re of good quality and come with features that make the sound more optimal, you’ll be guaranteed clear communication in video calls.
How to choose the right peripherals for your PC?
Are you thinking about purchasing new peripherals for your PC or replacing the ones you currently have? Whatever the reason, it’s important that you consider the following factors when doing so:
Primary use case: Before you start the task of choosing peripherals, identify what is the primary use of your PC. Depending on what is the predominant activity that you carry out in your computer, you’ll require peripherals with specific characteristics that facilitate the tasks involved in that activity.
Budget: The budget you have for peripherals will determine their quality and features, so if you want options in the mid-range or high-end range, then your budget should be in line with it.
Ergonomics and comfort: One of the qualities that cannot be missing in peripherals such as keyboard and mouse is ergonomics. You must make sure that the options you choose for these peripherals provide your hands with enough comfort to handle them for hours without reaching the point of exhaustion. Poorly designed peripherals are harmful in the long-term, causing discomfort and even injuries due to repetitive strain.
Compatibility: If you do not plan to replace all your peripherals, make sure that the ones you purchase are compatible with the ones you’ll keep. Incompatibility between peripherals could lead to a limitation in their functionality, as well as loss of money.
Future upgrades: In the case of the monitor, choose to buy a model whose resolution or update frequency is higher. This will allow you to be prepared for later when you decide to change the rest of the peripherals and thus make them last several years without running the risk of becoming obsolete.
The role of PC components in the peripherals’ performance
Although having excellent quality peripherals is important to ensure a satisfactory user experience, you must remember that their operation is complemented by your PC’s internal hardware. There is no point in investing in high-end peripherals if components such as the CPU, GPU and RAM do not provide a performance that allows you to get the most out of these peripherals.
If your PC’s GPU does not achieve FPS levels that match your monitor’s refresh rate, then you should take this as a sign to upgrade your graphics card to a more powerful one.
Emerging peripheral technologies
Beyond the traditional peripherals, there are others that you have probably never considered, but at some point you may also incorporate them into your setup as new interaction needs arise with the programs or games you have installed on your PC:
Virtual and Augmented Reality
It’s interesting how virtual and augmented reality peripherals have been gaining space, both in the gaming and professional fields. Both technologies are made to give you a more immersive gaming experience, as well as interesting ways to visualize data or designs in professional environments.
Adaptive controllers
Adaptive controllers
Designed to make gaming more accessible to people with reduced mobility, adaptive controllers represent a major breakthrough in the peripheral sector. These peripherals have features that can greatly enhance the gaming experience for many of these people who have reduced motor skills. By the way, visit our post on controller vs keyboard & mouse where you’ll learn the pros and cons of each peripheral, as well as the types of games where it’s more appropriate to use one or the other option.
Peripheral maintenance and upgrades
If you want to get the most out of your peripherals for a long time, then it’s important that you subject them to regular maintenance. In this process you’ll need to carry out actions such as cleaning the keyboard and mouse, updating the firmware and drivers, as well as periodically recalibrating the monitor.
As software advances in programs and games, you’ll need peripherals with better capabilities that allow you to make an optimal use of their functions. Therefore, consider replacing those peripherals that may be becoming obsolete.
Final take on complete guide to PC peripherals
Whether gaming or working on the PC, peripherals play an essential role in enabling you to carry out these activities. Having an optimal configuration of monitor, keyboard, mouse and audio devices can make your gaming or working experience a pleasant one.
Besides, having peripherals that fit your needs can give you more control and comfort. Still, don’t forget that peripherals need to be in sync with your PC’s internal components to ensure they function properly so that you get the best results in gaming and work-related tasks.
When choosing peripherals for your PC, in addition to taking into account your needs and preferences, also include your budget and the capabilities of your current PC as factors. Once you have the right peripherals installed you’ll see a progressive improvement in performance, whether you’re playing an FPS type game or doing graphics for presentation in a spreadsheet.