circleNow that summer is over and the skies are starting to turn grey in preparation for six months of rain, you might be thinking more seriously about video games. September and October are when we see some of the biggest releases of the year, so you’ll likely be spending a lot of evenings hiding from the world while playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 or Mario Party Jamboree. If your gaming setup is starting to get a little stale and you’re looking to give it a serious seasonal upgrade, here are some suggestions.
tv set
If you have a PS5 or Xbox Series X, you’ll need at least a 4K TV, but also a model that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, which provides super smooth and fluid picture quality in compatible games. Your TV will need at least one HDMI 2.1 port, and you’ll need a 2.1 HDMI compatible cable to connect your console.
Support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) lighting is also a must. This is a technology that produces more detail and color in both high and low brightness. Confusingly, there are multiple versions. HDR10 is the basic version supported by both PS5 and Xbox. However, if you have a Microsoft machine, you’ll also get Dolby Vision, which is basically an improved version of HDR. These days, almost all TVs have a special game mode or game optimizer that turns off unnecessary image processing effects to reduce input lag and improve response times, but it’s still worth checking exactly what the TV you’re thinking of buying offers in this regard.
Recommended: LG C4 Series
LG C4 Series OLED TV Photo: LG
I recently tested one of these for a month and really liked it. The C4 is LG’s latest mid-range OLED set, with amazingly sharp images, vibrant colors, and support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and a 120Hz refresh rate. I tested it with a variety of titles, from Elden Ring to Helldivers 2, and they all looked beautiful. The Game mode is particularly good, allowing users to tweak the settings depending on the type of game they’re playing. You can even connect your PC and use it as a monitor, with a 144Hz option and support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync technologies that help maintain smooth frame rates when playing demanding action games. If it’s a bit too expensive, the Samsung Q80D series is a very good alternative, but it’s hard to beat the LG C4.
monitor
If you play on PC instead of console and want to update your monitor, you need to think about the three R’s: refresh rate (the number of frames the display can show per second, measured in Hz), resolution (the detail of the image, measured in pixels), and response time (the time it takes each pixel to react to a change in the image, measured in milliseconds). What you need depends on the type of games you play. If you like fast-paced shooters, refresh rate and response time are the most important factors. If you like graphically rich adventure games, resolution is a key consideration. For general play, look for a model with at least a 144Hz refresh rate, 1440p resolution, and a response time of around 5ms.
You should also think about what type of panel your new monitor uses (VA, TN, IPS, OLED, etc., each with their own pros and cons – here’s a good guide. here), HDR, Nvidia G-Sync, AMD FreeSync, and other technologies.
Recommended: This one is tough. I still have my 5 year old Acer Predator and it still performs great, but I also have the much newer Samsung Odyssey, LG UltraGear and Gigabyte Aorus and they’re all great. Acer, Dell and MSI all make very capable low cost displays.
Headset
What you’re looking for here is comfort and quality, especially if you’re going to play for long periods of time. We also recommend noise cancellation (if you’re playing in a noisy living room) and support for virtual surround sound technologies such as Dolby Atmos. This not only enhances the atmosphere of the game, but also helps if you’re playing an online shooter and want to hear where your enemies are coming from. A good, clear microphone is also essential if you want to chat with friends while you play. You should also consider whether you want a wired or wireless headset and whether the model is compatible with your console.
Recommended: Audeze Maxwell (319 pounds)
Maxwell PS5 Photo: Audeze
Source: www.theguardian.com
