November 18, 2020
Fast speeds, surround sound and the right system can take your gaming setup (and performance) from good to great.
Whether it’s optimizing your computer for PC play or purchasing the right accessories for your console, a gamer’s paradise starts with your setup. Fast speeds, surround sound and the right system can make all the difference in your performance. Here’s how to create the perfect gaming environment to take your experience to the next level.
Optimize Your Wifi
Improving your wifi speeds can sound easier than it really is. That’s because there isn’t just one thing that can fix your slow connections—it might take multiple changes to do the trick. Some ways that you can improve your speeds include:
Running a speed test specific to gaming environments (like Belarc Advisor or CanYouRunIt).
- Updating your router’s firmware and graphics driver.
- Moving your router closer to your gaming space.
- Disconnecting other devices from your wifi.
- Closing background applications and processes.
- Freeing up space on your hard drive.
With a gaming VPN or lower ping speeds, you can take your experience from good to great. When you properly optimize your wifi, you can expect to experience faster response times and better overall performance—but don’t just take our word for it.
Purchase the Right System
Arguably, there’s no perfect system. It all comes down to what games you want to play and where you want to play them. Perhaps you’ve been wanting to play the PS4 exclusive God of War, then your only options are the PS4 and the soon-to-be-released PS5. But if you’ve been itching to try your hand at Wasteland III or Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, then you have your pick of consoles between PC and Xbox Series X (coming November 10). As for players who like to take their gaming on the road, you might be better off with the Nintendo Switch, which gives you the freedom to move without sacrificing gameplay. Between the PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch and PC, there’s a gaming console for everyone.
Gear Up with Accessories
Between headsets, speakers and controllers, accessories can take your gaming to the next level—and in more ways than one. While headphones can help immerse you in the scene, a noise-canceling headset can make you feel like you’re on the other side of the screen. You’ll be able to better hear every footstep, breath and racing sound, so you can react quicker and perform better during gameplay. Not to mention, it can also give you the chance to talk with others in multiplayer mode. Don’t neglect the power of a good keyboard and mouse if playing on a PC either. Standard keyboards often have input lag that, while unnoticeable to the naked eye, might be the reason you’re not scoring as high as you’d hoped. Best of all, most gaming keyboards are backlit, which means you won’t have any trouble finding the right keys whether you’re playing late into the night or early in the morning.
Whether you need faster speeds or better sound, the more you invest in your gaming setup, the better chance you have of leveling up your performance. Take your game to the next level with Cox Elite Gamer.
